Four Seasons Shanghai wins China Young Sommelier Team Competition

Four Seasons Shanghai won the fourth annual China Young Sommelier Team Competition on Friday, emerging from the more than 1200 sommeliers from 187 restaurants and hotels in 32 cities that participated in this year’s event. Four Seasons Hangzhou and InterContinental Shenzhen took second and third respectively.

The finals were held in Qingdao, with 21 teams from 11 cities competing at The Westin Hotel. Each three-member team did a written and a service test, with the top three going on stage in front of their peers — and a group of judges led by Court of Master Sommeliers CEO Bryan Julyan — to show their skills at wine pairing, decanting and sparkling wine service.

Here are the top three teams:

1. Four Seasons Shanghai
Manager : Ying Guo
Members: Amy Fang, Carol Chen, Andrew Zhang

2. Four Seasons Hangzhou
Manager : Johnson Hu
Members : Pang Shi Liang, Zhang Xue Ling, Li Ting Yao

3. Intercontinental Hotel Shenzhen
Manager : Kevin Liu
Members : Harry Zhang, Vivian Li, Tanya Song

This contest has seen incredible growth over the past four years as testified by the number of teams and cities involved. Organizer Tommy Lam is now preparing the seventh annual China National Sommelier Competition for September 13. I’ll post an interview with Lam tomorrow.

This year’s sponsors were Rousillon Wines, Chateau Nine Peak, German Wine Institute, Wine Australia, Aqua Panna & San Pellegrino, Lucaris Crystal and Fine Drink.

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