Malaysian Sommelier Wins Asia Best Sommelier in French Wine Competition

Yiying Yong, assistant head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall Singapore, claimed victory at the Asia Best Sommelier in French Wine competition held Monday at the Regent Hotel in Taipei after four hours of gruelling competition. The Malaysian native outperformed 10 other finalists with her polished and professional performance during the four-hour contest.

Second place went to Carols Chen of Bistro Le Jardin in Taiwan, while Taiwan’s Bass Lin, a sommelier at Paris 1930 x Hideki Takayama, finished third. Xiaolong Li, winner of 2024 China’s Best Sommelier Competition of French Wine, placed fourth.

Yong attributed her success to the unwavering support of her colleagues, who helped her prepare with blind tastings and research. “Seven years ago, I first competed in the Asia Finals here in Taiwan. Today, I owe this achievement to my team, who stood by me every step of the way,” she said.  

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Yong discovered her passion for wine as a teenager. After earning a master’s degree in atmospheric science in geography and archaeology from a U.K. university in 2013, she took WSET courses and realized she could merge her studies in geography and archaeology with her growing interest in wine. 

In 2014, she began her career as a sommelier at Vintry, a wine bar in Malaysia, before joining wine importer Vie du Vin. The roles gave her the opportunity to deepen her knowledge of wine and enjoy the daily interactions that come with serving customers.

Now based in Singapore, Yong works as a sommelier at 67 Pall Mall. Her expertise has earned her recognition, including the highest global score in the European Chapter Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Exam.

The Asia Best Sommelier in French Wine competition, organized by Taste France, has become a key event for promoting French wines and raising the standard of sommeliers in Asia. Launched in 2015, the contest has regional rounds in September, with finalists advancing to the Asia Finals in December. 

This year, 11 competitors from six regions—mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea—participated. The event highlights the growing demand for wine expertise in the region and the increasing prominence of Asian sommeliers in the global wine industry.

Yong said she hopes to pass on her knowledge and experience to the next generation of sommeliers. “This is just the beginning,” she said. “I want to inspire others to strive for excellence in the world of wine.”