Reeze Choi named Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific
Hong Kong sommelier Reeze Choi has clinched the long-awaited title after 13 years on the competition circuit. Nimmi Malhotra reports from Kuala Lumpur.
Hong Kong-based Chinese sommelier Reeze Choi has been named Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific 2025 by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) following three days of tight competition this week in Kuala Lumpur.
Held every three years, the competition draws top sommeliers from across the region. The last edition was held in Tokyo in 2022.
Choi, a veteran on the sommelier circuit, operates his own wine consultancy and sommelier services firm, Somm’s Philosophy, based in Hong Kong.
He has been participating in sommelier competitions for 13 years and this is his first time winning the ASI regional title.
In 2023 he came close to the global title when he finished second runner-up at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World contest held in Paris, France. Before that, in 2018, he finished as first runner-up in the Asia & Pacific edition.
Partner Content
This year, as he finally clinched the Asia-Pacific title, he was overcome with emotions.
“Thirteen is the number of how many [years] I’ve been competing. I am now 37 years old, which means I’ve been competing for a third of my life,” he said. Choi took a moment to celebrate his achievement. He will now turn his focus to the next challenge: the ASI World Sommelier Competition in Portugal in 2026.
The 2025 edition also marked a year of firsts. Kazakhstan’s Ratmir Akhmetov secured a podium finish on his debut appearance, taking second runner-up. Malaysia’s Yi Ying Yong, competing on her home soil, made history as the region’s first female finalist and claimed the first runner-up position.
Read db’s interview with Choi, which touches on his recent foray into the world of winemaking, by clicking here.
Related news
Wines of Hungary makes central Europe the centre of attention
Trinity Hill taps into rising demand for white wines in Asia
