Contestants compete at the quarter-finals of the inaugural Việt Nam Best Sommelier Competition in HCM City on July 18. — Photo courtesy of the Sài Gòn Sommelier Association

HCM CITY — The inaugural Việt Nam Best Sommelier Competition is being held in HCM City to find talented sommeliers to represent Việt Nam in international competitions, according to the contest’s organisers.

The competition is being co-organised by the Việt Nam Sommelier Association and the Sài Gòn Sommelier Association.

The winner will represent Việt Nam to compete at the 2025 Best Sommelier in Asia-Pacific competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said Lê Hoàng Khánh Vi, vice president of the Sài Gòn Sommelier Association.

The contest, which will be held every three years, also aims to promote the development of the profession of sommelier in Việt Nam and the Vietnamese wine industry and cuisine, Vi said at a press meeting held in HCM City on August 1.

It is open to Vietnamese sommeliers who are members of the Việt Nam Sommelier Association and features three rounds: quarter-final, semi-final, and final, he said.

Winners of the quarter-final round that took place in HCM City on July 18 will compete at the semi-final round on August 13.

The final round is slated to take place on August 14.

Contestants will have written, oral and practical tests on knowledge about wines as well as wine serving skills and tasting.

Members of the jury include Saiko Tamura-Soga, Vice President for Asia-Pacific of ASI (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) and Giuseppe Vaccarini, the winner of the Best Sommelier of the World ASI 1978. — VNS