ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania, Tokyo 2022, & ASI Magazine Issue 5 released

The journey to Tokyo has taken several twists and turns. The contest was originally scheduled take place in spring 2021, with Australia set to host an ASI continental contest for the first time. As a result of the global pandemic, the event was rescheduled to Taiwan. However, due to the lingering challenges of the pandemic, including strict entry requirements put in place by the Taiwanese government, the event was rescheduled a second time. At short notice, the Japan Sommelier Association (J.S.A.), led by Shinya Tasaki, former ASI Best Sommelier of the World, and Saiko Tamura-Soga, ASI Vice-President Asia & Oceania, took on the task of hosting the prestigious contest.

The 2022 ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania contest is the last of three continental competitions hosted by ASI, in preparation for the 2023 ASI Best Sommelier of the World contest, which will take place next February in Paris, France.

Of the upcoming contest in Japan, ASI President William Wouters says “as an association we are privileged to have a regional member association, such as Japan, hosting the contest. Despite the challenges of moving contest dates and locations, for reasons outside of our control, knowing we had a partner, such as Japan, willing and able to host was of great reassurance to the association. We look forward to another successful contest and are keen to see who will join Salvatore (Salvatore Castano, Italy, ASI Best Sommelier of Europe & Africa) and Valeria (Valeria Gamper, Argentina, ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas) and as our most recent ASI continental winners.”

The contest final competition will be hosted live via the Association de la Sommellerie’s YouTube channel.

For up to date developments about the contest, follow the associations various social media platforms including Facebook  ASI – Association de la Sommellerie Internationale | Facebook and Instagram Association de la Sommellerie🌏 (@asisomms_) • Instagram photos and videos. #asisomms

For more information or to arrange an interview contact:

Barbara Wanner, ASI Press Officer press@asi.info
Claire Berticat, Director of Partnerships & Marketing, claire.berticat@asi.info
ASI Magazine, Issue 5: The Year of Asia & Oceania
Three major ASI events, the ASI General Assembly (Nagoya, Japan), ASI Bootcamp (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia and finally ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania, have been or are scheduled to be held in Asia this year. The concentration of ASI events in Asia, have led ASI to term 2022 as ‘The Year of Asia & Oceania.’

In the latest edition of ASI Magazine experts including Sarah Heller, Master of Wine, Mathias Camilleri, Master Sommelier and Dr. Nami Goto-Yamamoto explore the development of drinks culture and sommellerie in Asia. Over the last two decades wine, drinks and sommelier culture has risen tremendously in Asia, and increasingly spreading beyond its classic urban hubs such as Hong Kong, Toyko, Singapore and Shanghai. In this edition, ASI explores the causes leading to growth, and the expansion to countries without pre-existing wine cultures.

Also in this issue:

-ASI interviews Shinya Tasaki, the first and only person from Asia, to win the title of Best Sommelier of the World.
-ASI interviews Olivier Poussier and Heidi Mäkinen of the ASI Sommelier Contests Committee on its role.
-The art of recommending a wine. ASI asks to prominent sommeliers to give their thoughts on the art and science of selecting a wine for a guest.
-Pairing traditional Asian dishes with wine. Three sommeliers give pairings to classic dishes from their home country.
-Up and coming wine regions in Asia, sommeliers should know about.
-Local spirits, whiskies from Asia & Oceania and much more.

For more information about ASI Magazine contact:

Mark DeWolf, Content Manager, Editor, ASI Magazine, mark.dewolf@asi.info
Claire Berticat, Director of Partnerships & Marketing, claire.berticat@asi.info