Asian Syrah Masters 2017: the results

Judges profiles: 

Ying-Hsien Tan MW is the first Singaporean Master of Wine, one of the first two Asian men to attain the prestigious title in 2015. Owner of Singapore-based Taberna Wine Academy, Tan frequently conducts tastings, classes and wine dinners. He is currently engaged in the Institute of Masters of Wine Education Programme for candidates studying for the MW qualification. He also served as a judge at many international wine events including the Sopexa French Wine Sommelier Competition 2015 and the Singapore National Sommelier Competitions in 2014 and 2016 to name a few. In his own time, Tan writes for a few wine and food magazines.

Seattle native Darius Allyn MS became the 60th American passing the Master Sommelier examination in 2005, after obtaining his Advanced Oenology Diploma from leading winemaking school UC Davis in 2004. With over 30 years of hospitality experience, Allyn has created and led award-winning wine programmes around the world including Wine Spectator Grand Award recipient Aureole Las Vegas and Rockpool Bar & Grill Sydney Australia. A firm believer in industry wine education, Allyn was Adjunct Professor in University of Nevada Las Vegas. Over past decade, Allyn frequently travelled to Asia to lead courses for Court of Master Sommeliers whilst continuing to be active as Examiner for Master Sommelier level candidates. Allyn possesses extensive judging and speaking experience, having participated in over 20 international wine conferences and competitions.

Eddie McDougall, an award-winning winemaker and TV personality in Asia, is the creator of TLC’s popular The Flying Winemaker TV series. A trained winemaker with a diploma in Wine Technology and Viticulture from the University of Melbourne, McDougall has more than a decade of winemaking experiences working with wineries such as Vietti and Innocent Bystander. McDougall just successfully launched his first ever Asian Wine Festival this year, showcasing some of the best wines made in Asian countries from Japan to Bali in Indonesia.

Francesca Martin is the founder and director of BEE Drinks Global, a wine and spirits consulting company. Martin has spent more than 12 years in brand management, PR, winemaking and marketing. Over the years, she has worked for some of the most renowned names in the global wine industry including Francois Lurton in Argentina, Miguel Torres in Spain, Liberty Wines and Steven Spurrier in the UK and ASC Fine Wines in Hong Kong. A WSET diploma holder and a certified WSET educator, Martin is currently studying for Master of Wine exam.

A Sydney native, Amanda Longworth is the head of marketing and wine services at Berry Bros. & Rudd in Hong Kong after a lustrous career in wine working in the US, UK, Korea, Singapore, China and Japan. A certified WSET educator, Amanda is responsible for coordinating all education programmes at Berry Bros. Since 2008, she has educated over 2,500 wine enthusiasts. After receiving the prestigious Wine Australia Scholarship in 2012 awarded to the top performing WSET Diploma candidate in Asia-Pacific, Amanda is continuing her wine studies for the ultimate Master of Wine.

Jennie Mack is the co-founder and managing director of Asia Wine Service and Education Center (AWSEC). The education center is the first institute in Asia to win the “WSET Educator of the Year” out of 500 providers in 62 countries. A WSET diploma holder, Jennie has been involved in wine education in Hong Kong and around Asia for more than 20 years. She has a range of certificates including French Wine Scholar, Sud de France Master Level, Bordeaux Wine School International Accredited Educator, Certified Spanish Wine Educator, Chilean Wine Ambassador and Barossa Wine Educator. Jennie is also a prolific wine judge at various wine and sommelier competitions including the famous Berlin Tasting.

Jude Mullins is International Development Director at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the largest global provider of qualifications in the field of Wines and Spirits. After a career working in hospitality, retail, direct sales and for the International Wine Challenge, Jude joined the WSET in 2002 as part of the Awards (examinations) team and subsequently moving to the newly formed International Development Team in 2005.  She was appointed as Director for Asia Pacific in 2012, becoming International Development Director in 2013. Jude’s responsibilities include working with, and training, wine and spirit educators in over 70 countries worldwide, where she has gained a great appreciation for the challenges and nuances of communication across different cultures and languages, especially in the field of wines and spirits. She passed the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits with Honours in 2001 also winning the Carlo Pellegrino Scholarship. She is also a WSET Certified Educator.