2024 - The Daily VINEXPO ASIA - PREVIEW Edition

I TRADE TALK I
Thailand's flavourful cuisine offers
incredible pairing possibilities
Nutawan Jumpanak, top sommelier at the Anantara Siam
Bangkok Hotel and Thailand's Best Sommelier 2019,
has been described as a veritable “wine guru.” The Daily
Vinexpo Asia spoke with her ahead of this year's show
about Thailand’s unique wine scene.
which sometimes surprises people.
Among all of the women Sommelier
that I've ever worked with, they all put
100 percent effort into every detail.
This level of quality and attention to
detail is gaining recognition.
My favorite part is the moment when I
get to teach a guest about a particular
wine. And almost always, when wine
is on the table, conversations are
interesting, upbeat and successful
What are some of the major trends
in wine in Thailand at the moment in
your opinion?
The pandemic closed restaurants and
bars in Thailand, and people could
only drink wine at home. But now
that things are back open, there’s a
real trend toward premium labels,
especially in the fine-wine market.
How does this market differ from
other parts of Asia?
Our particular cuisine, with its
emphasis on flavours and seasoning,
makes for extraordinary opportunities
to experiment with food and wine
pairing, and creates a natural niche
for small-scale wine producers and
sparkling wines.
You have been vocal about changing
the perception surrounding women
and wine in Asia. Can you tell us
about why this is so important and
what changes you’ve seen in the
industry so far?
It is a blessing to be a woman in the
wine industry. We are passionate, and
bring a particular feminine energy. We
have exceptional wine knowledge,
What is your favourite part about
working in the wine and spirits
industry?
A vision for taste and quality
in China's wine market
The Daily spoke with Master of Wine Jennifer Docherty
about the importance of taste for Chinese consumers and
what to expect from her two masterclasses this year at
Vinexpo Asia in Hong Kong.
Can you tell us about the
importance of taste for Chinese
wine consumers?
I had a fundamental disagreement
with a past manager because I
insisted that the taste and quality
of wine matters in China. Although
China is an immature market, I am
a long term thinker. The Chinese
consumer knows quality and taste,
you can see this in the cuisine
and taste for the finer things in
life. Bringing in cheap wines that
taste poorly is disrespectful to the
consumer. It may provide short term
sales, but it is not a strategy for long
term growth, and frankly, it is not
good business.
What are your goals at Vinexpo Asia
2024?
Vinexpo Asia is an opportunity to
catch up with producers and for me
to share market news with them
and also learn about their markets
worldwide.
You are giving two masterclasses at
Vinexpo Asia this year. Do you have
a main message you hope to convey
to attendees?
The two masterclasses allow me
to share my ever-long enthusiasm
and passion for wine. This year I am
encouraging people to have another
look at Bordeaux, a region that is
making better and better wines
offering great value.
The second masterclass is a selection
of wines that I like from all over the
world matched with some canapes.
Having worked as a buyer in Hong
Kong, I would like to encourage
drinking outside of the box.
I would have loved to bring in some
sherry but could not because the
demand wasn’t there to justify the
warehousing costs
TUESDAY, 28 MAY 2024
10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m
Spotlight on Bordeaux
wines to drink now
聚 焦 波 尔 多 : 现 在 就 喝
的 葡 萄 酒
Room N-104-105
Language: English
WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY 2024
12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m.
Sips and Bites From
Around the World
品 尝 来 自 世 界 各 地 的 美 食
Room N-109-110
Language: English
8 THE DAILY • TUESDAY 21 MAY 2024 vinexpoasia.com