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PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

- Wine industry professional with broad experience across all sectors of the industry including MW Candidate, WSET Diploma, Winery Owner, Viticulturist, Winemaker, Wine Competition Judge, Wine Blogger, Wine Sales Importer, Distributor and Consultant. Strong cross-cultural communication, winetasting, brand-building and collaboration capabilities. Widely recognized in China for her research into and winemaking of Marsalen wines as well as for promoting quality, authenticity and enjoyment of wine and spirits.

Professional training, CERTIFICATES & DIPLOMAS

- Institute of Master of Wine

Accepted as Master of Wine Candidate

- Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET)

Diploma in Wines and Spirits

- Barossa Wine Master

Certificate Holder

Professional Experience

Man Zhou Xiang Winery, Penglai Region, Shandong Province, PRC

- Managing Partner & Owner

- Vineyard Director

- Winemaker

International Wine Competition Judge

- Wine100 - Shanghai, China

- Berlin Wine Trophy - Berlin, Germany

- Asia Wine Trophy - Daejeon, Korea

- Barossa Wine Show - Adelaide, South Australia

- Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Italy

- China Ice Wine Show - China

- Asia Wine Competition- China

Magazine Consultant and Contributor

- Regularly consulted for and submitted articles for magazines on wine topics

- HENGSHENG EMPOWER wine consultant

- Tianjin Luxury Outlet Mall Co., Ltd PA consultant

Mami Tsuru Whelehan

Regional Member - Japan

Professional Profile

- After a senior career of 23 years at one of Japan’s leading wine importers, she founded Umami & Wine Ltd., specializing in wine marketing, PR, market development, and social media strategy. She supports international wineries in building premium brands in Japan through integrated PR, education, and digital strategies.

Areas of Expertise

Translating brand identity and terroir into compelling stories that resonate with the Japanese market, while driving measurable commercial results.

* Strategic wine marketing & PR

* Market entry & long-term market development

* Masterclasses and professional education (trade & media)

* Press events and wine & food pairing experiences

* Brand positioning and premium brand building

* Social media strategy and digital promotion

* Japanese cuisine & wine pairing strategy

Current Roles

- CEO, Umami & Wine Ltd.

* Wine marketing & PR

* Wine market development consultant

* Strategic brand support for international wineries

- Wine Journalist (since 2010)Contributor to leading lifestyle and wine publications

Professional Highlights

- Wine marketing, e-commerce, and digital sales strategy

- Key account management (on- & off-trade)

- Brand development for leading Champagne and premium wine houses

- PR and social media collaboration with embassies and international wineries

- Corporate trainer and wine educator for importers

- Online guest lecturer, Geisenheim University – International Wine Business (BSc)

- Led education programs for new sales professionals for over 15 years

International & Domestic Wine Judge

- Asia Wine Trophy | Sakura Wine Awards | Berliner Wine Trophy |Japan Wine Challenge | Wines of Portugal tasting challenge

Media & Publishing

- Contributed to Harper’s Bazaar Japan, Wine Kingdom, Japan Sommelier Association official textbook (German wine section), Éclat, Whynot?, Wands, and other leading media.

Nelson Chow Kwok Ming

Regional Member - Hong Kong

Mr. Nelson Chow, the first titled Professional Sommelier in Hong Kong and Greater China.

Mr. Chow is currently the President of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association (Greater China) and for the past 29 years. His encyclopaedic knowledge of wine has been acquired during the course of more than three decades as a sommelier in the hospitality industry, including senior positions at various five-star hotels and eminent restaurants.

Over the years he was been Vice President of a 5-star hotel group, Principle instructor of three education centre, EAM of a 5-star hotel, Club Manager of the prestigious China Club, Food & Beverage Manager of the Jockey Club, and Restaurant Manager of Petrus.

Mr Chow’s expertise has won him a number of highly respected titles in the professional realm, such as Commander du Bon Temps de Medoc et des Graves, Chevalier du Sopexa en Gastronomie Francaise and etc.

Beside French acknowledgement, Mr Chow also gained as Certified Profession Spanish Wine Trainer in Madrid in November 2008. He also carries the Spanish Wine Challenge Hong Kong since 2008 and French Wine Challenge as the Chairperson to introduce Spanish and French wines to audients in both Hong Kong and China with the great result in Spanish wine and Chinese food pairing.

He has been a long-term judge with the International Wine Challenge in the region.

In recent years, Mr Chow has hosted a number of advanced wine workshops to actively spread the know-how in pursuing the perfect match between Western wine and Chinese cuisine.

- President of the HKSA Greater China

- Vice President of the ASI (2015-17)

- Graduated from UTS with a Master's degree

- Titled as Professional Sommelier of HKSA Greater China

- Chevalier du Sopexa en Gastronomie Francaise

- Commander du Bon Temps de Medoc et des Graves

- Jurade du St Emilion

- Officer du Ordre des coteaux de Champagne

- Le Grand Conseil de Bordeaux

- Accredited lecturer of Bordeaux Wine Academy

- Lecturer at the Spanish Wine Academy

- “Wine Luxe International Award” Wine Challenge Penal Chairman

- Member of the Hong Kong Maître d'HôtelAssociation

- Fellow of the Hong Kong CEO Association

- Guest lecturer on wine and lifestyle at various universities Hong Kong

- Founder of the French Wine Challenge Hong Kong

- Wine Study Tour Leader

- Subject Experts of HKCAAVQ

- Subject Experts of Hong Kong ERB

Ni Nyoman Kerta Widyawati

Regional Member - Indonesia