Vietnam's First National Winner in the Italian Wine Sommelier Competition Announced
Vietnam's First National Sommelier Competition Celebrates Italian Wine Culture
Vietnam's wine scene took a significant step forward with the inaugural Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines (VBSIW) competition. Organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and in collaboration with the Association of Italian Professional Sommeliers and the Sommelier Association of Việt Nam, the competition aimed to elevate the sommelier profession and expertise in Italian wines.
The competition began with over 60 applicants, who were whittled down to 38 semifinalists through regional semifinals held in Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. The finale took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 25, where the top three finalists faced eight rigorous challenges, including blind tastings, service tasks, scenario handling, and visual recognition exams.
Nguyen Huu Toan, representing Danang City, emerged victorious, marking a significant moment for the Vietnamese sommelier community. His win follows an intense final round that tested the candidates across a wide range of skills.
The VBSIW competition underscores Vietnam's readiness to engage more deeply with global wine culture as Vietnam's sommelier scene continues to evolve. To support local talent, ICHAM awarded 10 scholarships to hospitality students, furthering its commitment to building a skilled workforce for Vietnam's F&B industry. Each scholarship was valued at around VND10 million (approximately USD390), supporting young learners in their professional journey.
Winning the competition allows Nguyen Huu Toan to earn a commemorative trophy, certification, and a scholarship to achieve the ASI Level 2 certification. He also receives a 10-day educational trip to Italy, providing firsthand exposure to Italian wine regions and deepening his professional expertise and cultural understanding.
The event strengthens the connection between Vietnam’s wine industry and Italian wine producers, fostering greater cultural exchange and professional development within the Vietnamese sommelier community. Italian Consul General Enrico Padula highlighted the event's role in strengthening bilateral ties through shared appreciation of wine and promised continued support for future initiatives.
Speaking after his win, Nguyen Huu Toan expressed his pride and gratitude. The competition created a platform for knowledge exchange and professional engagement between producers, distributors, and wine lovers across the country.
The competition is part of the wider A Taste of Italian Wines project launched by ICHAM in 2022 to promote Italian wine heritage in Southeast Asia. The VBSIW competition reflects a growing demand for professional wine education and cultural exchange, a trend that is likely to continue as Vietnam's wine market and enthusiast base expand.
The competition concluded successfully at the Reverie Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. It featured a wine exhibition area introducing premium Italian wines from associations like Delle Venezie DOC and Valpolicella, as well as top importers. The final round of the competition attracted nearly 100 guests from various sectors, reflecting the increasing interest in wine culture in Vietnam.
In light of Vietnam's First National Sommelier Competition Celebrating Italian Wine Culture, one can imagine a scenario where AI could facilitate education in diverse fields, including wine, by providing comprehensive resources for future sommeliers worldwide. This advancement could lead to cultural exchanges, potentially even integrating traditional Vietnamese wine knowledge with AI's vast capabilities.
Moreover, as wars oftentimes disrupt societal progress, including the education sector, such peaceful events as the Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines (VBSIW) competition can serve as examples of unity and cooperation, bridging gaps and fostering understanding between cultures through shared interests, such as sports, like soccer, or art, such as Italian wine culture.
