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 Independence and impartiality are the key concerns for the judging process of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Judges selected will not have any financial interests in the show wines (i.e. are not importers or producers), but are drawn from a selection of wine journalists, educators, food and beverage professionals, wine buyers and private collectors. Each judging panel of five will consist of: one panel chair; two fully qualified judges; and two trainees (whose scores do not count).
Wines will be judged using the 100-point system.
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Dr Tony Jordan – Guest Chairman of Judges
 The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition is proud to announce that the Guest Chairman of Judges for 2009 will be Dr Tony Jordan.
Tony is consultant to the global wineries of the Estates and Wines group within Moët Hennessy, as well as to other wine companies. He assumed his current roles in mid-2008 after 21 years with the Moët Hennessy group. Commencing as Managing Director/Winemaker for Domaine Chandon Australia in 1987, the role was expanded to consulting on winemaking to the Chandon wineries worldwide in the 1990s. Tony then became CEO of Domaine Chandon Australia, Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay NZ in 2003.
Tony’s early career included being a research scientist in chemical physics, lecturer at Charles Sturt University (where he was involved in establishing the Wine Science course) and managing partner in Oenotec, a worldwide winemaking consultancy. Tony is currently Chairman of Judges of the Perth Royal Wine Show and a senior judge at other national and international wine shows. He is a past President of the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology and the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association.
Competition Organiser, Debra Meiburg MW, said "I have judged with Tony and to have someone of his stature as our first Guest Chairman of Judges not only shows the prestige of the competition we are building but also demonstrates the wine world’s recognition of this new and exciting market.”
Stay tuned for the announcement of other judges in the coming months.
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Simon Tam (Hong Kong)
 Simon Tam was born in Hong Kong and raised in Australia. Proud of his East-West heritage, he is a passionate advocate in the judicious marriage of Asian food with wine. With a career spanning more than 18 years in the Greater China wine industry, he is widely considered Greater China’s industry expert. Simon is a columnist and contributing editors to 23 publications and websites. In 2007 Simon was voted “The Best Wine Consultant in Hong Kong” by 500 members of the wine trade. He has been educating the Asian wine and hospitality industry for a decade and a half. Simon is the founding director of Independent Wine Centre in HK, Shanghai and Macao.
Judging of the food and wine pairing categories will be led by Simon, who says, “The wine industry is flourishing in Asia and, with wine lovers becoming more savvy and the Asian palate attuned to different flavours than those in the West, demand for better information about Asian food and wine pairing is at an all-time high. This category is bound to receive widespread attention from international wine producers, as well as meet consumer demand for intelligent dining information.”
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Debra E Meiburg MW (Hong Kong)
 Debra Meiburg, a long-time resident of Hong Kong, has worked harvest in Chile, pruned vines in Bordeaux and was a cellar-hand in New York. She is a Qualified Wine Judge and Qualified Wine Educator and has judged wine shows on four continents. More importantly, Debra was recently awarded the Master of Wine title, which is the highest accolade in the wine profession. There are only 270 Masters of Wine worldwide and until 2008 no one in Asia.
Originally from Sonoma County, Debra was formerly a wine professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. She writes a popular weekly wine column in the South China Morning Post and is a contributing editor to the Asian Tatler Magazines. In 2007 she was voted “Most Influential Wine Journalist in Hong Kong” by 500 members of the wine trade. Debra presents regularly throughout Asia and her students have included Asia’s finance ministers, cabinet members and key business and political figures. She has travelled in more than 60 countries, visiting wineries in all the key wine districts of Europe, as well as the New World regions, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Chile.
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Ms Sarah A. Wong Man Hing (Hong Kong)
 Sarah was born and educated in Hong Kong. She later pursued a bachelor in economics and masters degree at Columbia University. Her foray into wine began over 10 years ago when she was faced with the daunting task of navigating through a wine list at a French restaurant. Her knowledge and expertise in wine has been developed through extensive wine education, tastings, judging in competitions and via travelling to a broad spectrum of wine regions. In her remaining spare time, she enjoys photography and travelling to the Himalayas.
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Professor Weidong Huang (People’s Republic of China)
 Weidong Huang is the director of the Centre for Research and Development of Viticulture and Oenology at the China Agricultural University and the president of the magazine society of Wine in China. His research fields include: physioecology of wine grape at the population and mechanism of wine grape adaptive responses to the environment; composition and change of polyphenol compounds in grape berry and wine and their application in wine-making, wine-grading and producing areas-recognising; and appreciation of wine.
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Mr Chih-Kuang Chin (Taiwan)
 Chin Chih-Kuang was born in Taipei, Taiwan. His interest in wine began with the launch of Decanter Chinese edition in 2005, where he was the managing editor. Before that, he was a text editor of the Chinese edition of National Geographic magazine. He finds wine fascinating not only for its taste but also for the different terroir that makes wine such a special drink. CK is passionate about wine and food. He is a regular contributor to Decanter Chinese, trying hard to find a match for local specialties.
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Mr Yusen Lin (Taiwan)
 Yu-Sen Lin is a freelance wine writer, author, wine consultant for Eva Air and The Landis Hotel, contributing editor for Decanter (Chinese version) and wine lecturer for SOPEXA Taiwan / China. He has achieved a Diplome International d’Université en Gestion et Economie du Secteur des Vins, Université de Paris X, France and a Diplome de Sommelier Conseil, Université du Vin de Suze-la-Rousse, France.
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Mr Yoshiji Sato (Japan)
 For 15 years Yoshiji Sato has been a wine writer for Shuhan News and travelled to every wine region around the world. He produced a unique comparative report between Japan and UK wine market in 2004 titled "UK market would be a mirror for Japan wine market", well received by wine professionals. He has reported extensively on Champagne, revealing the detailed character of each region and village such as Mailly, Ay, Ambonnay and Bouzy. In October 2007 he also reported on the New York wine market by visiting leading restaurants and retailers. Now he is researching more about wine regions in Japan such as Yamanashi, Nagano and Yamagata.
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Ms Fumiko Arisaka (Japan)
 A pioneer in the Japanese wine industry, in 1980 Fumiko Arisaka founded wine and food magazine Vinotheque, the first wine magazine in Tokyo. She has since travelled to all wine regions around the world to broaden her expertise. Since 2003 she has been a coordinator for the selection of wines for JAL. Fumiko is a member of Academie International du Vin (Geneve) and an adviser for Academie du Vin, the oldest wine school in Tokyo.
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Mr Paul Eun (Korea)
 Paul Eun is currently the sommelier for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Seoul, and has been a wine professional in the hospitality industry for nearly 15 years. He is a wine judge, lecturer and author. In 2006 he won first prize in the first Korean International Sommelier Competition, in 2005 won first prize for Wine Advisor category at the Concours National du Meilleur Sommelier en Vins de France, and in 2003 won forth prize in the Concours National du Meilleur Sommelier en Vins de France.
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Mr Pairach Intaput (Thailand)
 Pairach Intaput has been well known in the food and beverage industry for more than twenty years. He was the winner of Sopexa Grand Prix du Sommelier and was named “The Best Sommelier of Thailand in 1996” and was awarded as a Commandeur de Gastronomie Française from the Institut de Gastronomie Française. He has judged in a number of wine competitions.
He has conducted more than a hundred wine tastings/dinners and wine classes for independent wine clubs, hotels, restaurants, universities and John Robert Powers (Thailand). In 1996-2005 he was appointed Thai Taster in the distinguished tasting panel to select wine for serving on board Thai International Airways, tasting and judging 500-700 wines twice a year. He also set up Thai Sommelier and Gastronomy, a wine school in his own restaurant (Vintage 21) in Bangkok Thailand, conducting wine classes for independent consumers, hotels and restaurants.
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Mr Harshal Shah (India)
 Harshal Shah is a sommelier, wine consultant and wine writer from Sydney, Australia, currently living and working in New Delhi, India. He is contributing editor to Sommelier India, India’s most influential wine magazine. He also writes for newspapers and trade publications in India. He is a consultant sommelier to some respected restaurants and hotels and consults to wine importers in India and to wineries outside of India, providing market intelligence about the Indian wine market. He is a WSET-certified educator and is currently enrolled in the WSET Diploma with a view to entering the Master of Wine program.
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Ms Diwen Qiu (Singapore)
 Although a long-time resident of Singapore, most of Qiu Diwen’s wine consulting and educating work have been done in China, where she was born. She received her Master of Wine Business degree from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Diwen is currently a managing editor for the Wine in China magazine, and a regular wine writer for her wine column. She is an invited guest host for a TV series entitled Enjoying Wine, produced by the Shanghai Educational TV Station. Diwen is also a wine judge in monthly wine reviews organised by the Wine in China magazine and American Express Tower Club Wine Awards, Singapore.
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Ms Fong Yee Walker (People’s Republic of China)
 Fongyee Walker is mainland China's only Master of Wine candidate (2nd Year) and a Certified Educator and Assessor for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. She is the official Chinese translator of WSET Foundation courses in Wine and in Spirits, gives regular bilingual (Chinese-English) wine seminars and is a WSET Diploma holder.
A dedicated wine educator, she has also taught at Cambridge and Tsinghua Universities as well as judging at London’s International Wine Challenge and other competitions. Walker is co-author (with Edward Ragg) of the ‘Sinophile’ wine column for The World of Fine Wine Magazine, the Grape Press column for The Beijinger (originally known as That’s Beijing) and The Cambridge University Guide to Blind Wine Tasting (2006). Her wine journalism in Chinese includes spots in The Financial Times’ new Chinese magazine FT Rui, financial newspaper Caijing Ribao and Fine Wine & Liquor, Wine in China, among other publications. Walker is also on the blind tasting panels for both Food & Wine China and Wine in China magazines.
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Mr David Wong (Macau)
 Born in Hong Kong, David was raised and studied in the UK since the age of four. With a chef’s background, he has worked with David Evans (Vice-Chairman of the World Master Chef’s Association), the late Jean Bordier (Mellieur Ouvrier de France and Chairman of the Master Chefs of France) at the L’Aubergade in France, the legendary Anton Mosimann at his private club in London, Raymond Blanc at his two Michelin star “Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons” in Oxford, and seafood guru Rick Stein (OBE) in Padstow, UK.
David has also extensive hotel experience in Asia. He is presently the Executive Assistant Manager and head of the Food & Beverage department at the Institute of Tourism Studies (IFT). He is an honorary advisor for the Association of Bartenders & Sommeliers in Macau and is an approved tutor for the Wine and Institution Trust, UK (WSET).
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Mr Manin Yeom (Hong Kong)
 Manin Yeom is the Champagne Bar Manager of Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. He has over 10 years of food and beverage experience in Australia, South Korea and Hong Kong. Originally from South Korea, Manin first studied wine in Adelaide and recently won a scholarship from Australia in conjunction with WSET. He has been actively involved in developing the international wine list for the Grant Hyatt Hong Kong.
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Mr Alan Liu (Hong Kong)
 Alan Liu is currently the assistant Beverage Manager and Sommelier at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. He specialises in food and wine matching. In 2007 he was named first-runner up in the “Hong Kong Penfolds Best Sommelier Competition” and “The Hong Kong Best Sommelier Competition”. Alan is the youngest sommelier to be awarded “Best Hong Kong Sommelier” in 2008.
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Ms Clara Yip (Hong Kong)
 Clara Yip is the Assistant Manager of Beverage and Catering Supplies for Cathay Pacific Airways. She is responsible for the wine program of Cathay Pacific Airways and member of the Cathay Pacific Wine Tasting Panel since 1995. She is certified with a WSET Diploma and writes for Winenow magazine.
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Mr Tam Kwok Fung
 Mr. Tam Kwok Fung is the Executive Chinese Chef of City of Dreams, an integrated urban entertainment resort developed by Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (NASDAQ: MPEL), the “must experience” destination in Macau. Mr. Tam oversees the two signature Chinese restaurants, Lung Hin and Treasure Palace. Previously the Chef de Cuisine at Ying of Altira Macau (formerly Crown Macau), a one Michelin Star rated restaurant in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2009, Mr. Tam Kwok Fung brought an unequalled skill in Chinese cooking to Ying, honed over 25-year of experience. During his outstanding career, which spans China, Hong Kong and Thailand, Mr. Tam routinely prepared fine dishes for world leaders, the royal families of Thailand, Japan and Nepal and a host of politicians and presidents.
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Ms Deseree Smith
 Deseree Smith, a Hong Kong native and culinary artist, thoroughly enjoys cooking and organizing a wide variety of thematic parties from the most intimate to the grand. She has travelled across the world, integrating creative themes with the dining and wine pairings she has experienced abroad. Fluent in Cantonese and English, Deseree has worked with a variety of restaurants and hotels in Hong Kong as a communications and marketing consultant. She hosts a variety of shows, and she is known as the "Party Expert" who shares her culinary ideas and unique party concepts on TVB, Now TV, Cable TV, Apple Daily, Ming Pao, Sing Tao, Umagazine, Weekend Weekly magazine and other media. As a cross-cultural, female connoisseur in food and wine, Deseree is excited to bring her diverse background and a creative twist to the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong IWSC.
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Mr Li Shu Tim
 Mr Li Shu Tim is Chef de Cuisine at the Chinese Kitchen, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Chef Li has been with Grand Hyatt Hong Kong since it opened in 1989. He has been invited to present his cooking mastery and Hong Kong cuisine around the world including Jakarta, Manila, Australia and Japan. In addition to the role as the Chef de Cuisine for the 200-seat One Harbour Road, Chef Li is also responsible for planning the menus for the Chinese banquets in the hotel. According to Chef Li, the restaurant's cuisine is home-style Cantonese at its best, "No foreign influences, no nouvelle nuances just traditional dishes lovingly prepared and graciously presented."
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