MANILA, Philippines – Singapore Airlines now has the first Asian Master of Wine, Jeannie Cho Lee, in its distinguished panel of wine experts. Lee is cofounder of the Fine Wine School in Hong Kong, where she continues to lecture. She also lends her expertise, judging in various international and regional competitions, including the Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, Wines of the Pacific Rim, and the Royal Adelaide Wine Show.
“We are pleased to welcome Jeannie onboard,” said Yap Kim Wah, Singapore Airlines’ senior vice president for product and services. “She’s highly respected among the wine circles as a consultant, judge and educator. She also brings with her an Asian perspective and palate to our tasting sessions.”
Born in South Korea, Lee moved to the United States at a young age. But it was being at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, where she spent her junior year, which sparked her interest in wine. Her passion for wine continued through her master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard and upon her university graduation, she attended the Windows on the World Wine School in New York City. Her keen interest in wine led her to obtain the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma in 1998.
Lee replaces Karen MacNeil, who has retired from the Singapore Airlines Wine Panel. Established in 1989, the Singapore Airlines Wine Panel’s two other members are Steven Spurrier from the United Kingdom, a leading authority on wine, whose 45-year career includes founding the first Paris wine school, L’Academie Du Vin; and Michael Hill-Smith, who was honored last year with the Order of Australia for his contribution to the Australian wine industry.
Together, the panel is responsible for recommending the wines, champagnes and port to be served in all classes and on all routes flown by Singapore Airlines. Wines are judged not only on their quality but also on their suitability for drinking onboard an aircraft, where the atmosphere tends to be drier. The panel samples up to 1,000 bottles of wine, champagne, and port annually.