David Hsiao
David Hsiao
(Image credit: David Hsiao)

David Hsiao, Head Sommelier at Michelin-starred La Cocotte in Taiwan, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

David Hsiao

David Hsiao is Head Sommelier at Michelin-starred La Cocotte by Fabien Vergé, which has also been awarded one of the best five restaurants in Taiwan by The Miele Guide. David is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and also holds the WSET Advance certificate.

He is a board member of the Taiwan Sommelier Association and represented Taiwan in the 2013 South East Asia Best Sommelier Competition which was held in Singapore.

David was raised in New Zealand and originally trained with an MSc in Biochemistry at the University of Auckland, where he began to develop his knowledge of wine alongside. He has been appointed by the New Zealand Trade Development Centre, Taiwan as Wine Promotion Representative as well as Gastronomy Ambassador by Business France, also in Taiwan. With extensive experience in hosting events and interpretation, David is a regular wine judge in various competitions hosted in the UK, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Natalie Earl
Natalie Earl
Regional Editor for France (excluding Bordeaux & Burgundy)
It was during her time studying for a French and Italian degree that Natalie began her foray into wine: tutoring French in exchange for WSET lessons in her spare time (she now realises who got the better deal!). She moved to the Languedoc after graduating to work for a vineyard tour company, before returning to the UK in 2016 to join the tastings team at Decanter.