Derek Li
Derek Li
(Image credit: Derek Li)

Award winning sommelier for JIA Group Derek Li is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Derek Li

Hong Kong born sommelier Derek Li joined global hospitality company, JIA Group as the group sommelier in 2017, overseeing thirteen restaurants including Michelin-starred Duddell’s and Louise with Julien Royer. Li is an Advanced Sommelier of the Court of Master Sommelier (CMS) and has his WSET Diploma. He is also currently Vice President of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association.

Talented, passionate and personable, Derek was recognised as the Best Sommelier in Greater China 2015 by the Hong Kong Sommelier Association and Sopexa. He was a runner-up for the South Africa Sommelier Cup Competition Asia and second runner-up of the One Belt One Road Asia Sommelier Competition in 2019. Finally, he was a semi-finalist of the ASI Asia Oceanic Sommelier Competition in 2018.

Derek is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019.

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.