In the delicate dance between wine and cuisine, sommeliers are the unseen maestros who turn moments into memories. The Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 honours nine visionaries whose passion and precision are shaping a new chapter in Vietnam’s fine dining and wine culture.
In the symphony of fine dining, few roles are as quietly powerful as that of the sommelier, the unseen artist who orchestrates harmony between glass and plate, guiding guests through a world of flavours where memory and craftsmanship meet. The Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 pays tribute to these curators of taste through the Best Sommelier category, honouring individuals who elevate wine from a beverage to an experience, and hospitality from service to art.
To be a sommelier is to balance knowledge with intuition, and science with soul. It is to understand not only the technicality of vintages, terroirs, and pairings but also the emotional resonance a great wine can create when perfectly matched with a moment. Each nominee in this year’s line-up embodies that spirit, drawing from deep expertise, curiosity, and a profound love for connection.
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From Da Nang to Hanoi, and the vibrant heart of Ho Chi Minh City, these nine sommeliers represent a new generation of excellence shaping Vietnam’s growing wine culture.
At Si Dining Restaurant, Da Nang, Ms. Trương Lưu Tuyết Trinh pairs the coastal purity of Central Vietnam’s cuisine with a selection that celebrates both Old World grace and New World energy. Her approach is defined by elegance, a belief that wine should whisper rather than shout, enhancing the chef’s artistry with quiet depth.
In the capital, Ms. Trần Thị Dung Trâm of Chapter Dining and Ms. Tô Thị Hoa of JW Marriott Hanoi carry the torch for northern sophistication. Dung Trâm’s meticulous pairings reflect her poetic sensibility and pursuit of balance, while Tô Thị Hoa, a veteran in luxury hospitality, brings her signature warmth and refinement to every table she oversees.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the nation’s cosmopolitan hub, a diverse constellation of talents defines the scene. Ms. Mary Vu of Mad Wine Bar & Eatery is known for her contemporary flair and bold palate, introducing guests to adventurous pairings that bridge continents. At Fume – Japanese Modern Cuisine, Mr. Jesse Selvagn channels Japanese minimalism and European precision in pairings that unfold like meditative journeys.
At Tales By Chapter, Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Vân curates stories through wine, each label chosen not merely for its tasting notes but for its ability to spark dialogue and emotion. Meanwhile, Mr. Andrew Trương and Ms. Trâm Trương Kim Ngân of Aiii House Saigon bring familial warmth to their craft, transforming hospitality into a deeply personal act of sharing and discovery.
Completing the distinguished list, Ms. My Trần of Upstairs Tasting Room and Mr. Paul Võ of Nephele Restaurant continue to raise the city’s fine-dining standards, combining technical mastery with a storyteller’s touch.
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Together, these sommeliers are redefining the perception of wine in Vietnam, not as an imported symbol of luxury but as an evolving culture of appreciation, knowledge, and artistry. They are teachers, interpreters, and innovators who remind us that a great bottle is never just about the wine itself. It is about the story it tells, the people it gathers, and the emotions it awakens.
As the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2025 celebrates these exceptional talents, it also celebrates the maturity of Vietnam’s hospitality scene, a landscape now rich with voices that speak the universal language of taste, elegance, and connection.