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Nicola Perrone

Head of Wine, Asia at Zuma Restaurants

Nicola Perrone worked as a waiter at London's Le Querce before switching to wine and began his professional sommelier training in January 2013. Later that year, he joined Gordon Ramsay's Maze as commis sommelier, continuing his studies. In January 2015, Perrone was officially certified as a sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers. He left Maze in 2016 after rising through the ranks to become an assistant head sommelier. He has since worked at Luca in Clerkenwell and Jason Atherton's City Social, Orrery in Marylebone, and was responsible for the beverage program in Launceston Place in Kensington.

Currently he is the Head of Wine - Asia at Zuma Restaurants. Zuma is a chain of Japanese Izakaya-style restaurants founded in 2002 by Divia Lalvani, Rainer Becker, and Arjun Waney. The first Zuma location opened in the Knightsbridge area of London, with a concept developed by Becker during his six years working in Tokyo, where he immersed himself in Japanese food and culture.

Key Dates

Super early bird pricing ends on March 31, 2025

Judges

Meet our judges

The China Wine Competition judges are carefully selected by us and include Master Sommeliers, Top Sommeliers, On-Trade Wine Buyers and Wine Directors of China who all serve or buy wine for their business and are involved in developing wine lists.

The mission and philosophy of the China Wine Competition is to award wines that make a great addition to restaurants wine menus and by the glass programs. The judges are top sommeliers and on-trade wine buyers from China who understands the chinese palate.

These judges are here to highlight top wines the Chinese consumers can drink in restaurants, hotels, bars and clubs.

Judges

Meet our 2025 Judges

Tom Baxter

Sotheby’s Deputy Director, Private Sales Manager and MW Candidate

Johann Kwon

Advanced Sommelier - Court of Master Sommeliers (Master Sommelier Candidate) Executive Head Sommelier at Black Sheep Restaurants

Sam Lau

Savor Group Director of Operations & Wine