Lesley Liu

Odette, Singapore

A dedicated champion of women in wine

Lesley Liu, head sommelier at Odette in Singapore, believes gender shouldn't define success in the world of wine. Liu, who is the first woman from Taiwan to hold an Advanced Sommelier Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, joined Odette in Singapore as assistant sommelier in 2019, rising through the ranks to become head sommelier in 2022.

Born in Taiwan, Liu's first brush with the world of wine came with her father's post-work whisky – describing him as a 'whisky man', Liu was curious to learn more about the drinks world, becoming fascinated with wine. She then studied international trade and accounting at university before pursuing her passion for hospitality at the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism.

After graduating, she joined the front of house team at Le Moût in Taichung, working her way up to a leadership position. From here, she was encouraged by renowned chef Lanshu Chen to pursue her passion of working in wine. Liu relocated to Shanghai in 2018, quickly making her mark in the fine-dining scene as a sommelier at Maison Lameloise.

In 2019, Liu made the leap to Singapore, where she is still based. She is inspired by the myriad cultures and nationalities that find home in the country, and how this impacts the dining scene. Alongside honing her skills through professional accreditation from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, in 2021 and 2023 she was named Sopexa Singapore's Best Sommelier in French Wines, as part of one of Asia's most esteemed wine competitions.

Liu also finds time to use her talent and tenacity for good – she is fervent about encouraging more women to join the wine industry, and uses her work as a member of the Sommelier Association of Singapore to mentor aspiring talents.

As part of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026, Liu is a deserving winner of Asia's Best Sommelier Award, sponsored by Vik.

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