Jeannie Cho Lee is an award-winning author, television host, editor, wine critic, judge and educator. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jeannie has lived in Hong Kong since early 1994. Jeannie is a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) since 2012 where she helped to launch the Master of Science (MSc) in International Wine Management program. She co-hosted a weekly wine program In Vino Veritas, for three years on TVB Pearl, Hong Kong's leading English-language TV broadcaster. She has been a Wine Consultant for Singapore Airlines since 2009 and is the former Publisher and CEO of Le Pan, a wine lifestyle publication launched in 2015. Jeannie's pioneering book, "Asian Palate" (2009), which explores wine and Asian food pairings, has won many awards, including the Gourmand Award for Best Food and Wine Pairing Book in the World in 2010. Her second book, "Mastering Wine for the Asian Palate" (2011), introduces a new set of Asian wine descriptors for major grape varieties and wine styles. Her third book "The 100 Burgundy" (2019) won the 2020 Gourmand Award for Best book in the World on French Wine. Jeannie's first two books are available in English, Korean and Simplified Chinese and her third Burgundy book is available in English and Simplified Chinese. Jeannie is the Burgundy panel chair at Decanter World Wine Awards, writes a monthly wine column for Robb Report China, contributes to various wine publications such as Decanter and regularly updates articles on her website www.JeannieChoLee.com which contains over 20,000 fine wine notes and ratings.

Recognized for her contributions to the food and wine industry, Jeannie was awarded the Insignia of Knight in the National Order of Merit (Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur) in 2021 by the President of France. She sits on board of the Asia Pacific Council of The Nature Conservancy (www.tnc.org) and is a board member of La Cité du Vin (www.laciteduvin.com) in Bordeaux. Jeannie holds a Certificat de Cuisine from Cordon Bleu and trained as a Sake Sommelier at Japan's Sake Service Institute. She is a Certified Wine Educator with both the UK's Wine & Spirits Education Trust and the US Society of Wine Educators. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College as well as a Master's degree from Harvard University and a PhD from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel & Tourism Management.

Primary area(s) of work: Communication

Industry sector(s): Broadcasting, Events, Journalism, Author, Educator, Consultant, Wine judge, Academic, Marketing research

Wine styles: Fine and rare wines

Wine region expertise: France, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, California

Market expertise: Asia, China

Specialisms: TV, Events, Broadcasting, Food and wine pairing, Airlines, Education, Wine judging