Jennifer Docherty became the first ethnically Chinese and Mandarin speaking person to achieve the Master of Wine (MW) in 2015. She is unique in Asia because she has continually worked in the wine business for 15 years with roles in sales, fine wine trading and buying. In 2018, she moved to Asia to immerse herself in the dynamic Asian wine market bringing with her over 12 years of UK wine business experience. For over six years, she used her acute palate, which enabled her to pass her MW practical tasting exam on the first attempt, to select wines for venerated UK and Irish importer, Liberty Wines' award-winning portfolio as their wine and sake buyer.

Jennifer is currently head of buying and education for importer Summergate Fine Wines and Spirits with offices in Hong Kong, Macau and throughout mainland China. Her team manages Summergate’s portfolio and provides training to staff and customers across greater China. Outside of full-time employment, Jennifer judges for various international competitions and participates in the MW education programme.

In addition to wine, Jennifer holds the SSI Master of Sake (kikisake-shi), the WSET Level 3 Award in sake and judges for the IWC Sake Competition as a panel chair.

Current employer: Summergate Fine Wines and Spirits, Greater China

Primary area(s) of work: Trade

Industry sector(s): Agency/Importer, Buying, Distribution, Educator, Import/Export, Journalism, Marketing, Off trade, On trade, Sales, Wine judge

Wine styles: Champagne, Still red, Still white, Still wines

Wine region expertise: France, Piedmont, South Africa, Spain, UK

Market expertise: Asia, China, United Kingdom

Specialisms: Branding, Direct to consumer, Distribution, Food and wine pairing, HORECA, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Importation, Marketing wine, Restaurant wines, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Supermarket and multiple retail, Wine judging