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Yulia Ezhikova
Yulia Ezhikova
Yulia Ezhikova is a sommelier and wine writer with years of hospitality experience under her belt. She’s currently curating a beverage programme at the Nordic fine dining restaurant Embla in Hong Kong and regularly writes for various publications such as Tatler Hong Kong and Drink Magazine Asia.

‘Believe in yourself’: Asia’s Best Sommelier Della Tang on her meteoric rise

Della Tang, 29, first winner of the Asia’s Best Sommelier award from Asia’s 50 Best list’s inaugural Best Sommelier Award. She reflects on her meteoric rise at Shenzhen restaurant Ensue. Photo: Ensue

Sommelier extraordinaire Della Tang reflects on her meteoric rise as beverage director at high-end Shenzhen restaurant Ensue, and offers advice for those trying to emulate her success.

‘Profound change’: US critic Jon Bonné rewrites the book on French wine

Opinions about French wines need updating, and top US wine writer Jon Bonné is cheering for the rising stars and laying old myths to rest. Photo: Shutterstock

Opinions about French wines need updating, and top US wine writer Jon Bonné is cheering for the rising stars and laying myths to rest. He talks to Yulia Ezhikova about what he’s learned.

He went from KFC to becoming the third best sommelier in the world. Here’s how

Reeze Choi Kam-fung at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023 competition in Paris. The Hongkonger talks about his “unreal” journey from convenience store worker to third best sommelier in the world. Photo: Association de la Sommellerie Internationale/HrvProd

Hongkonger Reeze Choi Kam-fung’s ‘unreal’ journey from fast food and convenience store worker to third best sommelier in the world has been one of hard work, humility and humour.

Opinion | Why it’s time to take a hard look at our relationship with alcohol

A group of women drinking. Sommelier Yulia Ezhikova shares five ways you can rethink your approach to alcohol and drinking, from no-alcohol days to keeping stress levels in check. Photo: Shutterstock

Stop binge drinking, introduce no-alcohol days and keep your stress levels in check – sommelier Yulia Ezhikova shares a few things she is implementing when it comes to her alcohol consumption.

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Opinion | Wine expectations for 2023 from 6 people defining the scene in Hong Kong

Wine tasting at a restaurant. Six of Hong Kong’s top wine professionals and sommeliers have shared their expectations for the wine industry in 2023. Photo: Shutterstock

Six of Hong Kong’s top wine professionals and sommeliers share their expectations for the wine industry in 2023, including more natural wines, and less French wine drunk at Italian restaurants.

Opinion | 7 sparkling wine alternatives to pricey champagne for the holiday season

Sparkling wine will be drunk widely over the holiday period, but champagne is expensive. We pick some alternatives that won’t break the bank. Photo: Shutterstock

A lot of sparkling wine will be drunk over the holidays, but champagne is expensive. We pick seven alternatives that won’t break the bank.

Opinion | Is wine art? Well, yes … but only when it’s a good bottle you’re drinking

Wine is at the intersection of nature and human values, and can inspire thought much like a traditional work of art. Photo: Shutterstock

Wine – the consumable, communal manifestation of the interplay between nature and human values – can inspire emotions and conversation just like an artist’s painting. When it’s a good bottle, of course.

Opinion | Why do some wine bottles have such thick glass? It’s a waste

Some wine bottles were getting thicker and heavier from the 2000s on, causing wine expert Jancis Robinson to campaign against the practice, which accounts for a large part of wine’s carbon footprint. Photo: Shutterstock

Bottles are responsible for nearly a third of wine’s carbon footprint, and some are two or three times heavier than others. Why is that?

Opinion | Cool red wine is not a crime: go with light and low-tannin, and chill out

Cool red wine is not a crime, especially in a hot, humid Hong Kong summer, so pick a light low-tannin wine and chill out. Photo: Getty Images

Chilled red wine makes sense in Hong Kong’s hot summer, and if you forget merlot or cabernet sauvignon and pick a light wine that’s low in tannins, cooler temperatures will accentuate its complexity.

Opinion | Why you should drink that special wine you’ve been saving

Your wine collection is gathering dust and you are not getting any younger. Seize the day and pour yourself something special. Photo: Shutterstock

You’re not getting any younger, and those wines you ‘put away for another time’ won’t drink themselves. It’s time to seize the corkscrew, live life to the full and enjoy.

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Opinion | Why not choose a different wine? Drop that pinot and pick up a pigato

If you want to get our of your daily rut, why not put down your sauvignon blanc or merlot, and change your wine drinking habits? Photo: Shutterstock

If you are feeling uninspired, it’s time to change your wine drinking habits. Pick up some new wines, try new grape types, and be adventurous.

Opinion | Repeat after me – rosé is not a boring wine. You’ve just not had a good one

Rosé wine is poured into glasses at Weingut Klosterhof Töplitz, Germany in 2016. Despite its bad rep, there are rosé wines that have just as much depth and flavour as a classy red or white. Photo: Getty Images

Despite their bad rep, there are rosé wines that have just as much depth and flavour as a classy red or white – you just need to look for them.

Opinion | Why sommeliers hate it when you BYOB, and the times when it’s OK

Yulia Ezhikova is the sommelier for Embla restaurant in Central, Hong Kong. Photo: David Holmberg

When people bring their own wine to restaurants it is annoying for sommeliers, unless you have something that is very special – in which case, pay the corkage and give the sommelier a taste.

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