Sommelier Dirake-rit Kotchawong: "I still have to tell my family I'm a wine taster." (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)

Local wine experts become toast of Thailand

Thai sommeliers break through at top restaurants despite lack of tradition

JOHN KRICH, Contributing writer

March 15, 2019 14:30 JST

BANGKOK -- Three years ago, Kodchakarn Panpotong had never touched alcohol. She has yet to visit a winery. Despite long experience in the restaurant trade, she hardly seemed a promising choice to recommend wines at Eat Me, a mainstay of Bangkok's fine dining scene.