Text by Dian Pasquinal Kaur
In 1999, wine culture in Southeast Asia was still in its infancy and the idea of making a career in the industry was practically unheard of. But for Amy Leese, a bold career switch at 29 set her on a path to becoming one of the region’s most respected figures in wine.
Coming from an insurance background, Amy was offered a marketing role at Excaliber Fine Wines, a Hong Kong wine distributor newly established in Singapore. “I was the first batch of staff hired. I only asked one question – can we drink? When they said yes, I told them to count me in,” she laughs.
Without today’s wealth of online resources, she relied on brochures and a fearless curiosity. “It was daunting meeting F&B directors and clients, but I stayed honest and humble. I asked questions. That’s how I survived.”
In 2000, Sopexa – now part of Hopscotch – launched a satellite training program in the Lion City to promote French food and wine. Experts visited annually to teach the fundamentals of French wine, drawing thousands of eager learners, including Amy. After two years, she was among the few to become a certified professional.
With newfound confidence, she travelled to vineyards to deepen her knowledge, learning about wine from the soil up. “Every day is a learning curve. Even now, I spend two hours daily reading wine reports, tracking weather patterns, wineries and winemakers. That’s what keeps me going.”
Her passion led her to Tung Lok Group as a sommelier, where she refined her expertise. In 2005, she became the first female nominee for the Scott Swiesel Sommelier of the Year at the World Gourmet Summit, earning a spot among the top three – validation of years of dedication.
From sommelier, she transitioned into entrepreneurship in 2009, founding her own wine import-export company and taking on her biggest challenge by opening a wine bar at Robertson Quay. “I worked 12-hour days managing people, curating wine lists and crafting promotions for Incontro Wine Bar & Ristorante to stand out from the competition. It was no longer just about drinking wine and being happy; I had to ensure everything ran smoothly.”
In 2013, Amy moved to Kuala Lumpur with her British husband and took on consultancy roles for top restaurants. “I was behind Soleil’s relocation to DC Mall, overseeing everything from interior design to hiring. In Singapore, I worked with Mandarin-speaking staff, but in Malaysia, I trained the workforce consisting of folks from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan and the Philippines.”
One of her proudest moments came while mentoring an Italian restaurant’s owner in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. During a wine training session, she invited a Pakistani staff who was washing dishes to join in. “My classes are always fun, interactive. He was inquisitive, paid attention and even managed to sell the most expensive bottle based on my pointers. Within a year, he became a beverage manager at a top bar. That’s when I realised my job is more than just wines, I’m changing lives.”
Now, Amy embraces a slower pace, guiding connoisseurs in discovering exceptional wine pairings and curating wine tours through her company, Seraph Wine. “For years, my life was all late nights and endless events. Now, I embrace la dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing. Just as wine is all about balance.” But her passion for wine and people remains as strong as ever.
This article was first published in The Peak Malaysia’s April 2025 issue.
