A competition of the calibre of the International Final of the Chaîne’s Jeunes Sommeliers would simply not be possible without the dedication, knowledge and commitment of its distinguished panel of judges.

Their considerable knowledge, professional experience and meticulous attention to detail are fundamental to ensuring that the Semi-Final and the Final are conducted with the highest standards of fairness, integrity and excellence.

Judging such a demanding competition requires not only exceptional technical expertise, but also considerable time, concentration and a genuine commitment to nurturing the next generation of sommeliers.

The judges carry the important responsibility of evaluating each competitor impartially, recognising individual strengths and ensuring that every participant is given a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

Without their involvement there could be no competition, but thankfully we do have them and thus the competition continues to uphold the highest standards and inspire the young professionals who represent the future of our profession.

Thank you, Yohann, Tamás, Yvo and Tina for helping to make the 2026 International Final such a meaningful and successful occasion.

Marie Jones
International Vice President
Chair, Jeunes Sommeliers Competition Committee

Photos courtesy of Cecilia Wimmerstedt

Here are the biographies of the four judges …

Yohann Jousselin MS, Chair
Officier Maître Sommelier
French-born Yohann Jousselin MS has over 20 years of experience in the industry. Until recently he was the Head of Fine Wines at Kerry Wines in Hong Kong. Previously, he held prominent positions at Shangri-La Group, including Assistant Vice President of Food & Beverage (Wine), Regional Wine Director, and Director of Wine, where he led award-winning wine programmes across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He has also worked at renowned establishments like Robuchon au Dome and The Vineyard, further solidifying his reputation in the global wine industry.

Yohann’s extensive experience spans managing large wine collections, training teams and enhancing guest experiences, contributing to numerous prestigious wine accolades the first of which was winning the Chaîne’s International Jeunes Sommeliers Competition in 2009 and in the same year he passed the examination to become a Master Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers (Europe). His expertise and passion for wine continue to shape the fine wine industry in Hong Kong and beyond.

Tamás Czinki MS
Maître Sommelier
Tamás began his career in the hospitality industry at a young age, gaining experience at some of Budapest’s finest restaurants before deciding to pursue a professional path as a Sommelier.

To further develop his expertise, he moved to England and joined Northcote as a Sommelier, where his passion for wine deepened significantly. During this period, he actively participated in numerous sommelier competitions, further refining his knowledge and skills within the international wine community.

A defining milestone in his career came in 2020, when he successfully passed the Master Sommelier Diploma, becoming the first - and currently the only - Hungarian Master Sommelier.

Today, he is Wine Director at Felix Restaurant in Budapest, while also working independently as a wine consultant and educator. In addition, he is regularly invited to judge prestigious international wine competitions, including the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Yvo Erades
Échanson Honoraire
Yvo started his career in wine at the age of 18, working for a wine merchant in the Netherlands. At 22 he took over the business developing it to be an important supplier to the hospitality trade. Currently he is the co-owner of two retail wine stores in Leiden and the Hague.

Yvo completed the WSET Diploma and subsequently became a “Weinakademiker”. His thesis focused on Nebbiolo clones and their role in Barolo. Although his qualifications gave him the opportunity to continue towards the Master of Wine programme, he chose instead to pursue the Court of Master Sommeliers route with a particular interest in the practical and service side of wine.

Nowadays, Yvo is a wine buyer for a Dutch wine buying cooperative representing more than 40 independent merchants.

Until April 2026, Yvo was Échanson with the Bailliage of the Netherlands. In his spare time, he is a keen cook and enjoys bringing wine and food together both professionally and at home.

Tina Johansson
Maître Sommelier
Tina’s interest in wine began when she was 20 years old, one year later she moved from Umeå in northern Sweden to Stockholm to start her studies to become a Sommelier. Besides her Sommelier education she is also certified by the WSET: Level 4 Award in Wines, Level 3 in Sake, Level 3 in Spirits and Level 2 in Beer, as well as being a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Tina works as Wine Director for three Stockholm restaurants. Before this she was the Head Sommelier at the Michelin 1-star Restaurant Ekstedt. She is a Consultant Sommelier lecturing future sommeliers at the Scandinavian Wine Academy, as well as writing about wine and helping create wine lists for restaurants or social media content for different wine organizations.

Tina is currently leading the competition for Sweden’s Best Female Sommelier. Furthermore, she is Vice-President of the Swedish Sommelier Association, as well as being a member of Swesomm, the Swedish National Sommelier team.