Ms. Jeannie Cho Lee appointed Knight in the Legion of Honour [fr]
Renowned oenologist Ms. Jeannie Cho Lee was bestowed with the distinction of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur) by Consul General of France Mr. Alexandre Giorgini at a ceremony held at the Residence of France on 5 November 2021.
Ms. Jeannie Cho Lee is a Hong Kong-based wine critic, writer and wine educator. She is an influential figure among wine professionals and amateurs in Asia and in the United States. Her expertise was globally recognized when she became in 2008 the first ethnic Asian to receive the title of “Master of Wine”.
While contributing to renowned publications such as Decanter, Wine Spectator, The World of Fine Wine, Wine and Dine, Wine Business International, Robb Report China and La Revue du vin, she also participates as a judge in prestigious competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, the International Wine Challenge and the Royal Adelaide Wine Show. Passionate about the French terroir, she devoted her latest book The 100 Burgundy to her favorite wines from the region.
Willing to share her knowledge, Ms. Jeanne Cho Lee teaches at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and co-founded the Fine Wine School in Hong Kong. She also teaches at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, at the Chinese Culinary Institute and at the International Culinary Institute.
She collaborated on numerous occasions with the French diplomatic network on campaigns to promote French wines. A seminar on wine culture was co-organized in 2019 by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Dijon with the participation of prominent French specialists such as Prof. Jean-Robert Pitte. In 2020, Ms. Jeannie Cho Lee also organized a gala dinner in Hong Kong to raise funds for the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux.
With the insignia of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour, awarded on behalf of the President of the French Republic, the Consul General of France Mr Alexandre Giorgini wished to recognize Ms. Jeannie Cho Lee’s exceptional merits and her remarkable contribution to the promotion of French wines across the world.
About the Legion of Honour
The Legion of Honor is the highest French decoration. Established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802, it is awarded to citizens who have demonstrated eminent merits in their field of activity.