Bvlgari Hotel sommelier named Tokyo Italian Wine Sommelier

Isao Goki, chef sommelier at the Bvlgari Hotel in Japan, wins this year’s db Asia Tokyo Italian Wine Sommelier Award.

Bvlgari Hotel sommelier named db Asia Tokyo Italian Wine Sommelier

A highly accomplished sommelier, Isao Goki’s passion for wine began when he was 22 and working as a waiter in an Italian restaurant. It was there that he got the opportunity to taste a 1997 Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico, an experience that sparked his passion for Italian wine.

In the years since, Goki has acquired an impressive number of certifications for his work in wine and hospitality. Holding an International Sommelier Diploma alongside specialist certifications including a Sommelier License, Sake Diploma and Cheese Professional License, Goki brings a uniquely well-rounded expertise to his craft.

He is also a Champagne Chevalier, a certified instructor for Champagne Écuyer and an ambassador for Ceretto, a winery in the heart of the Langhe, a hilly subregion of Italy’s Piedmont.

“The main reason I obtained my sommelier certification was because I believed that professional knowledge was essential to build trust with customers. However, more than the certification itself, I consider the many encounters with talented sommeliers over the years of working as a sommelier to be my greatest asset,” he says of his years in the wine industry.

Bvlgari Hotel sommelier named db Asia Tokyo Italian Wine Sommelier db Asia’s Sophie Allan (left) and Marissa Walker (right) presenting the award to Goki’s colleague Rin Fujitani at a ceremony in Tokyo
Express terroir

Goki is currently the chef sommelier at the Bvlgari Hotel in Tokyo, a boutique hotel bringing Italian style to the heart of Japan. Goki personally selects all the wines available at the Bvlgari, focusing on “producers who prioritise environmentally friendly grape cultivation and wine production” and offering “wines that express terroir”, he says.

When it comes to Italian wines, Goki is drawn to the “charm” of their “gentle and friendly character. The significant differences in wine characteristics depending on the region are fascinating. This diversity continually captivates me,” he says.

This year’s db Asia Tokyo Italian Wine Sommelier Award was sponsored by Cantine Vitevis, Coravin and Herita Marzotto Wine Estates.

Giacomo Marzotto, export and travel retail director at the company, said of the award: “We are proud to support an international initiative that recognises talented sommeliers like Isao Goki, capable of expressing a deep knowledge of Italian wine culture — a heritage we have proudly promoted for over 90 years.”