James Li — From Beijing Lawyer to Canada’s Best Young Sommelier

In this episode of Tasting Notes Toronto, I sit down with James Li, the recently crowned Best Young Sommelier of Canada and Assistant General Manager at DaNico, a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Toronto. James shares how he's preparing to represent Canada at the World Finals in Sweden, and what drives his ambitious goal of becoming the World's Best Sommelier, a Master Sommelier, and a Master of Wine.  We talk about his unexpected path from a law career in Beijing to the restaurant floor, life at DaNico and why more sommeliers should be building management skills. Whether you're studying for your next certification or thinking about the future of the sommelier career path, this one's for you.James Li — From Beijing Lawyer to Canada’s Best Young Sommelier1:00 – What the Best Young Sommelier Competition Looks Like1:54 – How Theory Prep Differs Between CMS, WSET, and ASI3:28 – Performing Under Pressure: Books, Mentality,5:24 – The Goal of Becoming World's Best Sommelier, Inspired by Gérard Basset8:43 – A Day in the Life: Studying, Service, and Sleeping at 3 AM10:51 – Do Countries Have a Taste? CMS vs Master of Wine Approaches to Blind Tasting13:04 – What Comes After Master Sommelier and Master of Wine?14:41 – Inside DaNico, Toronto's Michelin-Starred Italian Restaurant17:10 – From Head Sommelier to Assistant General Manager17:59 – Why Wine Is the Cherry on Top, Not the Main Course18:21 – Working with Head Sommelier Allison at DaNico20:52 – Why the Future Sommelier Needs Management Skills22:07 – A Vega Sicilia with No Idea and a WSET Course to Impress a Girl23:57 – Leaving a Law Career in Beijing for Hospitality in Canada25:22 – Chinese Wines to Watch27:35 – Assyrtiko with Caviar and Jacquesson 742 DT with Pain au Chocolat28:59 – Why Younger Drinkers Are Chasing Quality and Story Over Big Names31:05 – Tasmania and English Sparkling Wine: The Most Exciting Regions Right Now32:59 – Ontario Wine Is Better Than You Think34:23 – The Béréche Aÿ Grand Cru He Popped After Passing Advanced in Seven Weeks35:33 – What Wine and Hospitality Mean to James LiJames Li — From Beijing Lawyer to Canada’s Best Young Sommelier🙌 Enjoyed the episode?Follow, rate, and review Tasting Notes Toronto on your favorite podcast platform — it really helps others discover the show. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.