Uncorked: Felix Ho

Felix Ho is the sommelier of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s newly opened Mercato in Hong Kong. Previously he worked at the Langham for seven years and says he fell in love with wine completely “by accident” while working as a waiter. Ho speaks to dbHK about never having enough hours in the day and hosting a dream dinner party with FC Barcelona…

What vintage are you?

1988.

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

It wasn’t really a particular bottle. When I was a waiter I just found that I wanted to spend all my free time learning about wine, and so I made the move into the wine division and it was here that I really began to fall in love with wine.

What would you be as a wine?                             

Maybe a young second growth Bordeaux – not the best, but will improve over time.

What is your great vice?

Too much alcohol in my life…

Best advice you ever received?

不忘初心，方得始終. Roughly translated into English as: Never lose sight of where you started, otherwise you’ll never reach your goals.

Most overused word?                                             

“Fruity.” I cannot imagine a wine without fruit.

Your cellar’s underwater, which bottle would you dive in and save?

Chateau Musar White 1989. It’s the best white wine I have ever had.

What’s the best and worst thing about the wine business?

Best: I get to meet thousands of great people and sample great wine and great food.

Worst: 24 hours a day is not enough for sommeliers.

What’s on your wine bucket list?

I am too poor to have a bucket list!

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Andrés Iniesta. I am not only a wine lover also a big fan of FC Barcelona.

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)

50 just on the average, not even close to 100…

Which wine would you like served at your funeral?

Any bubbles – it’s time to celebrate after a long journey!