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From The Vineyards to The Wine Cellar

28 Oct 2024 / Author: Namira Adelia | Editor: Stefany Chandra
A great bottle of wine is more than just a drink, it’s a story waiting to be told, and no one tells it better than a sommelier. At BIKO, we have M. Yusuf Breda whose journey into the world of wine amuses and intrigues us. As we asked him about his recent wine trip—you'll read all about it here—he took us waaaay back instead, and a beautiful, aging-like-a-fine-wine story of his life unraveled before us.

It all began from a pot of Chinese tea.

Our sommelier had an early start, right after graduating high school in 2009. Some might think it was by accident that he failed to enroll in one of Bali's hospitality schools. But most definitely, it was fate that landed him an internship at Kempinski Jakarta, where he got the opportunity to serve in different areas, including the bar and wine section. One night during his internship, a special dinner was hosted with key figures from Jakarta’s food & beverage scene. Yusuf and a few others were assigned a simple task: pouring Chinese tea for the guests. The thing is, as Yusuf declared, what seemed like a small moment, mundane and meaningless for most of us, was actually a turning point that contributed to his ongoing love towards hospitality up until now.

Long story short, one of those guests invited Yusuf to help build a wine program at a new establishment. Eager to learn, he sacrificed his break time to study wine, squeezing in every bit of training he could get between shifts. What started as a chance encounter became a growing passion. Fiery. Keeping him alive. Yusuf steadily climbed the ladder, first as a butler, then into wine-focused roles, and finally as a sommelier at BIKO.

Acta Brasserie opened its doors in March 2020, and things were off to an amazing start. Under his baton, we saw more than we could imagine of Jakarta's wine enthusiasts. He achieved the sales target he had set for himself. "A remarkable number," he told us, "We couldn't believe it either." Now, Yusuf is leading a growing Wine Department, mentoring eight junior sommeliers and fostering a learning culture to serve our patrons across all BIKO outlets better.

Shaping the future of wine through Indonesia Sommelier Association.

In 2023, Yusuf joined the Indonesia Sommelier Association, where he took on the Treasurer role, handling wine acquisition, supporting events, and representing the association at meetings. Indonesia Sommelier Association is a non-profit built on community, committed to education and encouraging a passion for wine. Yusuf’s involvement with Indonesia Sommelier Association reflects his dedication to growing the industry in Indonesia and introducing high-quality wines to the local market.

One of the perks of being a sommelier is traveling abroad for hands-on learning experiences. In 2023, Yusuf visited Vinci, Italy, with the Leonardo da Vinci brand, where he explored centuries-old wineries and witnessed the start of a new batch of wine. In 2024, he journeyed to Bordeaux, France, and then back to Italy for a nine-hour workshop, a once-in-a-lifetime experience tasting rare vintages and learning the deep history of winemaking. He admitted to us that he found a new favorite along the way and that he's currently undergoing the process of getting those wines to Indonesia. 

Sommelier: a never-ending learning process.

For Yusuf, being a sommelier isn’t just about pouring wine; it’s about continuously learning. Wine evolves over time, and so does a sommelier’s knowledge. There’s always something new to discover.

"The wine cellar reflects not just the outlet but also the sommelier’s personality and craft.

Yusuf got a little philosophical when he told us, “Just like wine, personal growth takes patience. Some of the best wines come from grapes that looked like they’d gone bad. The same applies to life, I think. In the place where I am now, I'm grateful not only for being here but for not giving up despite the hardships. Good things, like success, take time, passion and willingness to embrace mistakes and learn from them. Only by then that we can create something truly exceptional.”

Yusuf’s story at BIKO is far from over. He continues to share and ensure that every bottle tastes exactly as it did at the winery. And as he plans for future trips, like an upcoming adventure to Burgundy, the fact rings true: we can’t wait to hear more of his stories from the vineyards.