Cynthia's Bio

In 2003, Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng, a Francophile and champagne specialist, founded cyn-et-vin (“sin-nay-van”) a premier wine-tasting company that specializes in creating intimate and luxurious tasting events for a discerning clientele. Cynthia, who has been making annual trips to France for the past seventeen years, is fluent in both the language and culture of France. Her tastings are peppered with stories of the winemakers and the people of the Champagne region, and always have a creative spin like “Up next: brut zero, the driest style of champagne” or “When it comes to champagne, it’s all about blending” She aims to demystify champagne by familiarizing her clients with the winemaking process, the various stylistic differences ranging from blanc de blancs to vintage wines, and the fascinating people behind the wine.

As wine editor of the New York-based food and wine website, Cravings (findyourcraving.com), Cynthia writes extensively about bubblies. She is also the champagne and sparkling-wine instructor at Murray’s Cheese, the West Village institution famous for its extraordinary selection of domestic and imported cheeses, and a founding member of the Shanghai Wine Society. A frequent traveler who speaks French and Mandarin as well as Japanese, Cynthia has chronicled global wine and lifestyle trends for publications such as The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine and Golf Connoisseur, Town&Country Wedding and Condé Nast Portofolio.com. She is also a contributor to the new high-end travel website, Indagare.

For Cynthia, cyn-et-vin events communicate her enthusiasm for a cosmopolitan lifestyle centered around wine. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Smith College and an M.A. from Columbia University in French Cultural Studies. Her wine credentials include an advanced certificate with distinction from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). In addition to her love of wine, she is a member of the Urasenke Tea Ceremony Society.