An award-winning Melbourne sommelier has escaped severe punishment despite bashing his girlfriend with a wine-cooler out of 'excessive self-defence'.
Renowned Yugen Dining sommelier Lucas Chiche pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday to recklessly causing injury.
The court heard Chiche smashed his girlfriend in the head with a wine-cooler after the pair had a 'confrontation' while he was drunk.
The attack occurred in Melbourne's inner-south on June 30 near where Chiche made his name in the city's elite hospitality circles as an award winning wine expert.
Chiche was arrested by Prahran police and charged later the same day.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge sternly warned Chiche: 'Drunk or sober, you have no excuse striking another person.
'Much less your domestic partner with a wine cooler.'
Chiche, also known as Lucas Chiche-Righi, attacked his girlfriend after she scratched him on the face, the court was told.
Renowned Yugen Dining sommelier Lucas Chiche pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday to recklessly causing injury
Chiche is a lauded sommelier at two-hatted South Yarra restaurant Yugen Dining (above)
Chiche boasted that he worked at the Antony Catalano-owned Raes on Wategos (above)
Deputy Chief Magistrate Lethbridge said he accepted the victim was 'coming at' Chiche.
'That being said, it was accepted in your plea that your conduct was excessive and illegal,' he said.
'Let me make it crystal clear: this court does not accept in any way, shape or form, no matter what the context, that violence against domestic partners is something that is acceptable.
'It must be denounced in the strongest terms, but for the fact that this was excessive self-defence, you most certainly would have been at risk of going to jail today. Get that message.
'If this is what happens when you get drunk, don't get drunk. But you are on notice if you come back to this court again for violence against any person, but in particular, your domestic partner, you are looking at a jail sentence.'
The court heard Chiche is undertaking a men's behavioural change program and his girlfriend, the victim, is sticking by him.
'I'm confident, particularity based on what your partner says about you, that there will not be any repetition of this into the future,' Deputy Chief Magistrate Lethbridge said.
Chiche recently made the inaugural Champagne Louis Roederer top 100 Australian sommeliers, coming in the '51-100' section of the list.
According to Chiche's online bio, he arrived in Melbourne after working at Beach Byron Bay (above)
The sommelier was also lauded by his employer Yugen Dining after the two-hatted, South Yarra Asian restaurant won the prestigious Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards 'Three Glasses' honour.
'We're thrilled to share that Yūgen has been awarded Three Glasses in the 2026 Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards,' a post on the venue's Instagram page says.
'Led by our talented Sommelier Lucas Chiche-Righi, our wine list is a celebration of exceptional producers, distinctive regions, and the stories behind every bottle. We look forward to sharing it with you, one glass at a time.'
Yugen Dining also paid tribute to Chiche when he gained his prized Court of Master Sommeliers certified sommelier certificate.
'A huge congratulations to our sommelier, Lucas, on receiving his Certified Sommelier certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers,' the Instagram post reads.
'A wonderful achievement and a testament to his dedication and passion. In need of a recommendation? Lucas is your guy.'
According to Chiche's online bio, he arrived in Melbourne after working at Beach Byron Bay and and the Antony Catalano-owned Raes on Wategos.
Chiche was placed on a good behaviour bond for two years without conviction and must provide the court proof he completes the men's behaviour program.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Lethbridge warned Chiche not to break the law while on the bond or else.
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