Tanguy Martin claims top title

Tanguy Martin of Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire has been crowned Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2015.

Tanguy Martin with runners up Arnaud Bardary and Romain Bourger

The three-hour final stage of this annual competition, which took place at the Savoy hotel in London yesterday, saw Martin push Arnaud Bardary of Maze in London into second place, while Romain Bourger of the Vineyard at Stockcross took third place.

Earlier in the day, the trio had been chosen from 12 semi-finalists drawn from across the country. The final took place in front of an audience of former winners, fellow sommeliers, and a judging panel that included Eric Zweibel MS from the Summer Lodge at Evershot and Roger Jones from The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

After finishing in second place last year, Martin reacted to his win by saying: “It is incredible. It is the third time I have been in the competition and I have worked hard for this. The standard was incredibly high so I am delighted to have won.”

His prize includes a tour and technical tasting at Moët & Chandon, as well as a “money can’t buy” mentoring programme and engraved Jeroboam from the Champagne house; an educational trip to either the Rhône, Loire, Rioja or Navarra funded by on-trade supplier Matthew Clark; a Coravin, engraved Riedel decanter and collection of Riedel glasses.