UK unveils contender for World’s Best Sommelier

Eric Zwiebel MS, sommelier at the Summer Lodge in Evershot, Dorset, has been selected as the UK’s representative for next summer’s ASI World Sommelier contest in Japan.

Eric Zwiebel MS

To secure his place, Zwiebel foughts off competition from two former UK Sommeliers of the Year, Matthieu Longuere MS of La Trompette in London and Nicolas Clerc MS of D&D London, as well as the current holder of the title, Jan Konetzki of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Commenting on his selection, Zwiebel said: “It’s a true honour to be chosen to represent the UK in this important competition,” adding: “The selection contest was extremely tough as I was up against three fantastic sommeliers. I am delighted to have won.”

The selection contest, which was organised by the Academy of Food & Wine Service, took place earlier this week at Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire, owned by Gerard Basset MS MW, who oversaw proceedings as chief judge.

Basset himself is the current holder of the ASI World Sommelier title, which is contested every three years.

The four candidates were required to complete a written paper, a blind tasting of two wines and five spirits, a food and wine matching challenge, a decanting task and identification of errors on a wine list.

“We really put these four sommeliers through the mill and tested their skills to the limit,” commented Basset OBE. “Each candidate was strong in a particular area and not so in others, but we chose Eric as the candidate with the best all round skills and the runner-up as Nicolas Clerc.”

For a more detailed look at the work carried out by the AFWS and standard of sommellerie in the UK today, see June’s issue of the drinks business.