Finalists revealed for Moët’s UK Sommelier comp

The twelve finalists who have made it through to the concluding heats of the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year competition have been announced.

Chief judge Gerard Basset with last year’s winner, Tanguy Martin

The winners from regional heats in London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol will go through to the semi-final in London on 16 May, with the grand final held later that day for the top three contestants.

The winner will follow in the footsteps of famous sommeliers such as Xavier Rousset, Nicolas Clerc, Jan Konetzki and last year’s champion, Tanguy Martin, to be crowned the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year.

The winners of the 2016 regional heats are:

Scotland: Ladislav Basta, Head Sommelier, The Kitchin
North of England: Tamas Czinki, Head Sommelier, Northcote Restaurant
West of England: Christopher Parker, Assistant Head Sommelier, Lime Wood
London (A): Serdar Balkaya, Head Sommelier, Royal Automobile Club
London (B): Mathias Camilleri, Head Sommelier, The Five Fields Restaurant

They will be joined by the highest scoring runners up:

Terry Kandylis, Head Sommelier, 67 Pall Mall
Jess Kildetoft, Head Sommelier, Mash London
Olivier Marie, Head Sommelier, Coq d’Argent
Remi Fischer, Head Sommelier, Old Course Hotel
Petri Pentikainen, Sommelier & Ass. Restaurant Manager, The Three Chimneys Restaurant

Also joining the semi-final are Arnaud Baudary, head sommelier at Maze Restaurant and 2015 runner-up, and Romain Bourger, head sommelier at The Vineyard at Stockcross and winner of the 2016 Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Young Sommelier Competition.

This is the fifth year that the Sommelier of the Year competition has partnered with Champagne Moët & Chandon. “Our four years of working with the AFWS for this competition has shown that the UK has some of the highest standards of sommellerie of anywhere in the world. Our mission is to enhance the learnings and experience of every entrant – no matter which stage of the competition they reach – takes with them, and we’re very pleased to be able to do this again for the fifth year,” commented Julie Nollet, marketing and communication director for Moët Hennessy UK.

Candidates are judged on their wine and drink expertise as well as their ability to deal efficiently and knowledgeably with customers by demonstrating exemplary front of house skills. An initial paper-based judging led to the regional heats and before the final the last 12 will have the opportunity to visit the Moët & Chandon House and vineyards in order to learn more about the Champagne region and the Moët & Chandon wines.

Chief judge Gerard Basset OBE, MW, MS said, “This is the competition for all sommeliers in the country. Standards are improving all the time as restaurants put more emphasis on wines and their sommeliers are expected to know far more than ever before. The competition tests all areas of sommellerie and the vast knowledge they must possess. Its winners go on to become role models for young people in the food and beverage industry.”

In addition to being awarded with an engraved, silver plated jeroboam of Moët & Chandon Impérial, the 2016 champion will win a ‘money can’t buy’ mentoring programme organised by Moët, the AFWS and The Caterer.

Last year’s winner, Tanguy Martin – formerly of Terravina and now head sommelier at Chiswick’s La Trompette – said, “The Moët Sommelier of the Year competition is a real experience. From the moment you enter, the journey starts and doesn’t stop. When you are preparing for the competition, you are learning every day – you will be tasting new wines and products and discovering new regions and meeting new people who will teach you, train you and support you. This not only increases your knowledge, but also your passion for wine – it’s a challenging competition, but every moment is worth it.”

The Moët UK Sommelier of the Year competition has been organised by the Academy of Food & Wine Service since 1980, and is internationally recognised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI).