UK Sommellier of the Year 2009: semi-finalists announced
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Following five closely fought regional semi-finals held around the country last week, the Academy of Food & Wine has announced the names of the 15 sommeliers that will now go forward to the national semi-finals of the prestigious Academy of Food & Wine, UK Sommelier of the Year competition, sponsored by Champagnes Piper-Heidsieck & Charles Heidsieck.
The three top sommeliers from the semi-finals, being held on April 29 at London’s Tate Modern, will then battle it out for the ultimate accolade in the final later that day.
The semi-finalists for 2009 are:
· Joris Beijn, head sommelier, Andaz Hotel, London
· Ross Buchanan, head sommelier, Malmaison, Glasgow
· Alexandre Ceret, assistant head sommelier, Greenhouse Restaurant, London
· Garry Clark, sommelier, Chester Grosvenor Hotel, Chester
· Remi Cousin, assistant head sommelier, Fat Duck, Bray
· Christopher Delalonde, head sommelier, The Square, London
· Bavand Foroughi, sommelier, Lowry Hotel, Manchester
· Alvaro Marcos Garcia, head sommelier, Theo Randall Restaurant, Intercontinental Park Lane, London
· Franck Gérôme, sommelier, Sharrow Bay, Penrith
· Yohann Jousselin, head sommelier, Hotel du Vin, Winchester
· Jan Konetzki, sommelier, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London
· Thomas Lamude, sommelier, Milestone Hotel, London
· Laura Rhys, head sommelier, Hotel Terravina, Southampton
· Clement Robert, head sommelier, Hotel du Vin, Cambridge
· Gerhard Steyn, regional F&B manager, Malmaison, Cheltenham
At the semi-finals the sommeliers will complete a written questionnaire and wine tasting as well as answer a marketing-based question in front of a panel of judges to demonstrate their business acumen and ability to work and think as part of a team. From this, three sommeliers will win a place in the tense and demanding final the same day, held on a stage in front of an invited audience of 150 people.
The stage for the final will be set-up like a restaurant, complete with difficult customers and challenging staff. Each of the sommeliers will demonstrate their ability to deal with customers, their knowledge of the wine and drinks business and their management skills. They will then complete a quick-fire blind tasting and the infamous Champagne pour, where a magnum of Champagne Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Brut has to be completely poured into 16 flutes without returning to any of the glasses.
The name of the 2009 Sommelier of the Year will be announced at a dinner that evening.
The panel of judges is headed by the Academy’s Technical Director Gerard Basset MW, MS, owner of Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire and includes master sommelier Matt Wilkin and food and drink writer Tom Parker-Bowles. Last year’s UK Sommelier of the Year was Gearoid Devaney, head sommelier at Tom Aikens in London.
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