Moët UK Sommelier of the Year contest now open

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 26 February, 2014

Ambitious sommeliers from across the UK now have the chance to lift the crown as the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2014.

The Academy of Food & Wine Service has launched the 35th year of the competition, and is encouraging wine waiters and sommeliers from all sectors of the industry to enter and broaden their experience, improve their wine and beverage service education, and network with top people.

"Entering this competition is more about the experience and learning opportunity than it is about getting through to the final," said AFWS executive director John Croft. "Many of our competitors come back year after year, getting a little further each time. Without fail, they all say it is an enjoyable experience as well as a valuable part of their professional development and training."

This is the third year that Moët & Chandon has sponsored the competition, and the first time the Champagne House will take all 12 semi-finalists to its cellars in Epernay for an in-depth tour and tasting of past vintages with Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez.

Marketing director Elsa Corbineau said: "Education and networking are key to the competition, and also something that we value very highly at Moët & Chandon. We take our role as partner very seriously, and believe that we can enhance the learning and experience that every entrant - no matter how far they get - takes away with them."

To apply you must fill in an entry form, after which you will receive a first-round questionnaire. The top scorers will then be invited to one of five regional finals held in Bristol, Edinburgh, Stafford, Tunbridge Wells and London on May 6, 2014. From the regional finals, 12 people will be selected for the London semi-final on June 12. Following a morning of tasks, the semi-finalists will be whittled down to three sommeliers who will contest the title. The final will be held the same day in front of an invited audience of industry guests with the name of the winner and runner-up announced at a Champagne reception afterwards.

Competitors will be tested on their wine and drink expertise, service skills and glassware knowledge in tasks that include a blind tasting, spotting errors on a wine list, a restaurant role-play scenario, and, in the final, the notorious Champagne pour.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.sommelieroftheyear.co.uk or by calling Daniel Moriss-Jeffery on 01276 417 882 or emailing Daniel@afws.co.uk.

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