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Sake Sommelier of the Year competition open for entries

Published:  03 September, 2014

The search to find this year's Sake Sommelier of the Year is now on with entries open to win not only a £5,000 prize but a trip to Japan to delve even deeper in to the world of sake.

The search to find this year's Sake Sommelier of the Year is now on with entries open to win not only a £5,000 prize but a trip to Japan to delve even deeper in to the world of sake.

Organised by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS), in association with the London-based Sake Sommelier Association, the competition is this year sponsored by leading sake producer, Gekkeikan.

 The Sake Sommelier of the Year competition claims to be only one of its kind held outside Japan and the winning contestant will also get the chance to take the Sake Sommelier Association's Advance Sake Sommelier Course during their trip to Japan whilst visiting and working in sake breweries.

To enter includes completing a preliminary questionnaire along with two essay-based questions that will help determine the entrants knowledge and experience of working with sake.

The top-scoring sommeliers will then be invited to attend the semi-final and final at London's Westbury Hotel on November 24 where they will be put through a series of blind tastings, food matching tests and other exercises to assess their sake knowledge. The final will take place in front of an audience of invited guests.

Last year's winner, Rajan Rengasamy of Spinney's, UAE, said of the competition: "Winning was an amazing experience and an honour. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Xavier Chapelou, master sake sommelier and one of the chief judges of the competition, added:

 "Sake knowledge is becoming increasingly important as sake is no longer only served in Japanese restaurants but also in many top end non-Japanese restaurants. It is a growing trend amongst consumers who are on the lookout for the next big thing in luxury experiences," said master sake sommelier Xavier Chapelou, one of the chief judges of the competition.

The Sake Sommelier Association (SSA) offers sommeliers the chance to take sake courses including the Introductory Sake Professional and Certified Sake Sommelier and to become an SSA accredited Sake Sommelier.

Entries must be received by September 22. To enter go to www.afws.co.uk/events or http://www.sakesommelieroftheyear.com/ for further information.

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