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Christopher Delalonde wins UK Sommelier of the Year

Published:  29 April, 2010


Christopher Delalonde MS, sommelier with Sarment Wines, London, has been named as Champagne Piper-Heidsieck UK Sommelier of the Year 2010.

Christopher Delalonde MS, sommelier with Sarment Wines, London, has been named as Champagne Piper-Heidsieck UK Sommelier of the Year 2010.


Runner up last year Delalonde was awarded the top prize after coming through the semi-finals and finals event held yesterday at the new Westbury Gallery at the Westbury Mayfair hotel, London on.

Delalonde, who has previously worked at The Square and with Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's,said: "Last year I came as a newcomer and finished second, this year I came here to win. Because of that I put myself under more pressure. It has been six months of hard work but I'm delighted to have won, particularly given the high standard of this year's competition."

Runner-up in the competition, organised by the Academy of Food & Wine, was Yohann Jousselin, head sommelier at the Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury, with Clement Robert, head sommelier at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Evershot, taking third place.

Delalonde was presented with the winner's trophy at the Sommeliers' Dinner by Victor Lanson, marketing controller, First Drinks, the UK agent for Champagnes Piper-Heidsieck & Charles Heidsieck. He also wins a trip to the House of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck including a personal tasting with chief winemaker Régis Camus.

Lanson said: "While all three finalists were extremely impressive, Christopher was a worthy winner of the title. His ability to stay calm under pressure, think on his feet and the depth of wine and service knowledge he displayed shone through."

Delalonde passed his Master Sommelier exam last year with the highest score overall.

The Champagne Piper-Heidsieck UK Sommelier of the Year competition seeks to find the best sommelier or wine waiter in the UK based on wine knowledge, customer service skills and tasting ability. Previous winners include Laura Rhys from Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire, Gearoid Devaney, then of Tom Aikens, London, and Nicolas Clerc of the Milestone Hotel, London.

The winner of the first Amateur Sommelier of the Year went to Daniel Brown from London.

The Young Sommelier of the Year award, given to the youngest placed sommelier in the semi-final or final of the main competition, went to Clement Robert from Summer Lodge.

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