BEST SOMMELIER UK 2023

This year at the Merchant Taylor’s Hall, the UK Sommelier Association held the seventh edition of The Best UK Sommelier - Villa Sandi Award and Walkaround Tasting.

The competition was hosted by Julien Sarrasin, ex champion and Head Sommelier at Hyde, with the support on stage of the UK Sommelier Association Vice President Federica Zanghirella and off stage of the UKSA President Andrea Rinaldi.

The event culminated with the announcement of the Best UK Sommelier Giuseppe D’Aniello, Sommelier at Berners Tavern London Edition Hotel. First runner up Mateusz Kowalczyk, Head Sommelier at Kai Mayfair and second runner up Juan Manuel Marcos Perez, Head Sommelier at Noble Palace.

 The first morning session, saw the Sommeliers taking part in a first round written exam, blind wine tasting and wine pairing, supervised by members of Italian Sommelier Association (AIS).  From this, the contestants were whittled down to three semi-finalists.

In the afternoon, the three semi-finalists were asked to perform on stage the best service possible, by role-playing customers.The three finalists performance included blind wine tasting and spirit identification, service, bottle opening, decanting, wine and food pairing and communication test.

 Judging the performance Masters of Wine, journalists, Sommeliers, wine experts and AIS board members.

The Winner was awarded with a cup, sash, a magnum of Prosecco offered by the main sponsor Villa Sandi, a trip to Venice and visiting Villa Sandi estate, a £1000 cheque offered by UKSA and a personalised Coravin. The first and second runner up received a cup, a magnum of Prosecco, a £250 award each and a Coravin each.

The Best UK Sommelier 2023, Villa Sandi Award pays homage to the style, elegance and skills of this passion fuelled profession, and has been designed to celebrate the wine professionals within the hospitality industry and their crucial role in the business.