Six of Great Britain’s leading young sommeliers gathered at Gaggenau showroom, Central London, on Wednesday 10 June 2009 for the national final of international gastronomic society, Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ International Young Sommelier Competition in association with Gaggenau and Pernod Ricard.

The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ International Young Sommelier Competition is the only international level competition of its kind and one of only two competitions dedicated to the art of sommellerie. The other is the UK Sommelier of the Year Competition run by the front-of-house professional body, the Academy of Food & Wine, the UK branch of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale.

“As the UK’s professional body for sommelier, we have been delighted to support this competition,” commented Sophie Roberts-Brown, executive director of the Academy of Food & Wine and member of the competition’s judging panel. “Our mission has always been to promote best practice and to promote and encourage young people into the front-of-house profession. It was particularly rewarding to see the impressive skills of these young sommeliers and to see how dedicated and professional they were.”

The prestigious panel of judges, lead by Master of Wine Master Sommelier Gerard Basset, assessed contestants through a series of rigorous tests designed to test their drinks knowledge, tasting skills and service skills including decanting, champagne service and food and wine pairing. Personality and passion for wine also plays a big part. “A top sommelier has a great personality and good communication skills and also the ability to help a customer feel at ease without lecturing or over-selling. Wine and food knowledge can be taught, but much of a sommelier’s skill is intuitive,” Gerard Basset said.

Judge Xavier Rousset, Master Sommelier and owner of Texture restaurant in London added: “It’s very interesting to see the different angles to approach the same job, where they work and their culture really determines their outcome and how they are perceived.”

25-year-old Yohann Jousselin (French) from Hotel du Vin in Winchester (pictured with Philip Evins, Bailli Délégué) scooped the title of Great Britain’s Young Sommelier of the Year. Jousselin first became interested in wine helping his uncle in his vineyard in the Loire valley and has grown into a seasoned sommelier currently studying to become a Master Sommelier.

Judge Stephen Spurrier, international wine consultant said: “I tend to only judge wines and very seldom judge wine people so I enjoyed the experience. The competition was very interesting, there was one clear winner and then as a judging panel we debated over the second place. The winner was very knowledgeable, second place went to a brilliantly intuitive individual.”

In second place was 24-year-old Erica Laler (Swedish) of Texture restaurant in London. Laler first became interested in wine at the age of 18 when a friend sommelier gave her four different red wines to blind taste: “After that I was mesmerized”, she said.

26-years-old Daniel Kubini (Czech Republic) Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton came third place. Also participating in the competition were 20-year-old Tom Pridham of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton, 29-year-old Jiri Chovan of Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath and 30-year-old Thomas Wellwood of Myres Estate in Fife.

First time sommelier competitior, Wellwood said: “It was very intense, and it was de!nitely interesting to see the format of a professional competition. I suppose you are taken out of your comfort zone as all your skills are put into a completely different context. I’ve worked in the industry for the past 10 years but never taken a competition, if I was to do it again my whole take would be different.”

Bryan Julian, Master Sommelier and CEO of the Court of Master Sommeliers said: “They all performed extremely well but first time entrants in sommelier competitions always find it difficult. They need to learn how to be ‘competition wise’”.

In September, winner Yohann will represent Great Britain at the international final of the competition competing against 30 winners of national finals in countries across the globe for the title of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs International Young Sommelier 2009.

For further details please visit the Young Sommeliers Competition section of our website, or download the full press release:

Download the Young Sommelier of the Year Competition 2009 – Press Release (.PDF 1.7MB)