Sommelier of the Year 2009 celebrates winning prize

3rd February 2010, 10:32am

Laura Rhys from Hotel TerraVina, Southampton, who was crowned the 2009 UK Sommelier of the Year, enjoyed her winning prize last week in Reims as the guest of Champagnes Piper-Heidsieck & Charles Heidsieck's head wine maker Régis Camus.

Each year award-winning Camus has the task of blending the wines of both Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck according to the characteristics of each base and reserve wine. The highlight of the trip for Rhys was the opportunity to taste still wines from the 2009 harvest and selections from Heidsieck's collection of reserve wines with Camus.

Rhys said: "It was very interesting to put these wines into a context. Tasting the 2009 'vins clairs' provided a rare chance to taste these 'base wines' before they are blended into the various cuvées of the House."

The UK Sommelier of the Year competition is organised by the Academy of Food & Wine. The judging for the 2010 competition is currently underway, with regional finals being held on 22 February. The final is on 28 April at The Westbury Hotel, London.

Related Articles:

• 24 Nov 2010 - Two master sommeliers recognised at the multi award-winning hotel
• 16 Nov 2010 - The search begins for UK Sommelier of the Year 2011
• 24 Aug 2010 - UK candidate for the European Sommelier of the year competition announced
• 29 Apr 2010 - UK sommelier of the year announced
• 13 Oct 2009 - The search for UK sommelier of the year 2010 begins
• 24 Feb 2009 - AFW launches new competition
• 26 Nov 2008 - Date extended to find Academy's rising star
• 04 Nov 2008 - The Academy searches for its stars
• 08 Aug 2008 - Academy of Food & Wine gains new recruits
• 04 Apr 2008 - The AFW secures deal for new competition partner

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