The search for UK sommelier of the year 2010 begins

13th October 2009, 8:30am

The Academy of Food & Wine (AFW) has launched its UK Sommelier of the Year 2010 and is inviting entries from sommeliers and front-of-house professionals across the country.

The competition, sponsored by House of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, seeks to test the product knowledge, serving ability and customer service skills of sommeliers and wine service professionals.

In the first round of the competition candidates are asked to complete a written questionnaire. From those entries around 100 are invited to one of five regional finals where they will complete a blind tasting, interview task and theoretical test.

The winners and highest scoring candidates from the regional finals are then invited to the semi-finals, held in London in April 2010, where they will complete a round of tests. The three best then go forward to the final held later that day.

Employers are invited to nominate a member of their staff for the competition by downloading an entry form from www.acfws.org or by calling the Academy on 020 8661 4646. The closing date for entries is 11 December 2009.

"We are confident that this year we will attract more entries than ever as more and more sommeliers seek to pit their skills against those of their peers," added Sophie Roberts-Brown, the Academy's executive director. 

"Competing at this level has the benefit of raising the profile of the individual as well as that of his or her establishment. It is also a fantastic training exercise for anyone interested in furthering their career in wine service – not only are they meeting other top sommeliers, but they have an opportunity to work with some fantastic wines and Champagnes and to broaden their knowledge base too."

Nick Scade, chairman and chief executive of the Academy, added: "The status of the UK, and in particular London, as an international centre for business and tourism means that hotels, bars and restaurants need knowledgeable, highly qualified sommeliers to provide a first class service to visitors. With the Olympics in 2012 we need to demonstrate to the wider world that we are a nation which offers great service - entering this competition is a great way of doing that."

The 2009 Sommelier of the Year was Laura Rhys, head sommelier at Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire. The previous year Gearoid Devaney, then head sommelier of Tom Aikens in London, scooped the top prize.

Related Articles:

• 29 Apr 2010 - UK sommelier of the year announced
• 03 Feb 2010 - Sommelier of the Year 2009 celebrates winning prize
• 09 Dec 2009 - Academy invites chefs and waiters to enter Future Stars of Gastronomy competition
• 11 Nov 2009 - The World's No.1 Champagne is revealed
• 12 May 2009 - Last call for entries for AFW challenge
• 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
• 14 May 2008 - AFW warns against over-selling on wines
• 04 Apr 2008 - The AFW secures deal for new competition partner
• 28 Nov 2007 - AFW launches new training initiative

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