UK candidate for the European Sommelier of the year competition announced

24th August 2010, 10:40am

The head sommelier at London's La Trompette restaurant, Matthieu Longuere, MS, has beaten the current UK title holder and other sommeliers to become the UK representative in the European Sommelier's competition.

The Concours du Meileur Sommelier du Europe 2010 event will take place in Strasbourg in November.

Longuere, 38, has beaten the current UK Sommelier of the Year Christopher Delalonde of Sarment Wines, London, and James Payne of the Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant in Perthshire in the competition to find the UK representative, which was held by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) in London last week.

To qualify to represent the UK, candidates must have previously won the Academy's UK Sommelier of the Year title.

At the selection competition the three sommeliers were asked to undertake a detailed questionnaire testing their wine knowledge. They were asked to describe and identify two wines, to complete a food and wine matching exercise and to open, decant and serve a bottle of Chateau Montrose 1999 for five customers.

Judge Gerard Basset MS, MW and current holder of the World's Best Sommelier title, said: "A very high level of expertise was displayed by the three candidates during the tough UK selection.

"Matthieu proved to be the most complete sommelier and if he can carry on and even slightly step up his preparation he has a great chance of bringing back Gold for Great Britain."

The Concours du Meilleur Sommelier du Europe 2010, which is now in its 12th year, is organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and held every two years. In 2008 the competition was won by UK representative Isa Bal, of The Fat Duck in Bray.

Longuere, who was UK Sommelier of the Year in 2000, joined La Trompette in 2002 from Hotel du Vin in Bristol. He said: "The win comes as a real surprise as the competitors were all strong. It means I need to leave space to pack my books so I can study on holiday. I'm delighted to be representing the Academy of Food & Wine Service and the UK, in Strasbourg. It's wonderful."

Related Articles:

• 18 Aug 2010 - ACADEMY OF FOOD, WINE & SERVICE SEEKS EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOMINEES
• 22 Jun 2010 - Academy of Food & Wine reveals finalists for two competitions
• 16 Apr 2010 - GERARD BASSET WINS WORLD’S BEST SOMMELIER COMPETITION
• 19 Mar 2010 - ACADEMY OF FOOD & WINE BOOSTS COMPETITIONS WITH £10k BURSARIES
• 25 Feb 2010 - Semi-finalists of UK sommelier of the year revealed
• 03 Feb 2010 - Sommelier of the Year 2009 celebrates winning prize
• 14 Dec 2009 - The Academy of Food & Wine extends entry deadline for competition

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