Dorchester somm named Amorim Taster of the Year

Dorian Guillon, assistant head sommelier at The Dorchester in London, has been named the 2016 Amorim Taster of the Year.

Dorian Guillon with his Amorim trophy

The Loire born 31-year-old beat over forty candidates to the title, and has been awarded a bespoke Amorim cork trophy and a trip for two to the famous cork forests outside Lisbon as Amorim’s guests.

The title – now in its second year – is awarded during the stringent Master Sommelier exams run by the Court of Master Sommeliers, and is given to the candidate who scores the highest marks in the tasting exam.

“It is such an honour for me to receive this prize from Amorim. Everybody who undertakes the exam knows that the tasting is a very challenging section.

“Truthfully, I don’t think I am the most skilled taster, but I have worked a great deal on it and on the way made plenty of mistakes, which have taught me a lot,” Guillon said.

“I could have never made it without the help of my mentors and sommelier friends who have been kind enough to organise tasting sessions and have given me precious feedback,” he added.

He began his sommelier career five years ago at the two Michelin star Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in Knightsbridge, before moving to the three star Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in Park Lane.

Next month Guillon will move to Australia with his family to work at the Vue de Monde in Melbourne.