Moët announces UK Sommelier of the Year finalists

Moët has announced the names of the twelve finalists of this year’s UK Sommelier of the Year competition.

Terry Kandylis’ Champagne Pour in the Grand Final at last year’s competition.

The finalists, who made it through April’s regional heats in Bristol, London and Manchester, will now compete in the semi-final in London on 17 July. The top three sommeliers will then progress to the grand final, taking place on the same day. The competition’s chief judge is Gerard Basset OBE, MW, MS and 2010 world champion sommelier.

The finalists are:

Serdar Balkaya, head sommelier, the Royal Automobile Club, London

Romain Bourger, head sommelier, the Vineyard, Stockcross, Berkshire

Mathias Camilleri, head sommelier, Five Fields, Chelsea, London

Tamas Czinki, head sommelier, Northcote, Langho, Lancashire

Gareth Ferreira, assistant head sommelier, 67 Pall Mall, London

Olivier Frayssinet, assistant head sommelier, La Trompette, London

Alexandre Freguin, head sommelier, Moor Hall, Aughton, Lancashire

Zigmars Grinbergs, head sommelier, Cabotte, London

Rudy Le Metayer, sommelier, Summer Lodge, Evershot, Dorset

Julia Sewell, sommelier, the Fat Duck, Bray, Berkshire

Jess Sørensen from Mash and Chaîne des Rôtisseurs (2016 runner-up)

Piotr Pietras from Launceston Place, London (Young Sommelier 2017)

All 12 sommeliers will be taken on a trip to the Moët and Chandon House and vineyards in Epernay, an experience intended to broaden their knowledge of both Moët and Champagne ahead of the final.

Previous winners include 67 Pall Mall’s Ronan Sayburn MS, Gusbourne’s Laura Rhys MS and Xavier Rousset MS, who recently announced the opening of a wine café in Mayfair, in addition to his other ventures.