Ruinart opens entries for 2026 UK Sommelier Challenge
Now in its ninth UK edition, the competition returns to London this June, with 30 places up for grabs and a Champagne study trip for the winner.
Entries are now open for the 2026 UK edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, set to take place on 8 June at The Dorchester. Applications opened on 24 March and will close at 23:59 on 1 May 2026.
Now in its ninth UK edition, the seminar and blind tasting competition will this year be hosted for the first time by incoming chef de caves Caroline Fiot. The 2026 theme, Discovering Rosé champagne: Ripening and Wine Making, will explore both technical winemaking aspects and sensory evaluation.
Focus on rosé Champagne
Thirty candidates will be selected to take part in a blind tasting centred on rosé maturation. Participants will be assessed on their ability to describe the wines, suggest food pairings, and outline appropriate serving conditions.
Following the competition, a masterclass will examine the current and future challenges of producing rosé Champagne. Topics will include techniques such as maceration and blending, as well as the impact of global warming on vine cycles and grape ripening, including the development of aromatic and chromatic compounds like anthocyanins.
The day will conclude with a second tasting of Ruinart cuvées, highlighting the house’s focus on Chardonnay and its signature aromatic freshness.
Prize and judging panel
The winner will receive a place on a four-day educational trip to Champagne, hosted by Fiot and the Ruinart winemaking team. The programme will include technical tastings and a deeper exploration of the region’s viticultural and oenological practices. Fiot described the trip as a “once in a lifetime” experience.
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Candidates will be selected by a panel of judges including Natalie Earl, France editor at Decanter, and former winner Emma Denney, now head sommelier at Claridge’s. The panel will be headed by Fiot.
“The RSC was the creation of Frédéric Panaïotis, first held in the US in 2010, and is now held in 9 countries around the globe”, said Fiot. “It is a privilege to stand in his place and pick up the reins of such a prestigious institution, and I am deeply honoured to be part of this, and to meet the dynamic and exciting participating UK sommeliers.
“The Challenge is a unique opportunity to share experiences with sommeliers. This edition, focused on Rosé, expresses the duality between expertise and adaptation, and connects the tasting experience with winemaking techniques.”
A global training initiative
The Ruinart Sommelier Challenge was created by the house’s winemaking team as an international training and mentoring programme aimed at supporting sommelier education.
The UK winner will join counterparts from other participating countries on the Champagne trip later this year.
Previous UK winners include Emma Denney (2024), Mateusz Kowlczyk of Kai Mayfair (2023), and Mark Ron Patana of Medlar (2022).
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