On Monday 4 March this year, 16 member associations of ASI hosted candidates for the 2019 ‘International ASI Sommelier Diploma’ certification exam.
Among the 68 candidates who sat for the exam, only 49 passed. 15 sommeliers obtained the GOLD certificate and 32 the SILVER certificate. For the first time, two candidates sitting for the exam in their own language received the BRONZE level. (Note: the Bronze is at the same level as the Silver or Gold, the only difference is the candidates sit the exam in their native language, rather than a second language.)
Congratulations to our three Australian candidates – Carlos Simoes, Cyril Thevenet and Yuki Hirose – who all achieved GOLD certification!
The Sommeliers Australia’s National Executive Committee acknowledges this fantastic achievement, noting the candidates dedication in preparing for the exam. The standard of sommellerie in Australia is certainly matching that of our international peers.
The NEC would also like to thank the NSW and Victorian Committee members who prepared and supervised the the exam process in Sydney and Melbourne – Ben Moechtar, Greg Richardson, David Murphy, Jenna Phillpott and Anthony Pieri, and Banjo Harris Plane for coordinating the tasting samples.
Here is the complete list of successful candidates; Australian sommeliers are in excellent company!
| Australia | Russia |
| Yuki Hirose – Gold | Natalia Denisova – Silver |
| Carlos Simoes – Gold | Egor Iksanov – Silver |
| Cyril Thévenet – Gold | Denis Lurchenko – Silver |
| Austria | Jegor Marchenko – Silver |
| Andreas Jechsmayr – Gold | Alexandrova Olesya – Silver |
| Emmanuel Rosier – Gold | Veronika Smirnova – Silver |
| Estonia | Dobryning Svetlana – Silver |
| Urvo Ugandi – Gold | Karina Tonkova – Silver |
| Ketri Leis – Silver | Serbia |
| Finland | Ivan Jug – Gold |
| Juulia Eloranta – Silver | Sinisa Lasan – Gold |
| Taneli Lehtonen – Silver | Anika Manojlovic – Silver |
| Kirsi Seppänen – Silver | Marko Sram – Silver |
| Greece | South Africa |
| Panagiotis Katsoudas – Silver | Spencer Fondaumiere – Bronze (new Silver level) |
| Japan | South Korea |
| Daichi Nomura – Gold | Minseok Kyung – Gold |
| Hiroki Ikeda – Silver | Hyesung An – Silver |
| Daiki Ishihara – Silver | Juyong Kim – Silver |
| Fumikazu Shike – Silver | Hyeongwoo Oh – Silver |
| Yoshiteru Shimizu – Silver | Kibeom Song – Silver |
| Yosuke Suematsu – Silver | Hyojung Yoon – Silver |
| Kodai Watanabe – Silver | United Kingdom |
| New Zealand | Tamas Czinki – Gold |
| Andrea Martinisi – Gold | Gareth Ferreira – Gold |
| Netherlands | Marco Iaccarino – Gold |
| Frank Van Scheundel – Silver | Quentin Loisel – Gold |
| Poland | Charles Carron-Brown – Silver |
| Pawel Jan Rog – Silver | Seika Hosokawa – Silver |
| Kajetan Zalewski – Silver | Michihito – Silver |
| Venezuela | |
| Aurora Garcia – Bronze Excellence (new Gold level) |
![For our first Best Sommelier of Australia Spotlight, we hear from Best Sommelier of Australia 2020 runner-up and Australia's representative at ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2023 in Paris, Paolo Saccone @vinobypaolo.
Here Paolo shares what inspired him about the competition journey...
"Entering the Best Sommelier of Australia competition was more than a challenge; it was a journey of self-discovery and passion.
Last year's [Best Sommelier of the World 2023] semi final and final were stepping stones in my quest for continuous excellence.
To all aspiring sommeliers: Embrace the uncertainty, savour the journey, and let your dedication uncork the limitless opportunities that await.
Cheers to chasing dreams and pouring greatness into every drop!"
Don't miss your chance to excel!
FOR MORE INFO & TO REGISTER: visit the link in our bio.
Registration closes Sunday 12 May.
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