News

Monday 18 June, Tbilisi After months of planning and preparation, Co-President Sarah Andrew presented Sommeliers Australia’s intention to host the ASI Best Sommelier of Asia Oceania 2021 competition. Our intention was unanimously voted in favour of by the international ASI members present at the ASI 2018 General Assembly in Tbilisi, Georgia. As part of the 2021 competition, … Continued

The Sommeliers Australia 2018 National Annual General Meeting has been scheduled for Sunday 26 August, 2-4pm in Melbourne. The AGM will be followed by the Victorian Chapter’s annual Ball, where the new National Executive Committee and President will be announced.   Expressions of Interest The National Executive Committee (NEC) is calling for expressions of interest … Continued

Pier-Alexis Soulière is 2018 Best Sommelier of the Americas On 24 May in Montreal, Pier-Alexis Soulière from Canada was crowned the Best Sommelier of the Americas, after winning a dramatic final over Martin Bruno from Argentina, who came second, and Carl Villeneuve Lepage, also from Canada, who ended third. As Best Sommelier of the Americas, … Continued

On 26 February this year, 12 Member Associations of A.S.I. played host to 75 candidates for the 2018 ‘International A.S.I. Sommelier Diploma’ Certification Exam. Assessed by the A.S.I. Exam Committee (under the guidance of Giuseppe Vaccarini), the final results revealed that 57 candidates passed, with 23 sommeliers obtaining the Gold certificate, and 34 the Silver certificate. And for the first time ever, a ‘Best of … Continued

Tim Perlstone of Merivale!   With second place awarded to Remi Craquelin (Iki-Jime) and third place to Patrick Burgun (Barangaroo House). The win is made all the more sweeter as Tim came second in last year’s Challenge. Hosted by Ruinart winemaker, Caroline Fiot, the theme of the wines for this year was thiols and centred on Sauvignon Blanc varietals. The wines tasted … Continued

Over 60 applications were received for the 2018 Ruinart Sommeliers Challenge, from talented sommeliers across the nation. After rigorous assessment, the Top 26 has been selected to compete in next Monday’s Challenge: Cory Morris, Bellota Wine Bar Jenna Phillpott, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Marcus Radny, Jackalope Hotel Tim O’Donnell, L’Hotel Gitan Andres Aragon, Merivale Mattia Antonio Cianca, … Continued

After receiving many requests from wine shows looking for more women to judge, the Australian Women In Wine Awards is preparing an Australian Women in Wine Judges Register. It will appear on the AWIWA website and will be made available to wine show committees and chairs of judges in Australia and overseas as a resource … Continued

The Sommeliers Australia National Executive Committee (NEC) would like to announce to all members the retirement of President David Lawler from the National and Victorian Committees. In an excerpt from his ‘Letter to Members’, David writes: “I hope 2018 is bringing a bounty of tasty wine for you all. I have recently taken some time … Continued

Since 2007, La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs has held an annual International Young Sommeliers Competition (Concours Des Jeunes Sommeliers) to offer young sommeliers (who is at least 21 and has not yet reached his or her 31st birthday by the end of the month in which the competition is held) an opportunity to present their skills under … Continued