Sommeliers Australia is thrilled to announce Paolo Saccone MS (LUCAS Restaurants, NSW) as the official winner of the 2026 Sommelier Challenge: Finding Australia’s Best Sommelier of the Year. The prestigious title was unveiled last night at a special black-tie dinner ceremony hosted at the Lee Ho Fook in Sydney, following an intensive day of national finals.
Saccone triumphed over an exceptionally competitive field of the nation’s top wine professionals, which included fellow standout finalists Isaac Pockney (Bennelong, NSW), Clotilde Candusso (Freyja, VIC), Justin Biskup (CARPE VINO, VIC), and wild card finalist Charlie Richards (Agnes, QLD).
The final stage of the competition took place early Monday in the iconic Sydney Tower at the Infinity by Mark Best restaurant. The five finalists faced a grueling gauntlet of written, tasting, practical, and theory examinations designed to test technical knowledge and industry expertise at the absolute highest standards – reflecting Master Sommelier, WSET Diploma, and ASI Diploma levels.
As the newly crowned winner of the local Sommelier Challenge, Saccone has earned the distinct honour of representing Australia on the global stage. He will travel to Lisbon, Portugal, from 11–17 October 2026 to compete on behalf of Sommeliers Australia at the prestigious Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) Best Sommelier of the World 2026 competition.
“I’m excited and honoured to be named Australia’s Best Sommelier at this year’s Sommelier Challenge. The calibre of this year’s group was incredibly high – there was no room for error in the competition and it challenged us to be the best we could possibly be. I’m grateful to be included in such a talented group of candidates,” Saccone said.
“I’m ready for the task ahead in Portugal. I have a couple of months to train my tasting skills, theory and practical elements to prepare myself for any scenario. It would be a dream come true to come out on top at the Best Sommelier of the World competition and shine a light on the quality of the sommelier industry in Australia.”
“The calibre of talent displayed at this year’s Sommelier Challenge has been nothing short of world-class, and we are incredibly proud to crown Saccone as Australia’s Best Sommelier for 2026,” said Sommeliers Australia President Louella Mathews.
“This 2026 Sommelier Challenge is the modern reboot of Australia’s Best Sommelier of the Year. Beyond being a competition, it provides a pathway for professionals to demonstrate their knowledge on the world stage and engage with the global sommelier community. It strengthens Australia’s wine and hospitality sector by elevating standards of service, deepening collective knowledge, and fostering the exchange of expertise across peers and the next generation of sommeliers. Saccone demonstrated extraordinary technical precision, theoretical depth, and flawless hospitality under immense pressure yesterday, and we are confident he will represent our nation with immense pride and distinction in Lisbon this October.”
Mathews also extended her gratitude to the competition’s partners: “The Sommelier Challenge would not be possible without the generous support of our Gold Partners: Ruinart, House of Arras, Jim Barry, and Pewsey Vale.
“Their commitment to excellence in wine service and education helps elevate the profession across Australia. This collaboration reflects a shared dedication to strengthening industry standards, enhancing brand engagement, and fostering meaningful connections with key industry decision-makers throughout the wine and hospitality sectors.”
The celebration concluded a historic day for the Australian wine community. Guests at the exclusive, sold-out awards dinner at Lee Ho Fook enjoyed the restaurant’s celebrated signature dishes, perfectly paired with exceptional wines generously provided by Gold Sponsors Ruinart, House of Arras, Jim Barry, and Pewsey Vale.
Brian Chase Olson | Blend Public Relations | ph: 0435 403 608 | [email protected]
