Sommelier Of The Year, Sponsored by Piper Heidsieck.
Sommelier, its a wonderful word and so much better than wine taster, theres something rather grand and majestic about it. And why shouldnt there be a professional term for this wonderful craft? Where would we be in a sea of perplexing Pinots and baffling Burgundies? Wed be risking fine dining faux-pas, marrying the wrong vintage to the wrong dish, wasting our money and disappointing our palettes. This is precisely why Piper Heidsieck , sponsor the UK Sommelier of the Year Awards, working alongside the Academy of Food and Wine ensure that talented sommeliers are given they recognition they deserve. Last week saw the annual ceremony take place in a plush hotel just off Knightsbridge, where drinks industry heavies rubbed shoulders alongside young upcoming talent, each individual cherry-picked from around the UK. A night of celebration centred around a champagne dinner. The three finalists battling for the Sommelier title had already completed an afternoon of practical tests in front of a