Final of AFWS Sommelier of the Year competition to be held at LIWF

15-Feb-2012 - Last updated on 20-Mar-2024 at 09:56 GMT

Yohann Jousselin, last year's winner of the AFWS Sommelier of the Year competition pictured with judges

The final of the Academy of Food and Wine Service's (AFWS) UK Sommelier of the Year compeition will be held at the London International Wine Fair for the first time this year.

The competition, now in its 33rd year, is open to sommeliers working at restaurants across the UK and is a test of their product knowledge and their ability to serve wine correctly.

AFWS executive director Sophie Roberts Brown said it was hoped that moving the final to the trade fair at London's Excel on 23 May would help raise its profile outside of the hospitality industry.

“Holding the UK Sommelier of the Year competition at the London International Wine Fair is an exciting move for the Academy, putting the competition in the heart of what is one of the most important dates in the wine trade calendar. The competition has a high profile in the hospitality industry, but holding the final at LIWF will raise its profile amongst wine professionals and producers," she said.

Finalists for this year's competition are due to be announced in April. The final will take place in Excel's Waterfront Rooms and places will be available by invitation only.

Exhibition director, James Murray said: “We are delighted to welcome a competition of this calibre to the LIWF as part of our 2012 on-trade initiatives. The event is set to attract many of the top sommeliers from around the country and we expect it to generate plenty of excitement and anticipation in the run up to this year’s fair.”

Last year's final at the Jumeirah Carlton in London saw The Vineyard at Stockcross's Yohann Jousselin beat two sommeliers from the Fat Duck to the title in his sixth year of entering the competition.

Previous winners of the title include Gearoid Devaney, Xavier Rousset and Laura Rhys.