Entries are now open for the prestigious UK Sommelier of the Year competition, hosted by the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and the UK Sommelier Academy. Entry forms are available from iwsc.net and must be submitted by May 1st.
Stage 1 of the competition is conducted online in three parts: a theory exam, an opinion-based exam and a tasting exam. These are designed to assess wine knowledge, wine tasting skills, and ability to demonstrate hospitality etiquette.
Applications are reviewed by the Technical Committee, who select the candidates invited to the next stage. Candidates selected will be invited to join the UK Sommelier Academy, which provides support to help members compete effectively, including a mentorship programme and personalised coaching sessions.
The finals take place at a two-day event in London on July 7th & 8th, with knockout quarterfinals and semifinals followed by a final held in front of a live audience, at which candidates will be tested both practically and verbally on tasks such as identifying errors on a wine list, food and wine matching, service skills and a blind tasting.
There will be winners in five separate categories in addition to the top-10 listings and the overall winner, who will be crowned UK Sommelier of the Year.
