Serge Dubs once imagined a career that would take him far from Alsace. He wanted to travel, discover the world and meet its people. Instead, and without regrets, he spent 50 years at the prestigious L’Auberge de l’Ill in Alsace,…
By Nadia Desiderio, Sommelier, Belcanto Lisbon is a city best discovered one table, and one glass, at a time. Its dining scene moves effortlessly between Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy, lively neighbourhood taverns and contemporary restaurants that reinterpret Portugal’s extraordinary culinary…
Press release issued by: Ester Riispapp, Strategic consultant,PR Partner Late on Saturday, 19 September, Estonia’s Aleksei Pogrebnoi was named the best sommelier in the Baltics. At this year’s Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix, held for the twentieth time, Lithuania’s…
For Philippe Faure-Brac, representing France at the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 1992 in Rio de Janeiro meant carrying a history of excellence. Winning in Rio de Janeiro brought a different challenge. How do you live up…
Andreas Larsson’s journey to the summit of sommellerie began not in a vineyard or wine cellar, but in the kitchen. At 16, the Swedish-born Larsson enrolled in catering school to become a chef, subsequently spending seven years working professionally in…
For ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2013 Paolo Basso, winning the title brought both joy and liberation. Thirteen years later, he argues that the future of sommellerie will depend not only on knowledge, but on critical thinking, clear communication…
In our first instalment of ASI Magazine’s Road to Lisbon series, 2023 ASI Best Sommelier of the World Raimonds Tomsons looks back at the mindset, discipline and humanity behind his title-winning performance in Paris and explains why it is important…
Emma Denney, Director of Wine at Claridge’s, was crowned UK Sommelier of the Year 2026. Denney emerged victorious after one of the country’s most demanding competitions. Following two days of theory examinations, blind tastings and practical service assessments, Denney eventually…
Last month more than 200 sommeliers, producers, educators and wine professionals gathered in San Miguel de Allende as the Asociación de Sommeliers Mexicanos (ASM) celebrated International Sommelier Day 2026 with a full programme dedicated to learning, competition and the recognition…
In this article, ASI has a ‘Nat Chat’ with Pascaline Lepeltier MS (Meilleur Ouvrier de France en Sommellerie, Best French Sommelier 2018, 4th place ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2023, co-owner, Chambers, New York City), Joseph DiGrigoli (Wine…
