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 bested all competitors and earned the UK’s most prestigious title in sommellerie.
An Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers who is currently pursuing the Master Sommelier diploma, Denney finished ahead of Dolly Chao (ASI Diploma Gold), Wine Manager at LaBombe by Trivet, while Wilem Powell (ASI Diploma Gold), Head of Beverage at BiBi, completed the podium.
The 2026 edition attracted a record 68 applicants from 56 hospitality businesses representing 33 nationalities. Nearly 60 per cent of competitors were first-time entrants, underscoring both the depth of emerging talent and the increasingly international nature of the UK’s hospitality industry.
The result also continues a notable trend. Following Maria Boumpa’s victory in 2025, women have now claimed the UK’s highest sommelier title in consecutive years. And with Denney and Chao sharing the top two places this year, it reflects the changing face of competitive sommellerie. While these milestones remain worth celebrating, one hopes the profession is moving toward a future where the success of women at the highest level is no longer considered remarkable, simply normal.
For Denney, the title was the reward for persistence. Competing in the UK Sommelier of the Year for the fourth time, she improved on last year’s fifth-place finish to capture the national crown.
“This is my fourth year entering the competition, and I was hoping to beat my placing from last year, when I finished fifth. Safe to say I’ve done that,” Denney said after the announcement. “I’m incredibly happy. It was an incredibly hard group of people to compete against, and everyone was so supportive. We all worked very hard together.”
The finalists were tested across every facet of modern sommellerie, from technical wine knowledge and blind tasting to food and wine pairing, spirits, fault identification and high-pressure service. The competition was organised by the UK Sommelier Academy and judged by an independent panel comprising 18 former UK Sommelier of the Year winners and finalists.
In addition to winning the competition, Denney also earned Best Performer in Service and Best Performer in Blind Wine Tasting, highlighting the consistency of her performance throughout the competition.
Other category winners included:
- Best Performer in Theory: Dion Wai (Cabotte)
- Best Performer in Food & Wine Matching: Sam Weatherill (Etch by Steven Edwards)
- Best Performer in Blind Spirits Tasting: Wilem Powell (BiBi)
Reflecting on the competition, UK Sommelier of the Year owner Christelle Guibert praised both Denney’s performance and the overall standard of the field.
“Emma delivered an exceptional performance throughout the competition. What distinguished her was not only her technical knowledge, but her composure, judgement and consistency under pressure. This year’s competition demonstrated the remarkable strength of the profession in the UK.”
Aligned with international competition standards through its association with ASI, the UK Sommelier of the Year continues to be recognised as one of the world’s leading national sommelier contests. Beyond crowning a champion, the competition serves as a year-round platform for education and professional development, helping cultivate the next generation of sommeliers while celebrating excellence across the profession.
2026 UK Sommelier of the Year
Winner
- Emma Denney — Director of Wine, Claridge’s
Second Place
- Dolly Chao — Wine Manager, LaBombe by Trivet
Third Place
- Wilem Powell — Head of Beverage, BiBi
Category Awards
- Best Performer in Blind Wine Tasting — Emma Denney (Claridge’s)
- Best Performer in Blind Spirits Tasting — Wilem Powell (BiBi)
- Best Performer in Theory — Dion Wai (Cabotte)
- Best Performer in Food & Wine Matching — Sam Weatherill (Etch by Steven Edwards)
- Best Performer in Service — Emma Denney (Claridge’s)
