Sommelier Edit

UK Sommelier of the Year
2025-07-07 10:00 - 2025-07-08 17:00 (Europe/London) | Christ Church, Spitalfields, Commercial St, E1 6LY, E1 6LY, United Kingdom
The UK Sommelier of the Year competition has long been a prestigious event in the hospitality industry, celebrating the talents and expertise of sommeliers across the country.
The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) is proud to take ownership of the UK Sommelier of the Year competition and continue its commitment to fostering excellence and education within the wine, spirits, and hospitality industries. The IWSC works in partnership with the UK Sommelier Academy to host this annual event, celebrating and recognising the UK’s finest sommeliers.
Entries to the 2025 competition close on 1st May. Download the entry form here and send completed forms to community@iwsc.net.

Closing date for applications: 1st May

Competition dates: 7th & 8th July

Winner announcement: 8th July

Taylor's Port Vintage Years UK Sommelier Challenge
2025-07-14 12:30 - 16:00 | Napoleon Cellar, Berry Bros & Rudd, 3 St James Street, London, SW1A 1EG, United Kingdom
Successful nominees from around the UK invited to attend an event at Berry Bros & Rudd’s Napoleon Cellar on Monday 14 July, which will hosted by Taylor’s Port Technical Director and Head Winemaker, David Guimaraens.
As part of the competition, participants will blind taste their way through six different Vintage Ports from six different decades, after which they will be asked to write a tasting note, suggest a recommended drinking window and advise on what dish they see each wine sitting against on their menu.
Following the event, participants will have one week to refine their answers prior to submission. Guimaraens will judge the winners based on the accuracy of their tasting notes, suggested drinking windows and the quality of their pairing suggestions.
Prior to the blind tasting, on the day all entrants will be treated to a seminar on Vintage Port led by Guimaraens, which includes a Port Tong masterclass.
The overall winner of the Taylor’s Port Vintage Years | UK Sommelier Challenge, will receive a two-night trip to Porto for two people staying at the five-star Yeatman Hotel, including meals and a private tasting with David Guimaraens as well as a selection of Taylor’s Vintage Port. The runner up and those competitors who are placed third, fourth and fifth, will also receive prizes.
by invitation only

100 Years of Rioja Festival
2025-07-19 - 2025-07-20 | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Units 1-28, ECHO BUILDING, London, E15 2SJ
To celebrate a century of excellence, Rioja Wine UK is hosting 100 Years of Rioja — a two-day festival at Hackney Bridge in East London on 19th and 20th July.
This summer, Rioja Wine UK is bringing the vibrant energy of Spain to East London with 100 Years of Rioja – a new wine festival celebrating a century of world-class winemaking. Hosted by TV wine icon Olly Smith and world-renowned Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy, the festival will take place on 19–20 July at Hackney Bridge. Wine lovers will have the chance to revel in the past, present, and future of Spain’s leading wine region in a vibrant celebration of all things Rioja.

Discover a century of Rioja wine
Festival-goers will be able to explore Rioja’s full range of styles with 50 different wines available to buy by the glass, bottle or as 50ml samples. From elegant whites and refreshing rosés to fruit-forward reds and rich, barrel-aged classics, there’s a Rioja to suit every palate.
Set against the thriving riverside backdrop of Hackney Bridge, the festival will showcase Rioja’s rich heritage and dynamic wine culture through expert-led masterclasses, live chef demonstrations, bold food and wine pairings and lively entertainment—bringing the spirit of Spain and the soul of Rioja to life.
Raise a glass with the experts
Award-winning wine expert and TV presenter Olly Smith will take guests on a tasting journey through Rioja’s key moments — from the official creation of the wine region in 1925 to its rise on the global stage. Visitors will also have the chance to meet the winemakers themselves during intimate panel tastings, exploring the stories and styles behind both heritage producers and new-generation talent.
Pair flavours from around the world
A line-up of global street food vendors will serve bespoke, pintxo-style dishes — each paired with a recommended Rioja wine to highlight the region’s versatility.
Festival admission is £10 (+ booking fee) and includes £10 worth of wine tokens, redeemable against 50ml Rioja wine samples. Premium tickets will also be on offer, giving consumers additional access to one of the wine masterclasses during their session.
100 Years of Rioja will be a vibrant celebration of Spanish wine, gastronomy and culture, featuring:

50 exceptional Rioja wines — all available by the glass, bottle or 50ml sample size
Live chef demonstrations hosted by renowned Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy
Masterclasses with wine expert Olly Smith and a panel of visiting Rioja winemakers
Street food, live music and entertainment throughout the weekend to capture the energy of Rioja!

Full event details and ticket info can also be found here: https://100yearsofrioja.eventbrite.co.uk

Top 100 Sommeliers New Zealand 2025
2025-08-26 18:30 - 22:00 | Park Hyatt Auckland, 99 Halsey Street, Auckland Central, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand

Gosset Matchmakers Final 2025
2025-09-29 09:00 - 14:30 | CORD Restaurant, Fleet Street, London, Greater London, EC4Y 1AE, United Kingdom
Five Teams Announced as Finalists
for the 10th Anniversary Edition
of the Gosset Matchmakers Competition
Champagne Gosset, available exclusively in the UK through Hallgarten Wines, is delighted to announce the five finalist teams for the prestigious 10th anniversary edition of the Gosset Matchmakers competition. This annual contest pairs emerging chefs and sommeliers, challenging them to create a dish that this year harmonizes beautifully with Gosset Grande Réserve Champagne.
The finalist teams will showcase their skills in a live cook-off on Monday, 29 September, at CORD by Le Cordon Bleu Restaurant in London, judged by a panel of leading industry experts. The winning duo will be revealed on the day and awarded an exclusive private visit to Maison Gosset, where they will enjoy a guided tour and tasting with chef de cave Odilon de Varine.
Learn more about this year’s finalists >> visit the Gosset Matchmakers website
If you would like to attend the final, to watch the teams prepare their dishes and/or stay to hear who the winner will be, simply complete the registration below.

Event Registration Form

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Gonzalez Byass Prestige Tasting
2025-10-06 10:30 - 16:30 | The Dorchester, Park Lane, London, United Kingdom
The Prestige Tasting by Gonzalez Byass will be held at The Dorchester, London, on Monday 6th October 10.30am – 4.30pm
Some amazing back vintages of top brands will be opened on the day from top name houses such as Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Champagne Deutz, Neil Ellis, Vidal Fleury and many more.
To attend the tasting contact Victoria Jupe, Gonzalez Byass @ vjupe@gonzalezbyassuk.com

Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux | Vintage 2023
2025-11-05 13:00 - 17:00 | Lindley Hall, Elverton Street, London, SW1P 2PB
Join the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux and its members for an exclusive tasting of the 2023 vintage.
The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux is a group of 132 top estates based in the Gironde’s finest appellations. Created in 1973, it shares the history and quality of Grands Crus Bordeaux with trade partners
and wine enthusiasts around the world.
A list of exhibitors will be available on ugcb.net late October.

Sommelier's Sommelier Award 2026
2026-01-26 18:30 - 21:00 | 67 Pall Mall, St James', London, SW1Y 5ES
Join us for the inaugural Sommelier’s Sommelier Award in association with Decanter magazine.

RSVP essential, only registered guests will be permitted entry.

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Master the art of single origin tea
2026-01-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Counter 71, Nile Street, London, Greater London, N1 7RD, United Kingdom
An Advanced Tasting for Sommeliers
Elevate your beverage expertise with this exclusive masterclass exploring premium single-origin teas and their role in modern fine dining. Developed in partnership with Saicho Sparkling Tea, this intensive masterclass delivers the technical knowledge and sensory skills to confidently integrate sophisticated non-alcoholic options into your wine programme.
What You’ll Experience:
Foundation Tasting – Single Origin Base Teas
Begin with a curated tasting of four single-origin teas spanning the processing spectrum.
You’ll taste Darjeeling black tea from the Gopaldhara Estate in the Himalayas with its distinctive muscatel character and summer flush complexity; Hojicha roasted green tea from Tenryu, Shizuoka, Japan offering toasted notes of nori seaweed, hazelnut, and roasted chestnut; aromatic Jasmine green teafrom Fu Ding, Fujian Province, China with its delicate floral scenting of apple, lychee, and vanilla; and Osmanthus Oolong from Xianyou County, Fujian featuring apricot, cucumber, and custard apple notes with honeyed floral complexity.
We’ll examine how terroir, elevation, and processing techniques—from oxidation and fermentation to scenting and roasting—create distinct flavour profiles, tannin structures, and aromatic compounds.
Learn to assess brewing temperature, steeping time, and their impact on extraction and tea grading.

Saicho Sparkling Tea Portfolio Tasting
Progress through Saicho’s complete range of sparkling teas, analysing how carbonation interacts with tea’s natural compounds to affect body, mouthfeel, and finish.
You’ll taste their Hojicha with its clean, umami-rich character enhanced by delicate bubbles; Darjeeling with ginger, mandarin orange, and wood spice notes balanced by elegant effervescence; Jasmine offering crisp apple and lychee aromatics with a vanilla finish; and an exclusive first taste of their newest seasonal release—Osmanthus—showcasing delicate apricot and honey aromatics with floral top notes and creamy undertones.
This rare opportunity gives you market-leading insight into seasonal tea innovation and autumn harvest expressions before they reach your competitors’ lists.

Hands-On Food Pairing Workshop
Apply sommelier principles of complementary and contrasting flavours in a practical pairing session featuring artisanal canapés from Counter 71.
Working collaboratively, you’ll develop innovative pairing menus that demonstrate sparkling tea’s versatility across flavour profiles—from delicate seafood and seared scallops (perfect with Osmanthus’s apricot notes) to rich, umami-driven dishes and fruit-forward desserts.
The most creative pairing concept receives recognition and a special prize.
Why This Matters for Your Programme:
The non-alcoholic beverage category is no longer an afterthought—it’s a revenue opportunity and guest expectation. This masterclass equips you to:

Meet Growing Demand: Offer refined alcohol-free options that match the sophistication of your wine list, catering to mindful drinkers without compromising on complexity or pairing potential
Apply Existing Expertise: Leverage your sommelier training in new territory—terroir, climate, processing methods, and seasonal variation all influence tea as profoundly as wine
Expand Pairing Versatility: Master how tea’s diverse flavour profiles, tannin structures, and acidity levels complement cuisines from delicate Japanese to bold Middle Eastern
Lead Industry Trends: Position yourself ahead of the curve as sparkling tea establishes itself in fine dining, with insights into sustainable sourcing, seasonal releases, and ethical beverage procurement

This masterclass serves both sommeliers new to tea service and experienced professionals deepening their non-alcoholic beverage knowledge.
Our tea specialists provide technical expertise throughout, ensuring you leave with confidence to recommend, serve, and pair sparkling teas at the highest level.
Spaces are limited. Reserve your place today and gain the competitive edge in premium non-alcoholic beverage service.

Event Registration Form

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Declaration I understand that by applying for a place at this event I am committed to attend.Failure to attend once offered a place is as unpopular as 'no-show' at the restaurant. Please provide 48hrs notice if you are no longer able to attend.

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