Champagne Louis Roederer Top 100 Sommeliers New Zealand 2026

1st September 2026, Auckland – After a Groundbreaking First Year, Sommelier Edit’s Top 100 Sommeliers Returns for 2026

Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural edition, Sommelier Edit’s Top 100 Sommeliers New Zealand 2026 returns to recognise the country’s most outstanding wine professionals, shining an even brighter spotlight on the talent, expertise and passion driving New Zealand’s hospitality industry.

This year’s number one-ranked sommelier is Matthew Aitchison, who topped the 2026 ranking following an outstanding year of achievement, demonstrating exceptional leadership, beverage expertise and commitment to hospitality excellence.

The 2026 Legend Award was presented to Scott Wilson.

This award honours an individual whose long-standing contribution to wine service and hospitality has left a lasting legacy on the profession in New Zealand.

Stephen Wong MW was presented with the 2026 Inspiration Award was presented who embodies passion, commitment and advocacy for the sommelier profession; influencing and motivating colleague across the the wider hospitality community.

Launched in 2025 as the first and most comprehensive ranking ever compiled of New Zealand’s sommeliers and wine service professionals, the Top 100 quickly established itself as the benchmark of excellence within the trade. The inaugural list showcased the depth and diversity of sommelier talent across Aotearoa, celebrating professionals working in restaurants, hotels, wine bars, private clubs and hospitality venues nationwide.

“Last year’s launch exceeded every expectation,” said chair judge Cameron Douglas MS, Sommelier Edit. “The response from the hospitality community demonstrated just how much recognition and visibility was needed for sommeliers in New Zealand. The Top 100 has become more than a ranking. It is a celebration of a profession that sits at the heart of great hospitality.”

The 2026 awards programme is attracted a record number of nominations, reflecting the growing influence of the ranking and the increasing recognition of sommeliers as key contributors to New Zealand’s hospitality success story.

From fine dining restaurants and luxury lodges to neighbourhood wine bars and emerging hospitality destinations, the Sommelier Edit Top 100 Sommeliers New Zealand continues to celebrate those who dedicate their careers to the pursuit of excellence in wine and service.

Champagne Louis Roederer Top 100 Sommeliers New Zealand 2026

1. Matthew Aitchison General Manager, The French Cafe and Cassia Restaurants
2. Andrea Martinisi Beverage Director, Normanby – Mt Eden
3. Aleksandr Shchepetkin Director, Ground Wine Bar
4. Liz Buttimore Owner Operator, Arbour Restaurant
5. Tim Ogle Director/Owner, Cellar Door
6. Ismo Koski Restaurant Manager/Owner, Apero food and wine
7. Suraj GC Head Sommelier, Park Hyatt Auckland Hotel
8. Marek Przyborek Sommelier, Noble Rot
9. Joseph Costello Wine Director, Paris Butter
10. Larissa Gabriela Muller Restaurant Manager & Sommelier, Palate
11. Jacqueline Jubel Restaurant Manager, No 7 Balmac
12. Erick Tuesta Hotel Sommelier, Essence by Roki
13. Giulio Barducci Wine Director, Toast & Oak
14. Craig Beattie Sommelier, Hello Beastie
15. Camilo Deichler Restaurant Manager, San Ray
16. Gary Pluck Head Sommelier, Bert’s Bar
17. Ashish Jha  Beverage Manager, Rosewood Kauri Cliffs
18. Penelope Johnson Owner, People Like Us: La Rumbla/Slow Cuts
19. Maciej Zimny Director, Noble Rot Wine Bar
20. Benji Smith Stakeholder/Sommelier, Arbour Restaurant
21. Kit Sainsbury Canham Group Sommelier, Ahi
22. Jim Turner Bartender & Waiter, Return
23. Harriet Gray Head Sommelier, Kinross
24. Caterina Foscoli Venue Manager, Rodd & Gunn, The Lodge
25. Sukesh PM Head of Food and Beverage, The Marlborough & Harvest Restaurant
26. Stina Persen Restaurant Manager, Graze Wine Bar
27. Manjul Sharma Sommelier & Assistant Venue Manager, The Lodge Bar by Rodd & Gunn
28. Joe Wang Club Sommelier, The Northern Club
29. Job Jovo Retaurant Manager / Sommelier, 50 Bistro
30. Orberk Ozdemir Beverage Manager, Intercontinental Wellington
31. Sam North Director/Owner , Vine to Table & Parehua Resort/Luna Estate
32. Jenna Sisson Owner/Operator, The Hour Glass
33. Emma Mettrick Co-Owner / Operator, Twenty Seven Steps / Downstairs
34. Jiexue-Snow He Sommelier, The Northen Club
35. Nathaly Behne Schmoller Sommelier, Toast & Oak
36. Samira Kakh Teaching Hospitality Managment dip Fine O Wine and table of eight.
37. James Fitzgerald Manager and Sommelier, Hugo’s Bistro
38. Fabio Di Paola Restaurant Manager, Tantalus Estate
39. Neil Kapadia Owner operator, Fidelios wine bar
40. Max Hollander Consulting Sommelier/Director, NZ Wine Tasting Society, Ground Wine Bar, Maison Vauron, Paris Butter
41. Nora Blackburne Co owner, Embra Taupo
42. João Marreiros Wine Consultant & Sommelier, The Wine Room
43. Karie Koh Restaurant Manager, Rothko
44. María Belén Eyzaguirre López Cellar Door Manager, Palliser Estate
45. Karishma Balsara Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
46. Michael Tully Restaurant Manager, The Blue Door and Aosta Arrotown
47. Sam Holmes Head Sommelier Onslow Restaurant
48. Megan Abbott Senior Waiter / Sommelier, Cazador
49. Juno Miers Owner, Margot
50. Katharina Ziehe Assistant Sommelier, Onslow

Top 51 to 100

in alphabetical order

• Elizabeth Adams Venue Manager, Babylon
• Hugo Adenot Sommelier, Ground Wine Bar
• Bruno Arias Sommelier, Bravo
• Prateek Arora FOH Manager, Craggy range
• Emilien Blanchard Manager, Vic Road Wine Bar
• Miguel Borges Sommelier, GILT Brasserie
• Nicholas Bouchard Twenty Seven Steps, Christchurch
• Ella Cass Wine Lead and Sommelier, Rosella Wine Bar and Restaurant
• Tim Connolly Restaurant Manager, Otahuna Lodge
• Jean Tristan Detourbet Manager, Maison Vauron
• Robbie Douglas Venue Manager/Head Sommelier, Gibson Valley Events and Wine Somm
• Justine Essenberg Manager, Black Estate
• Baxter Fagan Manager/ Sommelier, Brantry Eatery
• Gillian French Duty Manager, The Blue Breeze Inn
• Feliciano Joaquin Frutos Ramos Restaurant & Bar Manager, Advieh
• Oscar Goy Venue Manager and Sommelier, Treehouse
• Devlin Grady Sommelier, Cellar Door
• Laura Gregson Trade & Cellar Manager, Bare Wine
• Seth Howes Junior Sommelier/ Senior, Waiter Onslow
• Joey Jackson Senior Waiter / Junior Sommelier, Paris Butter
• Kolja Lange Waiter/ Sommelier, Ortega Fish Shack
• Anh Dieu Le  Karahui, Martinborough
• Clio Lestable Restaurant Manager, Black Estate
• Chelsea Lisiecki Assistant Front of House Manager, Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club
• Grace Livsey Head Sommelier, Cellar Door
• Marine Mattana Somnelier, Cellar Door
• Michael McLane Owner, Tonic Bistro
• Lea Melano Venue Manager & Guest relations,The Wine Room by David Nash
• Oisin Moore Wine Bar Manager, Small Town Winery
• Renee Morse Restaurant Manager, Salis Restaurant
• Yueming (Miqu) Ouyang Venue Manager, Wither Hills
• Luca Pace Restaurant Manager & Head Sommelier, Aosta
• Lucas Parkinson Restaurateur, Aryeh
• Martial Passignat Kinross, Central Otago
• Alcides Pont Neto Private Sales & Wine Experience Manager, The Wine Room by David Nash
• Tomás Portas Head FOH, Cellar 495
• Suryadev Rathore Venue Manager, Luna Estate
• Hailie Robinson Resturant Supervisor, Supra
• Harpreet Shenh Assistant Restaurant Manager, Cassia
• Alexzandra Shepherd Venue Manager, Masu by Nic Watt
• Madeline Sichelschmidt Assistant Food & Manager, True South Dining Room
• Raoul Soans Restaurant and Bar Duty Manager, Harvest Restaurant
• Alexandra Soriano Venue Manager, Metita Sky City
• Benjamin Sorin Sommelier, The Terrace Restaurant by ROKI Collection
• Jacob Stonehouse Saiku, Timaru
• Tony Suarez Sommelier, Cocoro Modern Japanese Cuisine – Ponsonby
• Andrea Tremaud Head Sommelier, Amisfield
• Joamari van der Walt Sommelier, High Kut Bistro
• Chris Xue Junior Sommelier, Bistro Saine
• Amy Zeilstra Front of House Manager, Jano Bistro

Gallery of images from Auckland, 1st September, available to download shortly…

2026 Taylor’s Port Top 100 Sommeliers United Kingdom