By Flavien Becq In News & Events 31 January 2023 Duration ~ 4 min Best Sommelier of the World 2023 Election of the Best Sommelier of the World 2023 For the World’s Best Sommelier Competition which will take place in Paris from February 7 to 12, 2023, Chef&Sommelier will once again be the official glass partner of the ASI (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale). Since 1969, this competition is the most prestigious of the international sommellerie, and is organized every three years. The last edition of the election of the Best Sommelier of the World took place in Antwerp (Belgium) in 2019. The next one will take place in Paris from February 7 to 12, 2023 and more than 34 years after the previous edition in France which saw the crowning of a Frenchman : Serge DUBS. In total, 7 Frenchmen have won the title of Best Sommelier of the World out of the 16 winners: Armand Melkonian (1969), Jean Luc Pouteau (1983), Jean-Claude Jambon (1986), Serge Dubs (1989), Philippe Faure-Brac (1992), Olivier Poussier (2000), Gérard Basset (2010 for Great Britain). Our representative at the election of the Best Sommelier of the World Pascaline Lepeltier will represent France in this 2023 edition. In 2018, Pascaline obtained successively the titles of : Best Worker of France in the sommelier category. Best Sommelier of France. She thus achieves a historic double by becoming the first female winner of each of these two national competitions. In early 2019, she was named Personality of the Year by La Revue du Vin de France, which had never before honored a woman with this distinction. A fan of organic, natural and biodynamic wines, she honors them at the Chambers restaurant (formerly Racines NY) in New York (United States), where she is still in charge of the cellar and a partner since 2018. How the competition unfolds For 5 days, Paris will become the capital of sommellerie. And it will vibrate to the rhythm of this 17th edition of the World’s Best Sommelier Competition, bringing together 68 candidates from 65 countries for very high level competitions. The international delegations will be received at the Pullman Montparnasse, which has recently been refurbished. The quarter and semi-finals will be held there. The announcement of the semi-finalists will be made in the prestigious setting of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris. The final and the closing ceremony, organized at Paris La Défense Arena, will offer a thrilling show that will not fail to excite the 3500 professionals and amateurs expected. For the first time in its history, this event will be open to the general public. This is a rare opportunity to attend a high intensity competition! In a large-scale setting, featuring talented finalists, authentic products in the service of professional excellence. The tests reflect the daily work of sommeliers and highlight their qualities and skills. Thus, candidates are evaluated on their knowledge of wines, spirits, and all beverages from around the world. But also on their quality of service and their ability to advise and make customers experience emotions. It is an intensive training, worthy of the greatest competitors, which awaits these men and women to prepare for demanding and suspenseful tests. Through the ASI World’s Best Sommelier Competition, the entire hotel and restaurant world, the entire wine, spirits and beverage industry, as well as the tableware industry, are honored. A partnership under the sign of excellence For the Masterclass, the gala dinner, and above all the numerous events, the International Sommelier Association and the UDSF – the organizing association – have chosen the Chef&Sommelier brand. The latter particularly highlight the expertise of the sommellerie and hospitality professions, and also promote French gastronomy throughout the world. As a creator of experiences and ambassador of the French art of living, Chef&Sommelier has accompanied ASI since 2010 in all regional and world competitions. It is therefore a great honor for Chef&Sommelier, a brand of professional crystal products made in France, in the Hauts-de-France region, to be able to accompany once again and in Paris, the world’s greatest sommeliers during these competitions thanks to the technicality and elegance of its stemmed glasses and decanters.
