Association de la Sommellerie Internationale

Since 1969

The ASI //

ASI was founded over 50 years ago as an umbrella organisation to raise the bar for restaurant service professionals internationally. While its historical roots are in Europe, ASI is now represented on 6 continents.

ASI’s members are not individual sommeliers, but rather national sommelier associations themselves. With 61 national associations as full members and 5 observer countries, it is uniquely positioned to drive conversation within the industry at the international, national, and local levels.

In recent years, a renewed focus has been placed on education at all levels, both in the classroom and through the crucible of sommelier contests. Or in the words of our motto: Learn. Challenge. Compete.

Where we’ve been

“ASI was a little bit like the European Union in the beginning, today it is more like the United Nations.” – Markus Del Monego (ASI Best Sommelier of the World 1998)

Association de la Sommellerie Internationale emerged from a momentous gathering of sommelier visionaries in Reims, France on 3–4 June 1969. In retrospect, the changes ushered in by the representatives from four national organisations, as well as numerous observer countries, were both obvious and unprecedented.

On the face of it, the signatories simply committed to working together to promote common goals and standards. The new organization would make its headquarters in the cradle of fine wine culture, Paris. Yet by design its eyes were to be raised beyond just France. For example, the premiere of the organization’s signature event, the ASI Best Sommelier of the World competition, was held that same year not in France, but rather in Brussels.

History has proven their approach to be a wise one. Beyond the tastevin, the classic symbol of the profession, there had historically been little to distinguish the profile of the sommelier from what English politely called a “wine waiter.” Now, with the benefit of ASI’s offers of better primary training, continuing education, and opportunities for personal growth, the sommelier could assume a position at the hub of a restaurant’s work: building memorable dining experiences.

In the intervening 50 years, ASI has welcomed into the fold national associations from far beyond the Old World, stretching to the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. With each new member, ASI’s reach has expanded, raising the bar for sommeliers in one new land after another.

And yet the reverse is also true. With each new member — now totalling 61 national associations and 5 observers — ASI has gained new perspectives on wine and wine culture, on restaurant service and the meaning of service excellence.

What we stand for

ASI is entrusted from the roots up with a clear mission:

* To promote the establishment of one central sommelier association per nation
* To coordinate tools and measures to advance the profession
* To educate consumers on the role of the sommelier
* To defend the ethics of the profession

These goals are implemented by its elected Board of Directors, composed of the international president, a secretary general and a deputy secretary general, a treasurer and a deputy treasurer, as well as four continental vice-presidents. They in turn report on their activities at a yearly General Assembly, attended by ASI members (represented by the presidents of the various national associations).

ASI has its legal headquarters in Paris, France.

What we do

Today’s sommeliers are expected to add values at all levels of the restaurant. They must be warm and insightful counsellors at the tableside. Businesspeople and marketers, capable of managing the inner workings of the restaurant industry. And above all else: they must have a burning passion for service.

ASI fosters excellence in these areas through a three-pronged approach:

Learn. Challenge. Compete.