Paolo Basso – Best Sommelier in the World 2013

With Gérard, I shared four world championships as candidates, and obviously there were many intense moments. The most significant was at the 2010 World Championship in Chile, when on the morning of the final we met up for a relaxing walk together. Discussing how we...
So long, Gérard

So long, Gérard

We had known it was bound to happen, even if we ignored it and hoped for a miracle. Still, it struck us as a thunderbolt. It is bizarre how you can see things coming for so long and still be shocked when they hit you – like a rabbit frozen in the headlights....
From Chef to Top Somm

From Chef to Top Somm

Ivan Jug – Best Sommelier of Croatia 2018 Ivan is a sommelier, manager and co-owner at Zagreb restaurant Noel. Even though he was professionally trained as a chef, he has ben working as a sommelier since 2009.  He likes to say that it wasn’t a choice, it just happened...
New Best Somms: Austria, France, Italy and Croatia

New Best Somms: Austria, France, Italy and Croatia

Austria Andreas Jechsmayr, an Upper Austria native who works as a sommelier at the Landhotel Forsthof in Sierning, captured the title of Best Sommelier of Austria on November 5, 2018, in front of some 200 people. Jechsmayr, who has been competing in national and...
ASI Sommelier Diploma: improved and more accessible

ASI Sommelier Diploma: improved and more accessible

ASI has made a significant change to the ASI Sommelier Diploma that will make it more accessible to sommeliers around the world. Starting this year there will be three levels to the Diploma: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Up to now, sommeliers had to take their exam in a...