UK Sommelier of the Year

The entrance exam consists of three parts: a theory exam, an opinion-based exam, and a tasting exam. These are designed to assess wine knowledge, wine tasting skills, and one's ability to demonstrate hospitality etiquette.

Applications are reviewed by the Technical Committee, who select the candidates invited to the next stage.

Candidates selected will be invited to join the UK Sommelier Academy. Membership in the academy provides several benefits and support to help them compete effectively, including:

• Coaching Sessions: personalised training sessions with past winners to enhance their skills.
• Mentorship Program: access to a network of experienced sommeliers for guidance and support.

Successful candidates were invited to attend the two-day event in London on 7-8th July 2025.

Day 1: Quarter final

• Candidates were judged on a written questionnaire, a written blind tasting test, and a practical test.

Day 2: Semi-Final and Final

Morning: Semi-Final

• The top 6 performers competed in the semi-finals.
• The semi-final tasks included: A practical test, a wine tasting and a surprise task.

Afternoon: Final

• The top three candidates competed in the final in the afternoon.
• In front of a live audience, candidates were tested both practically and verbally on tasks such as identifying errors on a wine list, food and wine matching, service skills, and a blind tasting.

All candidates are invited and encouraged to attend the announcement evening where we will celebrate the achievements of all the sommeliers at our networking event. During this event, we will award the following categories, amongst others:

• Diploma winners of the UK Sommelier Academy
• Gérard Basset Award
• Best performer in the practical exam
• Best performer in the theory paper
• Best performer in the food & wine matching task
• Best performer in the tasting exam
• Top 10 performers in the competition
• The winner of the 2025 UK Sommelier of the Year competition

You can read more about our winner, and the event, here: Meet the Champion: Philipp Reinstaller | IWSC.

Terms & Conditions

Please download the Terms & Conditions here to ensure your application meets the criteria.

Timeline - 2025

• Closing date for applications: 9th May
  
• Competition dates: 7th & 8th July
  
• Winner announcement: 8th July
  

Submission

The online entrance exam will be available here once entries open. In the meantime, you can email community@iwsc.net with any questions.