Matthieu Longuere, MS, head sommelier at London’s La Trompette, has been chosen to represent the UK in the European Sommelier’s competition, the Concours du Meilleur Sommelier du Europe 2010, in Strasbourg in November.
Matthieu, 38, beat James Payne of the Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant in Perthshire, and the current UK Sommelier of the Year Christopher Delalonde of Sarment Wines, London, in the competition to find the UK representative, held by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) in London last week.
“The win comes as a real surprise as the competitors were all strong. It means I need to leave space to pack my books so I can study on holiday,” commented Matthieu. “I’m delighted to be representing the Academy of Food & Wine Service and the UK, in Strasbourg. It’s wonderful.”
To qualify to represent the UK the candidates must previously have won the Academy’s UK Sommelier of the Year title. At the selection competition the three sommeliers were asked to undertake a detailed questionnaire testing their wine knowledge, to describe and identify two wines, to complete a food and wine matching exercise and to open, decant and serve a bottle of Chateau Montrose 1999 for five customers.
Judge Gerard Basset MS, MW and current holder of the World’s Best Sommelier title, said: “A very high level of expertise was displayed by the three candidates during the tough UK selection. Matthieu proved to be the most complete sommelier and if he can carry on and even slightly step up his preparation he has a great chance of bringing back Gold for Great Britain.”
The Concours du Meilleur Sommelier du Europe 2010, now in its 12th year, is organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and held every two years. In 2008 the competition was won by Isa Bal of The Fat Duck in Bray, who represented Turkey.
Matthieu, who was UK Sommelier of the Year in 2000, joined La Trompette in 2002 from Hotel du Vin in Bristol.
For further press information please contact Linda Pettit at Tilburstow Media Partners on 01737 823721, mobile 07973 789853 or email Linda@tilburstowmedia.co.uk. Alternatively call Helen Glen at the Academy of Food & Wine on 020 8661 4646 or email Helen@acfws.org.
Editor’s notes
ABOUT THE ACADEMY
Founded in 1988, the Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS) is the professional body for front of house service, dedicated to improving the image of front of house as a viable career choice, as well as improving the standard of food and beverage service in the UK. The Academy does this through training programmes, masterclasses, events, PR and high profile competitions such as the UK Sommelier of the Year, the Restaurant Manager of the Year and Gastronomy Team of the Year.
In its role as the professional body, the Academy works with individuals, colleges, employers and sponsors to achieve its aims of developing the renaissance of front-of-house service in the UK. Currently the Academy has over 1,500 members. Log onto www.afws.co.uk for further details.
