The 2013 A.S.I. Contest of the Best Sommelier of the World (Japan)
Out of 54 candidates, 12 will go to the semi-finals. 3 ladies are among them. |
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The 2013 A.S.I. Contest of the Best Sommelier of the World (Japan)
Out of 54 candidates, 12 will go to the semi-finals. 3 ladies are among them. |
Category: Asia Pacific - Japan - Gourmet restaurants -
Gourmet restaurants
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2013-03-28
The quarter finals of the 14th A.S.I. Contest of the Best Sommelier of the World started on March 27th and gathered 54 candidates for theoretical and practical tests all day long.
58 candidates had registered, 57 were expected since the young Vietnamese could not come to Japan, due to administrative problems. But 4 did not come from Croatia, Colombia, Peru and Bulgaria.
Among them, 6 ladies. And 3 are selected for the semi finals, 50% success! Written tests were proposed in the morning :- Tasting 2 wines, one white, one red
- Identification of 3 spirits
- Questionnaire about viticulture, grape varieties, œnology, vineyards, wines, spirits and other beverages from all over the world, the work of a sommelier...
During the afternoon, they had to face a tricky situation for the practical test :
- Decanting (aerating) a white wine in 3 minutes
- The wine to pour in a decanter and ordered by the client was an Alsace wine, a 2008 Riesling Grand Cru Brand from Albert Boxler
On the console two ice buckets were prepared with, in one of them, bottles of 2008 Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg from Albert Boxler, and in the other one, bottles of 2008 Riesling Grand Cru Brand from Albert Boxler…
The purpose of this test was to show the dexterity and the professionalism of the candidate. A complicated situation even more difficult because of the stress during this kind of competitions. Just a few candidates could really manage…
An extremely selective practical test indeed.
The 12 semi-finalists will sit again for a questionnaire on Thursday morning, and will have an oral tasting.
In the afternoon, a great “premiere” in an international competition, the practical tests of the semi-final will be open to the public (press and delegates of the different countries, as well as members of the Japan Sommeliers Association).
Tasting, service, matching of food and wines will take place in front of some 500 spectators in the banqueting room of the Grand Hotel Prince Takanawa in Tokyo. The names of the 3 finalists will be announced just before the final, on Saturday, on the stage of the Tokyo International Forum.
The same day, on March 29th, late afternoon, we will discover who is the 14th Best Sommelier of the World, around 6pm, Japanese time.
The 12 semi-finalists :Let’s point out that the three continental laureates have been selected :
- Franck Moreau, Australia, 2012 Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania
- Véronique Rivest, Canada, 2012 Best Sommelier of the Americas
- Paolo Basso, 2010 Best Sommelier of Europe
The other 9 are :- Maria Paz Levinson Huarte, Argentina
- Aristide Spies, Belgium
- David Biraud, France
- Fabio Masi, Italy
- Francesco Azzarone, Norway
- Julia Scavo, Romania
- Eric Zwiebel, United Kingdom
- Jon Arvid Rosengren, Sweden
- Isa Bal, Turkey
The 2013 Best Sommelier of the World is among them !
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