Clement Robert, head sommelier at Medlar Restaurant, London, has won the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2013 following a closely contested final that took place on 28 May at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
A highly competitive process saw 15 quarter-finalists whittled down to six semi-finalists who then competed for three places in the final, with Tobias Brauweiler, head sommelier at The Ritz coming second, and Kathrine Larsen of Zuma placed third.
The Final: more than ‘tough’
In front of a live audience the three top sommeliers were put to the test with a blind tasting, a task involving correcting errors on a wine list, and a food and wine matching exercise. In a nail-biting final the three were finally judged on the infamous perfect Champagne pour where they had seven minutes to pour a magnum of Moët & Chandon Rosé Champagne equally into 16 glasses without returning to any of them.
The H & C News perspective
H & C News was privileged to witness the three finalists displaying highly impressive knowledge and expertise under the most nerve-wracking and stressful conditions: not just in front of the knowledgeable audience, but serving past winners of the competition!
We were truly impressed with the manner in which they survived the ordeal, and congratulate all three on the credit which they earned for themselves, and for their profession.
The winner: Clement Robert
Winner Clement Robert, 27, from Normandy in France, took the title on his fifth year of trying – having been a finalist in 2012 and 2010. Following the announcement he said he felt a “sense of relief to at last win after attempting it many times. It is a dream come true”.
Clement spent five months preparing for the competition and confesses to enjoying pushing himself and keeping up-to-date with the wine world. He attended catering school in France for three years and joined Hotel du Vin at the age of 20 after which he went to Summer Lodge in Dorset where he worked with 2004 winner Eric Zweibel, whom he describes as his mentor.
Chief judge and technical director of AFWS Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW and owner of Hotel TerraVina, Hampshire, said: “The competition this year was incredibly close but Clement’s Champagne pour won it for him. It was a confident performance from a very knowledgeable, competent sommelier who set a high standard all round.”
The Moët UK Sommelier of the Year competition
Now in its 34th year, the competition seeks to find the best wine waiter or sommelier based on wine and drink expertise, ability to deal with customers, and front of house service skills.
Elsa Corbineau, marketing director for sponsor Moët & Chandon, said: “Clement Robert is a thoroughly deserved winner after a tough – and exciting – day of tasks, trials and tricky restaurant scenarios. As the long-term sponsor of both the European and World Sommelier competitions, we see the highest standards of sommellerie around the globe, and the quality of entrants in the UK thoroughly lives up to these. The art of service and wine knowledge is increasingly important across the hospitality industry – something that we at Moët & Chandon are dedicated to supporting and promoting.”
The prizes
Clement wins
- a unique trip to Maison Moët & Chandon to taste the Grand Vintage collections with chef de cave Benoît Gouez
- a hand-crafted and engraved silver Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon
- a stunning Riedel Tyrol Decanter and collection of Riedel Vinum glasses
- a Magnum of 2009 Domaine Boutinot La Côte Sauvage Cairanne.
- He will also have the opportunity to stay as a guest of Domaine Boutinot at their vineyard in the Southern Rhône valley during the 2013 harvest.
The two runners-up receive an engraved magnum of Moët & Chandon Imperial NV, an engraved Riedel O Decanter with Vinum glasses, and a finalist certificate.
The six semi-finalists will be given a 12-month complimentary membership of The Wine Guild of the United Kingdom, including an invitation to its annual winter banquet held at Vintners’ Hall in London, the historic home of the UK’s wine trade.
The 15 quarter and semi-finalists
Loic Avril, The Fat Duck, Bray [SEMI-FINALIST]
Romain Bourger, The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Tobias Brauweiler, The Ritz, London [FINALIST]
Remi Fischer, Gleneagles, Perthshire
Michael Jenni, Launceston Place, London
Lukasz Kolodziejckyk, The Fat Duck, Bray
Kathrine Larsen, Zuma, London [FINALIST]
Olivier Marie, Coq d’Argent, London [SEMI-FINALIST]
Tanguy Martin, Hotel TerraVina, Hampshire
Stefan Neumann, The Fat Duck, Bray
Marcin Oziebly, Albert Square Chop House, Manchester
Mark Perlaki, Hotel du Vin, Harrogate
Laurent Richet, Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham [SEMI-FINALIST]
Clement Robert, Medlar Restaurant, London [FINALIST]
Stuart Skea, 21212 Restaurant, Edinburgh
2013 judges
- Chief judge – Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW, 2010 World Sommelier Champion, technical director of the AFWS and owner of Hotel TerraVina, Hampshire
- Ronan Sayburn MS, head of wines, Dorchester Collection UK, Chairman of the UK Guild of Wine Service
- Mark Lewis, editor, Caterer and Hotelkeeper
- Joseph Rorke, account manager, Moët Hennessy
- David Williams, wine correspondent, The Observer
- Nigel Wilkinson, Boutinot Wines
The Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS)
Established in 1988, AFWS is the professional body for food and beverage service. It is dedicated to improving the status and awareness of food and beverage service as a viable career choice, raising standards across the industry and encouraging teamwork with other colleagues. AFWS can offer advice and training to anyone following, or considering, a career as a sommelier, wine waiter, waiter, bar manager or restaurant manager.
For more information about The Academy of Food & Wine Service click here
About Moët & Chandon
Moët & Chandon has been the champagne of success and glamour since 1743. Renowned for its achievements, firsts and legendary pioneering spirit, Moët & Chandon is the Maison that introduced champagne to the world. Synonymous with the most venerable of traditions and the most modern of pleasures, Moët & Chandon has celebrated life’s most triumphant moments with grandeur and generosity for nearly 270 years.
Moët & Chandon Champagnes
Moët & Chandon shares the magic of champagne with the world, offering a range of unique wines for every occasion, mood and palate. From the iconic Moët Impérial to the Grand Vintage Collection, the extroverted Moët Rosé Impérial to the innovative Moët Ice Impérial, each champagne dazzles and delights with bright fruitiness, a seductive palate and an elegant maturity.