Long before the Olymic Games (2024) and the Rugby World Championship (2023), France hopes to host the most important international sommellerie contest. Michel Hermet, president of the UDSF, supported by Vinexpo, made official the French candidacy.
From the idea proposed in July 2014 in Reims by A.S.I. partner Vinexpo general manager Guillaume Deglise, to the official candidacy on June 14 in Bordeaux, the French Sommellerie allowed themselves due time for reflection. It is true that the organization of the Contest of the Best Sommelier of the World is not a small issue. As much in financial and human terms, it needs to mobilize important means. President Michel Hermet and the board members of the UDSF took the time to assess the investment.
However, how can one resist to welcome this competition 50 years after the creation of A.S.I. in France and the first contest won by Armand Melkonian. The decision has thus been validated and France started working, first to build up the dossier that will be presented to the delegations at the next general meeting, and above all to build up a programme that will involve the whole French wine industry. Because although the various rounds of the competition will be organized in Bordeaux one week before Vinexpo, the showcase this contest is will of course be open to all the French appellations.
This meeting also enabled to list the new national presidents. Like for Slovakia with Beata Vlnkova and Romania with Florin Voica who have been congratulated by A.S.I. president Shinya Tasaki.
Moreover Taiwan has become a full member. Young president Xavier Tzeng thanked the other members for their confidence.
At last, a positive sign of the developement of A.S.I. worldwide, two new observers have been welcomed. Supported by France, SASA (South Africa Sommeliers Association) and ASIM (Association des Sommeliers de l'Ile Maurice) joined the international happy few. Jean-Vincent Ridon for South Africa and Jérôme Faure for Mauritius defended their application, especially underlining the efforts made by both their countries for professional training.
The meeting in Bordeaux also enabled to take a precise stock of the next A.S.I. competitions of the next three years. The first appointment is taken in Hong Kong in November 2015 for the contest reserved to the candidates (two per country) of the associations of Asia and Oceania. Nelson Chow detailed the programme of the event that will appoint Franco-Australian Franck Moreau's successor.
In April 2016, some sixty candidates will head for Mendoza in Argentina for the world championship. Andrés Rosberg, president of the organizing country, unveiled the highlights planned. Visit of vineyards and tastings alternating with the days of competition.
Validated for a long time, Austria will host the Contest of the Best Sommelier of Europe in May 2017 with a strong support of Austrian Wines, loyal A.S.I. partners. One year later, direction Montreal as Canada organizes the next Contest of the Best Sommelier of the Americas.
Until then, Serbia will host the next general meeting. In fact two countries wished to welcome the other delegations in June 2016: Serbia and Georgia. Two interesting dossiers that have been submitted to a vote ending in an original agreement. As Belgrade got the majority the A.S.I. members decided to head for Tbilissi in 2018.
And still about the schedule of the association, the dates of the next international certification exam have been set. According to the continents, they will take place either on February 29th or March 1st or 2nd.
Jean Bernard
Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (A.S.I.)
www.sommellerie-internationale.com
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