Contest Dublin
Twelve candidates competed in the various selection tests designed by the Irish Guild of Sommeliers competitions committee headed by President Mary O’Callaghan.
The competition required candidates to test their product knowledge, as well as demonstrate their ability to serve correctly. Those along with other practical tests were carried out in a mock-up restaurant scenario. From the extensive questionnaire and wine analysis in the morning session the three candidates for the finals were selected.
A jury of experts consisted of journalists and gastronomic critics, the President of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers Mary O’Callaghan, Declan Byrne, President Bartenders Association of Ireland and the current holder of the World’s Best Sommelier and A.S.I. International judge Gérard Basset decided between the competitors. Gérard is the only person in the world to hold the following qualifications simultaneously: Master Sommelier, Master of Wine and the Bordeaux Wine MBA. He cofounded the original Hotel du Vin Group in the UK in 1994 and ran the Ecole du Vin Wine School at Hotel du Vin Birmingham, England.
The winner of the Best Sommelier in Ireland 2012 was Julie Dupouy, Laurent Caubet Wine Imports, who will represent Ireland at the World Sommelier Competitions in Japan in 2013. 1st and 2nd runners up were announced by the Irish Guild of Sommeliers President.
The winner and runners up were given their prizes and all contestants were presented with a certificate of professional competency signed by Gérard Basset and Mary O’Callaghan.
The Irish Guild of Sommeliers now in its 54th year was delighted with the support of various sponsors in the running of this benchmark competition for the industry, with past winners including John Rigby, Mary O’Callaghan, Andrejz Dasiak, amongst others, not to mention Didier Fiat, bronze medallist at the World competition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
The contest has a high profile in the hospitality industry and competitions like this one raise the profile of the Guild amongst wine professionals and drinks suppliers.
Andrew O’ GormanSecretary Irish Guild of Sommeliers
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