The best sommelier of Belgium has been appointed!

On Sunday, October 12th the finals of the Contest of the Best Sommelier of Belgium 2014-2015 took place.

This competition has been organized in partnership by the Association of Sommeliers of Belgium, the gastronomic club Prosper Montagné and the association VVS (Vereniging Vlaamse Sommeliers). The finals took place at Radisson Blu Hotel in Brussels, and the three finalists were: Benoît Couderé (Restaurant De Karmeliet in Brugge), Antoine Lehebel (Restaurant La Villa Lorraine in Uccle), Jasper Van Papeghem (Hostellerie L’ Esco - Wetteren). These three finalists, one French speaking and two Dutch speaking, have been selected among 11 of their peers during a semi-final three weeks earlier.

The finals were held in public, and the candidates have been assessed by a jury of 15 national and international professionals, all from the trade and the specialized press. The finalists had to face in turn a series of high-end tests, among which a tasting of three wines and six spirits, the correction of a wine list on a screen, a food and wine pairing, the service of a Champagne, the decanting of a red wine and a question in an other language than theirs.
After these tests, the winner of the title of Best Sommelier of Belgium 2014 was awarded to Antoine Lehebel (Restaurant La Villa Lorraine in Uccle). Congratulations to the winner as well as to both semi-finalists who did very well!

The Association of Sommeliers of Belgium being the only official national association and founding member of the Association de Sommellerie Internationale (A.S.I.), the winner will have the possibility to officially represent Belgium at the next A.S.I. contests of the Best Sommelier of Europe and of the World.

www.sommeliers-gilde.be