CHÂTEAU ROSLANE TROPHY

The 2025 Best Sommelier of Morocco competition took place in the enchanting setting of Château Roslane, nestled among the vineyards of Morocco’s first two AOCs – Coteaux de l’Atlas and Crémant de l’Atlas. 

Twelve Moroccan sommeliers competed in the semi-finals, which included a written questionnaire, a blind tasting of Condrieu “La Petite Côte” 2023 by Yves Cuilleron and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Château Montlabert 2020, followed by the identification of four spirits: Mahia Baron Nahmias (fig eau-de-vie), Palmarae Gin, Plantation Caribbean Rum, and The Lakes Single Malt Whisky, Reserve No. 7.

Youssef Imazirhane (Dar Yacout, Marrakech), Jihad Errachid (La Sultana, Marrakech) and Abdelkrim El Garrai (Le Selman, Marrakech) advanced to the final. Their tasks included the service of a bottle of Perle du Sud, AOC Crémant de l’Atlas, the decanting and service of a Graves, Château Ferrande 2022, and the correction of a wine list.

In the public final, before a jury chaired by Philippe Faure-Brac, ASI Best Sommelier of the World 1992 and ASI treasurer, alongside Michèle Chantôme, ASI Vice President for Africa & Middle East, Kamil Essbai, Best Sommelier of Morocco 2019, Julien Vecchioli-Barduzzi, founder of Bleue Hospitality, and Mikaël Rodriguez, President of the Moroccan Sommelier Association (ASMA), it was Abdelkrim El Garrai who claimed victory after a closely contested competition, followed by Jihad Errachid in second place and Youssef Imazirhane in third.
 

Expertly organized by Mikaël Rodriguez, with the logistical support of Simo Zbiri, ASMA secretary general and graphic designer at Domaine des 3 Cavaliers, Clément Dumas, executive sommelier of the Royal Mansour, Simone Merette-Jara, director and sommelier at Farmers in Marrakech, and the Roslane-Ébertec teams, the event showcased the professionalism and growing expertise of Moroccan sommeliers. Their motivation is strongly supported by ASMA, founded in 2012 by Michèle Chantôme and a proud member of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), currently chaired by Mikaël Rodriguez (Gascogne Consulting), after over eight years heading the sommelier team at La Mamounia.

Philippe Faure-Brac emphasized the essential role sommeliers play in Morocco as natural ambassadors of winegrowers, particularly with the international clientele discovering the excellence of Moroccan hospitality and gastronomy. The ASMA board named him honorary president in recognition of his dedication to the association’s activities.

Michèle Chantôme also highlighted the upcoming international milestones: Abdelkrim El Garrai will represent Morocco at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World competition in Lisbon in October 2026. A further selection will then determine two candidates for the ASI Best Sommelier of Africa & Middle East competition, scheduled for April 2027 in South Africa, which will bring together sommeliers from Mauritius, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Kenya, and likely from Congo, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates – countries expected to join ASI in 2026.