Contest of France's Best Sommelier Marseille
In April in Paris they were 25 candidates at the beginning of the adventure, and then only
9 left in Marseille for the title of France's Best Sommelier 2012. Two days of written and practical tests were scheduled in Marseille in front of a jury composed of the best sommeliers. After the semi-finals organized on Sunday, October 14th at the Hotel and Catering School Bonneveine, only the 4 best candidates could defend their chances in finals, in the magnificent setting of the Palais du Pharo, in front of an audience of 650 persons: Romain Iltis, Antoine Petrus (Restaurant Lasserre in Paris), Florent Martin (Hôtel George V in Paris) and Pascaline Lepeltier (Rouge Tomate in New York, USA).
"There were fifteen tests among which the blind identification of eight wines. We also had to comment a wine, in this case a South-African one. We as well had to do the service at a table of 8 and taste then comment the wines in English and in French, the winner explains in a big smile. It is pure joy for me to have managed to fulfil one of my dreams since more than six years, to join this big family of titled sommeliers to be even more legitimate to defend my work daily. This was my fourth participation at the Contest of France's Best Sommelier, and each time I have been one step further. What made the difference this year? Probably a kind of professional maturity…"
Dominique Peyral-Bon
Crédit Photo: CS/CIVP
Dominique Peyral-BonCrédit Photo: CS/CIVP
The finalists
Following Latvian Raimonds Tomsons, it is now his Estonian neighbor who has claimed victory on the European stage.
On November 3, 2024, the prestigious final of the UDSF competition for the Best Sommelier of France 2024...
On September 9, 2024, Bastien Debono (head sommelier at the hotel-restaurant La Maison Bleue by Yoann Conte),