Ruben Kwakman, Best Sommelier of the Netherlands 2014

Contest Venlo

RUBEN KWAKMAN,

Best Sommelier Of The Netherlands 2014

On Monday 22nd September, the Dutch Association of Sommeliers (NGS) organized, in partnership with importer Wijnkooperij De Lange and the Restaurant Valuas, its biennial contest, the Henriot Trophy, to award the title of Best Sommelier of the Netherlands.
This time the NGS was the guest of Marcel and Erik Swaghoven at the Restaurant Valuas* in Venlo.
The jury consisted of: René van Heusden (head of the jury, writer and journalist for the magazine Perswijn); William Wouters (former president of the Belgian sommelier, working for Luis Pato Wines, Portugal); Cees Helder (former owner and Chef of the Restaurant Parkheuvel*** in Rotterdam); Magda van de Rijst (wine journalist and author of various books about wine); Roy Pelgrim (Master-sommelier of the Restaurant Cordial* in Oss); Bob Jurjens (sommelier of the Restaurant De Leest*** in Vaassen); Martijn Verkerk (owner of import company Wijnkoperij Smaragd Wijnen).
The participants showed their knowledge and value through four tests:
- a tricky theoritical exam and a tasting;
- a practical part including food and wine pairings;
- an oral comment of two wines;
- decanting of a great wine.

Victor Pépin (Ch. Henriot) and Ruben Kwakman.

Further to these semi-finals, the three best candidates—Job Seuren (Librije), Lotte Wolf (Pure C) and Ruben Kwakman (Parkheuvel)―had to fulfill high-end tests and fiercely faught for the title in the finals held in front of an audience. Ruben Kwakman ranged first and will hold the title of Best Sommelier of the Netherlands for two years.
Ruben Kwakman (Restaurant Parkheuvel in Rotterdam), winner of the 2014 Henriot Trophy, receives from WOSA (Wines of South Africa) a journey to South Africa and qualifies for the preselection of the A.S.I. Contest of the Best Sommelier of the Word (Mendoza 2016) and/or of Europe (Vienna 2017).

www.sommeliers.nl