The World Île Maurice
Does working in the
Constance Belle Mare Plage restaurants give chance? Anyway, after the title of Best Sommelier of France –
Duval Leroy Trophey won by
Jonathan Bauer-Moneret in autumn 2009 while he worked in this prestigious establishment of the Mauritian group Constance, a second award praises the skills of the personnel.
Pascaline Chettiar has indeed won the first title of Best Sommelier of Mauritius.
Organized by the very new Association of Sommeliers of Mauritius (ASIM), this contest wanted by
Jérôme Faure, the president, revealed the potential of young professionals working in the luxury hotel industry of the country. Thanks to
David Biraud, head of the jury,
Antoine Woerlé (technical committee of the UDSF),
Daniel Chaussé (vice-president of the Association of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and the South Rhône Valley),
Christian Vergier (oenologist),
Géraldine Clément (representing Inter Rhône) and
Géraldine Leclézio (sommelier in Mauritius), the contest took a real professional face. After a first selection, seven competitors have been chosen for the semi-finale and only the three best of them would go to the finale.
David Biraud impressed by the level
“I have been impressed by the level of the candidates, David Biraud confessed after the contest
. They assimilated really well the methodology of the tests. That means that the lessons and initiations have been integrated. We really were at the level of a finale of the Best Young Sommelier of France!” A comment that can only please
Jérôme Faure who decided to open the competition only to Mauritians. Professionals that the ASIM has been helping to perfect for two years now.
Pascaline Chettiar was opposed in finale to Jorald Julie and Vikram Sundhoo, both employees of the Constance Le Prince Maurice, and it is in this order that they classified at the end of the last series of tests.
“I appreciated a lot their will to highlight the local products for the food and wine matches. I have met very talented persons who already have a professional life but also great humanity in their discurse” David Biraud also underlines.
Thanks to the numerous partners of the contest which next edition will take place in 2012, Jérôme Faure could give the candidates a lot of rewards. In addition to the wines, glasses and carafe handed over after the announcement of the podium, Pascaline Chettiar was given a trip and a journey of one week in the vineyards of the Côte-du-Rhône offered by Inter Rhône.
"Our aim, Jérôme Faure concludes, is to continue the work fulfilled here and to be able to present a candidate for the Contest of the Best Sommelier of the World, in 2013 in Japan..." Jean Bernard
The final podium with, from left to right,
Pascaline Chettiar, Jorald Julie and Vikram Sundhoo
David Biraud qui présidait ce concours a rencontré des professionnels d’un très bon niveau. Association des Sommeliers de l’Île Maurice
sommelierzilemaurice@yahoo.fr
