World Royaume-Uni
The 2010 finale of the Piper Heidsieck “Sommelier of the Year” Trophy, in United Kingdom, had a strong French accent. Organized at the Hotel Westbury Mayfair, in London, this ultimate test gathered three professionals of the Hexagon who work from now on accross the Channel. And it is Christopher Delalonde, who has already passed, in 2009, the diploma of Master Sommelier, who gained the Trophy, ahead of Johann Jousselin, from the “Vineyard” in Stockcross, and Clément Robert, from the “Summer Lodge Country House Hotel” in Evershot, where he works with Eric Zwiebel, who had represented France to the World Best Sommelier Contest in Rhodes then to the European Competition in Sofia.
This finale took place under Gérard Basset's watchful eyes, quite new Best Sommelier of the World, who held, on this occasion, the chairmanship of the jury.
Christopher Delalonde, 36 years old, is an old boy of the “Lycée Hôtelier St Joseph-Ste Marie Madeleine” in Château-Thierry, where he obtained a BTH in hotel business before completing an additional Sommellerie Mention at the EMPT of Paris, then working during one year at Philippe Faure-Brac's «Bistrot du Sommelier».
He finished his French career in “l'Arpège” then left for England where he had in particular Gordon Ramsay as employer.
“Since 2009, I evolve within «Sarment», a company created by Bertrand Faure-Beaulieu and Philippe Messy. It is a sommelier service destined to amateurs or collectors who need advice on their purchases but also who want the management of their cellar to be taken in charge. We are three sommeliers in London and one in Hong Kong to carry out this mission which comes up to the expectation of some privileged persons.”
This title gives new ideas to the French professional. “It opens a door to the international contests as the European competition, for example, which, I know, is very lusted after. It is also an asset for the future of the «Sarment» company. It emphasizes our credibility...”
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