Details Written by Nick Breeze (@NickGBreeze) Nick Breeze (@NickGBreeze) Published: 11 November 2019 11 November 2019

I was very pleased a few weeks ago to be sat next to sommelier Matteo Montone and to learn of his recent competition triumph in South Korea. It was only back in March of this year when Matteo took the UK’s Young Sommelier of the Year prize offered by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

Matteo, who is the Wine Director at the London EDITION, took the top honours in a tense and close-run final in South Korea, after two days of competition against sommelier representatives from countries including Russia, Canada and Germany.

Milan-born Matteo won Gold, and the World Champion title, beating Jonathan Eichholz from the USA by just a few marks, and Australia’s Andres Aragon into third place.

This is a great accolade for Matteo who said:

‘This is probably the greatest achievement of my life’, commented Matteo on his title win. ‘I've worked very hard to prepare for this, and to win was a dream come true!

It was indeed a triumph for Great Britain, having produced the top sommelier in the world for the third year running, and taking first or second place in the last nine out of ten years.

‘With Matteo’s superb effort, we have kept up our outstanding track record in the event’ said Philip Evins, Bailli Délégué for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs GB . ‘My sincere thanks to those who encouraged him in our national competition – judges Steven Spurrier, Christelle Guibert, Dimitri Mesnard, Isa Bal and Nicholas Clerc – and our partners with whose help we are able to run this event.’

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