ASI Bootcamp Quito 2023 - Report from Chris Parker
Our two UKSA representatives for the ASI Bootcamp in Sevilla next week are making their final preparations. It’s sure to be a unique experience and we are so excited for them.
We asked Chris Parker who we sent to Ecuador for ASI Quito 2023 to tell us how he felt about his trip and what he took from it:
‘On the 28th of October, I arrived in Quito, Ecuador ahead of the 2023 ASI South America boot camp. This was the first time the boot camp was hosted in South America, meaning I was not exactly sure what to expect from the three days. On the evening of October 29, we had a meet and greet evening where we got to meet other sommeliers and sponsors from all over the globe and taste some fantastic wines before getting an early night ahead of the packed schedule.
Throughout the course the panel of experts assembled including Marc Almert (ASI Worlds Best Sommelier 2019), Veronique (Best Sommelier of America 2021 and World’s Best Sommelier runner up 2013), Pascaline Lepeltier (MS and Best Sommelier of France 2018, Emily Wines (Chair of CMS Americas) and Sören Polonius (ASI Education & Exam Committee Co-Director were inspirational and informative. We had classes on the history and future of Sommellerie, Preparing for Competitions, Climate Change, and the associated impacts, to name just a few. Throughout these presentations the passion of the panel and the quality of information was excellent. It encouraged me to challenge my conceptions and look forward to seeing how the world of the sommelier is changing and what we need to do to stay relevant in the future.
To help develop our skills we had 5 blind tasting sessions, each one with a different member of our panel of experts to learn tips and tricks on how they taste and what we can do to make ourselves better. This was enlightening as we worked in groups, with sommeliers of different experiences that allowed us both to be students and teachers. I know I gained a lot from these sessions. We also had practical demonstrations that helped us hone our decanting and wine service skills with tips from Marc Almert and Sören Polonius
In addition to wine, we also had expert masterclasses in Beer, Coffee, Chocolate, and Water. This was a great part of the program because it reminded me that sommeliers are global and work with various products. We need to learn as much as possible about these different areas to be able to serve our guests best.
In addition to all of this, I met fellow sommeliers from around the globe, I made relationships that I will take forward with me and that is invaluable. This whole experience could not have happened without being sponsored by the UK Sommelier Association and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow.’…
Would you like to have the opportunity to be sent to the ASI Bootcamp in the future? Become a UKSA member and it could be you in 2025.