The low down on our training days last week and results of European selection!

We were delighted to welcome some of our UKSA members to our training days last week.

Soren Polonius, trainer of the Swedish National Sommelier team, Wine Director of Adam and Albin Restaurant group and co-head of the ASI Education and Exam Committee, joined us. He devised a very interesting and inspiring training schedule for the Somms.

On Monday the session was a general overview for Somms who are keen to be involved in Sommelier contests but have not yet experienced many National or International contests.

Day two was with a different group of Somms, all of whom have experience in national competitions and some have competed at the International level including four past or reigning UK Sommelier’s of the year and finalists.

Day 3 was the selection of the UK candidate who will be representing the UK in Belgrade in November 2024 at the ASI European Sommelier contest.

During the final 2 days, the Somms were also introduced to Simon Cox, who is a former Olympian who has trained many national Olympic teams, across the world. He shared his insights into psychology, mentoring, training techniques and commitment to training schedules.

Between Soren and Simon’s expertise the training sessions proved to be insightful, varied, super interesting and very inspiring.

We are delighted to announce that Vincenzo Arnese won the selection and will be the UK Sommelier travelling to Belgrade.

Fellow Somms, Alexandre Freguin, Agnieska Swiecka and Christopher Delalonde who were runners-up in the selection will be part of the training team, helping Vincenzo prepare for the European contest.

Eric Zwiebel and Simon Cox will be heading up the training team and preparing Vincenzo for the European contest.

Many thanks to all who participated in the training sessions. Thanks to our sponsors, IWSC for their support and to the Rubens Hotel, London for hosting us so brilliantly.