The annual UK Sommelier of the Year contest will be held at this year's London International Wine Fair (LIWF) for the first time, in a tie-up between the event and the Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS).

The competition, now in its 33rd year, is a rigorous test of product knowledge and service skills, with past winners including Matt Wilkin MS, Gearoid Devaney MS and Xavier Rousset MS, plus last year’s victor Yohann Jousselin MS.

AFWS executive director Sophie Roberts-Brown described the move as 'exciting', adding: 'The competition has a high profile in the hospitality industry, but holding the final at LIWF will raise its profile amongst wine professionals and producers.'

Exhibition director James Murray said: 'The event is set to attract many of the top sommeliers from around the country and we expect it to generate plenty of excitement and anticipation in the run-up to this year's fair.'

The finals will be held in the Waterfront Rooms at LIWF's ExCeL venue on Wednesday 23 May, and will be an invitation-only event.

News item from Imbibe.com, 08-02-2012