You might have noticed that the sommelier or even the wine world is mostly lead by men. The number of lady sommeliers is not as high as we would like it to be... although the tables are turning as more and more ladies are finding their way towards the wine/sommelier industry. The sommelier I want to put in the picture today is the one and only Fiona Morrison!!! A role model to lots of ladies (and men) in the wine industry!! Fiona is one of only three Masters of Wine in Belgium and the only woman. Next to that writer of MANY wine articles and books (for which she received the James Beard Award and the Prix Lanson), she creates wine lists for SN Brussels Airlines, is a wine consultant at Chris
Yannick Dehandschutter is the next sommelier to answer my 10 questions. Yanick is the sommelier/owner of wine restaurant Sir Kwinten where I personally like to go a lot. I met Yanick when he was competing for the title of "Best Sommelier of Belgium 2013-2014" or better, I was one of the judges grading him :-) What I liked about Yanick was his smoothness of doing everything and his strong social skills, he won that year so I guess I wasn't the only person with that opinion. When you ever have the chance to eat at his restaurant you'll see that when he gives you more info on the wine he serves it is like he is reading you a story or poem! He also likes to surprise his guests, he sometimes serv
For my French speaking readers the name Eric Boschman will sound more familiar as Eric already appears for many years on French TV shows, radio shows, magazines, columns in newspapers, etc…. Eric’s ambition is sharing his passion for wine with as many people as possible. What many people maybe don’t know is that this former “Best Sommelier of Belgium (1988)” before all his media work has walked quite the path like working in former 3 Michelin star restaurant Chez Bruneau (at that time he worked there it still had its 3 stars), own his own restaurant, write many books on wine/gastronomy, won many prestigious prices and has coached lots of sommeliers that participated to European and World c
The next sommelier to put in the spotlight is this year’s Best Sommelier of Belgium Benoit Couderé. Benoit has been head sommelier for many years of the 3 Michelin starred restaurant Karmeliet located in the city center of Bruges. Unfortunately after 33 years, of which 20 with 3 Michelin stars, Chef/owner Geert Van Hecke decided it was time to close the doors and start enjoying life more. As our dear friend Benoit has a very good reputation it didn’t take too long for him to find a new challenge, he will start working as consultant for the supermarket chain Carrefour. I know it might seem a strange choice, but I’m sure Benoit will be a great added value for Carrefour to lift up their wine a
I know it sounds strange when I tell you a Frenchman won the title of Best Belgian Sommelier in and defended the Belgian colors during the World’s Best Sommelier Competition earlier this year :-) :-) And yet it is all true!! It was my dear friend Antoine Lehebel has done it all with lots of pride and a big smile. Antoine Lehebel is head-sommelier of the Brussels Michelin starred top restaurant Villa Lorraine and a great example that even if you didn’t go the hotel management school you can succeed as a sommelier!! You only need the drive of wanting to do everything to achieve your goal … And I also know Antoine still has lots of ambition left as he already has lots of new targets he want
