I have the pleasure to introduce to you Finnish top sommelier Samuil Angelov. I’m always surprised when I do the interviews with all of these wonderful sommeliers that many of them just rolled in to the role of sommelier :-) Some are professor, have PhD, mechanic, etc… but somehow decided to make a big career switch and follow their passion. With Samuil this ‘switch’ might have been smaller, but he did studies to become a chef and also worked a while as chef… but somehow he f

After having put all these lady top sommeliers in the spotlight, it is time to put another male top sommelier in the spotlight before they start feeling left out :-) . This time I’m putting no one less than the pride of the Belgian sommelier world aka Aristide Spies in the spotlight. For our readers who don’t know Aristide, Aristide is the sommelier who was able to become 3rd during the ASI World Championship in Tokyo in 2013 which is until now the best achievement of a Belgi

This time I'm taking you to meet a sommelier from over the Atlantic Ocean or better from Canada. Please meet Elyse Lambert. After finishing her studies at the' Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec' in 1998 she specialized herself in wine by stuyding an extra year at the 'École Hôtelière des Laurentides' and graduating as sommelier. The most logical step after going to hotel management school is start working in a restaurant or hotel or in Elyse's case working in so

For the next sommelier we go a bit up north from the country where our previous sommelier, Croatia. A country that has a special place in my heart as my grandparents originated from Zadar. Anyway this is not to put me in the spotlight but the sommeliers, please allow me to introduce to you Daniela Kramarić owner from the Michelin starred and in the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world of San Pelegrino Plavi Podrum. Although Daniela did studies in International Corres

The reason I put all these wonderful sommeliers in the spotlight, is because to my opinion they deserve the same attention as chefs do. Sommeliers are an important part in giving guests a complete gastronomic experience! The sommelier I want to introduce to you today is Greek top sommelier George Loukas (not the Star Wars guy :-)) In 2002 George was nominated as ‘Best Greek Sommelier’ and also participated to various International sommelier/wine competitions both as contestan

I know that with all those foreign top sommeliers that it almost seems I don’t put our own Belgian sommeliers in the spotlight anymore. The following sommelier I wish to put in the spotlight is Sybille Troubleyn. It wasn’t easy to convince her to do the interview as she was of the opinion that she isn’t a sommelier anymore (not working in a restaurant/hotel). I saw/see it different. For me she is definitely a sommelier as she wants to share her knowledge about wine just like

I was already very fortunate to put some wonderful sommeliers in the spotlight... but being able to interview a legend like Pierro Sattanino who became the 2nd ASI sommelier world champion in 1971, does something with a person :-) !!! It is to legends like Piero that the job as sommelier got much recognition in Europe and opened doors for many young people. Already at young age Piero started working in his (grand) parents’ trattoria, where he step by step grew and developed h

The following sommelier I want to introduce to you is without any doubt one of the most respected sommeliers of Portugal. I’m talking about the one and only João Pires. If I look at his career I can only say that I’m very impressed with the path he has walked…sommelier trainings in some of the best restaurants in the world like La tour D’argent** (Paris), Le Cinq ***(Paris), Alain Ducasse *** (Paris), The Crillon** (Paris)…to continue working at The Vineyard at Stockcross**

After Albania we now come it a bit closer to home to introduce to you another sommelier. This time I was fortunate enough to interview Dutch top sommelier Edwin Raben . Like many other top sommeliers Edwin already came in contact with good food at young age...the passion and fascination for gastronomy only grew after that. Edwin is classically trained, meaning that he went to hotel management school. The career after school started at the 3 Michelin starred Paris restaurant

After the very interesting articles from our dear friend Andy De Brouwer about his wine trip to Lebanon it is time to put another sommelier in the spotlight. This time I want you to meet Dashamir Elezi from Albania. What surprised me was to find out that Elezi graduated in Mechanic Engineering at the University of Tirana in 1988… a big change towards the world of wines I’d say :-). This does prove again that if you want something bad enough you can do it!! I know you might e