A ‘World’s Best Sommelier’ as Honorary President

Each year in April a tasting is held, not only to award the best cabernets, but also to elect THE World’s Best Cabernet. The quality of the tasting is guaranteed by sommeliers who are members of the Union de la Sommellerie Française.

This year the tasting will be presided over by Philippe Faure-Brac, who was elected World’s Best Sommelier in 1992, and whose wine-tasting skills and knowledge are widely recognised.
He succeeds Michel Hermet (Honorary President of the Competition in 2016) as President of the Union de la Sommellerie Française (UDSF).

Election of the World’s Best Cabernet: The supreme award!
At the end of the first tasting, a ‘grand jury’ re-tastes the best wine at each table in order to determine the World’s Best Cabernet. The grand jury is composed of professional sommeliers who have distinguished themselves in the wine world (World’s Best Sommelier, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Best Sommelier in France, Sommelier of the Year, etc.).
In 2016, an Australian was awarded this distinction (Penny’s Hill Edwards Road - GI GI McLaren Vale – Red 2014).

The Union de la Sommellerie Française
The Union de la Sommellerie Française (UDSF) is partnering the competition. This organisation brings together nearly 1200 sommeliers; it also selects the Best Sommelier in France, amongst other awards. Jurys are composed of 3 or 4 sommeliers who blind taste several wines in a category. Prior to tasting, bottles are covered, numbered and sorted in accordance with their percentage of cabernet, origin and terroir.
Results are later communicated to all UDSF members.

A perfectly organised and transparent tasting!
The Cabernets International Competition is validated by the DGCCRF (part of the French Ministry of the economy and finances) and certified ISO 9001 through Armonia, the company that organises the tasting. For consumers and wine professionals alike, these references provide proof of rigorous selection, high quality and a competition worthy of their trust.

Important dates
24 April 2017 > Cabernets International Competition
27 April 2017 > Publication of results online