Top Sommeliers 2019
Arnaud Pasdeloup
Arnaud Pasdeloup is in charge of wine at Wandsworth Common’s Chez Bruce. He grew up in Le Plessis-Bouchard, just north of Paris, and studied hospitality in the French capital before quickly gravitating towards wine.
Ronan Sayburn MS
Famously modest and generous with his time, Ronan Sayburn MS has been in the wine industry for nearly 20 years. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest chefs at many of London’s most famous restaurants, including Pied à Terre, The Greenhouse, Hotel du Vin, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane, Royal Hospital Road, Claridge’s, The Connaught, The Savoy, Boxwood Café and Maze, to name a few.
Christine Parkinson
When your kitchen catches fire in the luxury hotel in which you work and the newly jilted head waiter runs amok with a cleaver just as the general manager walks in with his young family for lunch – and it’s Christmas Day, you want someone like Christine Parkinson on hand to steady the ship.
Elvis Ziakos
After three years in charge of the wine list at two-Michelin-starred restaurant The Greenhouse under his belt, Elvis Ziakos, advanced MS and wine judge, is one of the UK’s most influential sommeliers.
Daniele Chelo
One of the youngest sommeliers in our list, 25-year-old Daniele Chelo was born in Milan but has called London his home since 2015.
James Lloyd
James lloyd’s sommelier career began in 2002, when he worked as a commis sommelier at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea. There, he moved his way up to become assistant head sommelier.
David Moore
Born in County Monaghan in Ireland, after studying for a diploma in hotel management, in 1985 Moore seized the opportunity to do work experience at The Box Tree in Ilkley, Yorkshire, which had two Michelin stars. A year later he moved to the revered Le Manoix aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton, where he was taken under the wing of Raymond Blanc.
Christophe Lecoufle
Don’t be fooled by his fresh-faced looks – Christopher Lecoufle couldn’t be more serious about wine. Born in Normandy in 1994, Lecoufle trained to be a fireman, but cut his wine teeth in Paris, starting his sommelier journey at the Michelin-starred restaurant Lasserre, where he began as a commis waiter and worked his way up to become a commis sommelier.
Gonzalo Rodriguez Diaz
Gonzalo Rodriguez Diaz grew up in Uruguay with his Spanish family. His introduction to wine came at an early age, when he was put in charge of opening the wines at his family’s weekly barbecue, under the watchful eye of his grandfather, a bon viveur who lived by the motto: “wine is life”.
Hamish Anderson
Hamish anderson has worked for Tate for so long, he’s become part of the fabric of the place. This year marks his 20th anniversary at the gallery group.
Stefan Neumann MS
Tall, flame-haired sommelier Stefan Neumann MS was born in Austria, and began his hospitality career as a cheese sommelier at Meierei in Steirereck, Vienna.
Gearoid Devaney MS & Xavier Rousset MS
The dynamic duo behind Burgundy-focused restaurant Cabotte are truly at the top of their game. Both Master Sommeliers, Gearoid Devaney is also director of specialist importer Flint Wines, while Xavier Rousset owns Blandford Comptoir and Comptoir Café & Wine, and founded Texture and the 28°-50° Workshop group.