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Entries sought for 2012 UK Sommelier of the Year competition

By Linda AFWS | Published: February 21, 2012

The Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS) has launched its 2012 UK Sommelier of the Year competition and is seeking entries from sommeliers and wine waiters keen to test their knowledge and skills in this prestigious event. Now in its 33rd year the UK Sommelier of the Year competition has become one of the most closely contested titles in sommellerie with past winners including Yohann Jousselin of the Vineyard … Read more…

Linda AFWS | February 21, 2012

Blog: Don’t miss Gerard Basset’s tutorial on Champagne

By Linda AFWS | Published: December 15, 2011

Academy director Gerard Basset MS, MW, OBE, and the current holder of the title World’s Best Sommelier, explains the basics of storing, opening and pouring champagne as well as looking at the different styles and when they should be drunk.  

Linda AFWS | December 15, 2011

Blog: AFWS’ Licence to Work series gains momentum

By Linda AFWS | Published: December 2, 2011

The Academy’s new series of training programmes – Licence to Work – is now well underway, with a successful Licence to Work in Wine Service held this week at the Moat House Hotel near Stafford, owned by BII councillor Chris Lewis. Twenty candidates all passed the course, which having been approved by the BII Awarding Body gives them their NVQ Level 1. This was the first Licence to Work course … Read more…

Linda AFWS | December 2, 2011

Blog: Academy and BII host wine tasting at Chinese Embassy

By Linda AFWS | Published: November 30, 2011

On Friday 11 November the  BII and the Academy of Food and Wine Service were invited by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to host a wine tasting event at the Embassy in London for a delegation of top officials. The event was hosted by Neil Robertson, BII Chief Executive, and Nick Scade, Chairman of the Academy of Food and Wine Service, and was designed to offer an … Read more…

Linda AFWS | November 30, 2011

News: Gerard Basset appointed OBE

By Linda AFWS | Published: October 25, 2011

Sommelier and hotelier Gerard Basset MS, MW, the Academy’s technical director and owner of the highly successful Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire, attended an investiture at Windsor Castle last Thursday [20 October] to be appointed OBE by Princess Anne, The Princess Royal. Gerard, who last year added to his long list of award and competition successes by becoming the World’s Best Sommelier, was appointed OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List … Read more…

Linda AFWS | October 25, 2011