Australia’s three Master Sommeliers - Frank Moreau, Sebastian Crowther and Ben Hasko - joined forces to judge the Bailliage’s 2017 Final of the Jeunes Sommeliers Competition. Five finalists from the country’s finest restaurants battled it out in a number of gruelling written, tasting and service tests for a chance to represent Australia in September at the International Final in Budapest.

In a closely fought competition battle Mickael Grou from Sails Restaurant in Noosa was declared the winner and received the Gold Medal. Toru Takamatsu from Eleven Bridge and Tim Perlstone from Felix Restaurant were separated by half a point for the Runner-up and Third Place spots. Daniella Lauricella from Flex Restaurant and Miguel Citeau from Vue de Monde Restaurant were only a couple of points behind.

Bailli Délégué Norm Harrison, assisted by the Hon. Don Harwin MLC, a New South Wales Minister and Chaîne Chevalier d'Honneur, presented Mickael with the James Halliday Trophy and an AU$3,000 cash prize. All the finalists received gifts from the National Bailliage.

The standard this year was extremely good augering well for the future of the country’s sommelier community. Australia has been highly successful in the International Competition in recent years. Échanson John Studdert, who acted as Chair of the Panel of Judges, commented that all finalists this year would have been credible, highly-accomplished competitors at the international finals.

The Jeunes Sommeliers Competition in Australia has strong support from the industry with the InterContinental Hotel Sydney as Hospitality Partner, plus the Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers and Irvine Wines as sustaining national sponsors.

John Studdert
Échanson