The Best Sommelier in the Baltic States is Ronalds Pētersons from Latvia

“The competition was very tight and I am very happy about winning. Compared to five years ago, when I first won the competition the exercises have become more difficult. I think my strength was the practical exercise where one had to demonstrate the skill required to serve clients,” said the best sommelier of the Baltic States Ronalds Pētersons from Latvia, who also won the title of best sommelier of the Baltic States in the year 2013.

In the preliminary round the competitors demonstrated their special knowledge in written tests as well as by performing different practical exercises. In the finals, professional skills were demonstrated by fulfilling various surprise exercises.

„Participating in competitions gives the sommelier the understanding which are one’s weak aspects and train oneself accordingly. I have been a jury member in very many sommelier competitions and I see more and more sommeliers from the Baltic States participating in different competitions. This shows the dedication of sommeliers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the profession,“ explained the head of the jury, president of the international sommelier association A.S.I., Andres Rosberg from Argentina.

„The Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix was created to promote responsible drinking culture in which professional sommeliers play an important role. Competitions are extremely important for vocational development of sommeliers and development of the field,“ said the jury member Urvo Ugandi, who is a sommelier and product manager of quality wines at AS Liviko. Urvo Ugandi won the title of best sommelier of the Baltic States at the first Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix.

The international jury consists of the presidents of the sommelier associations of each of the Baltic States: Kristjan Markii from Estonia, Arminas Darasevičius from Lithuania and Janis Kalkis from Latvia as well as the sommeliers Urvo Ugandi from Estonia, Raimonds Tomsons from Latvia, Liora Levi from Norway and Nikolai Utebekov from Russia. The head of the jury of the competition was the president of the international sommelier association A.S.I., Andres Rosberg from Argentina.

The traditional election of the best sommelier of the Baltic States got its name after the legendary, most popular liqueur in Estonia – Vana Tallinn. Since the year 2006 AS Liviko organises the Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix in cooperation with the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Sommelier Associations.