Sonoma, California (February 13) - The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), the non-profit global sommellerie governance organization, is pleased to announce that, for the first time, the United States of America will host an ASI event as it welcomes the world to Sonoma for the ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas 2025 Competition.
For this year's competition, ASI President William Wouters states: "The ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the Americas 2025 marks an important step forward for ASI and the sommellerie profession as a whole. Holding a competition of this caliber in California - the epicenter of wine production in North America and a region with its own strong sommelier community - is an important milestone for our association. Until the creation of BUSA (Best USA Sommelier Association), under the direction of Doug Frost MW MS and his team of leading American sommeliers, the sommellerie landscape in the United States was fragmented. By joining ASI and hosting this event, we hope to further unite American sommeliers with their counterparts around the world."
This year's competition was jointly organized by ASI and its various committees, in collaboration with BUSA under the direction of Doug Frost. ASI vice president for the Americas, Matias Prezioso, adds: "We are thrilled to welcome the best sommeliers of the Americas to California. This year's competition is truly representative of sommeliers across the region as we welcome candidates from countries with a long tradition of the profession, including Canada, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. We also welcome contestants from countries such as Bolivia and Panama, regions with less experience on the world stage, as well as from countries without a sommelier association or from an association that has not yet joined ASI."
On the opportunity to host the event, BUSA's Doug Frost says: " California is the heart of American winemaking. Napa is its engine and Sonoma is its soul. We are excited to welcome the ASI Board of Directors, nominees, esteemed judges, ASI committee members, association presidents and sommelier fans to this extraordinary region that represents so much of our country's wine history. This is an important moment for our association and for sommelier in the United States."
The event will kick off on February 17 with a welcome wine exhibition and a Masterclass on California Terroir, and will conclude with dinner and talks at Hamel Winery. Over the next few days, candidates and guests will have the opportunity to attend several masterclasses hosted by ASI and event partners, as well as visit some prestigious local estates. The competition will culminate on Thursday, 20 February, with the final showdown, which will be followed by the Perlage Gala Dinner at the Flamingo Resort & Spa.
DISCOVER THE CANDIDATES
A total of 16 nominees from South America, North America and the Caribbean have qualified to compete for the title of ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas 2025.
The ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas Competition is a multi-day competition that challenges participants with a series of rigorous tests, including written theory, blind tasting and service skills. The competition begins with a quarterfinal round, followed by a semifinal round and finally the final, which features the top three contestants as judged by the ASI Sommeliers Competition Committee. Adding an extra level of sophistication, contestants must present in one of ASI's official languages: English, French or Spanish.
LIVESTREAM - FINAL OF THE ASI BEST SOMMELIER OF THE AMERICAS CONTEST
The finals will be held on Thursday, February 20, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time (11:00 p.m. Central time). The event will also be streamed live around the world via YouTube.
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FUTURE COMPETITIONS
The ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas competition is preceded by:
- ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific 2025 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7-11 September 2025)
- ASI Best Sommelier of the World Contest 2026 (Lisbon, Portugal).
For more information about the ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas Contest.
