The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) is pleased to announce the semi-finalists of the ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas in Santiago, Chile. 

The contest, one of three continental competitions hosted by ASI, challenges the best sommeliers of North, Central and South America in a multi-day test of knowledge and skills. The winner of the contest will automatically qualify, as one of three continental contest winners, for the ASI Best Sommelier of the World contest to be held in Paris, France in 2023.

The Chilean organization team, ASI committee members and candidates arrived in Santiago earlier this week with a positive attitude, and ready for the competition. Outgoing president of the Association of Chilean Sommeliers, Ricardo Grellet says “the warm weather, the wines of Chile and the incredible spirit of everyone involved, has put a ray of sunshine on this contest.”

The event launched with an intensive seminar on the terroir of Chile led by Aurelio Montes, the visionary winemaker and winery owner of Montes and a dinner hosted by ASI partner, Familia Torres.  Along with the competition, the event is also a showcase of the new styles and regions out of Chile, including some of its cooler corners culminating in a wine fair appropriately titled SommDate, reflecting the intimate connection between sommeliers and wineries.

The quarterfinals were held this morning under the direction ASI Contests Committee, led by Oliver Poussier and a team elite ASI sommeliers including Serge Dubs, Paz Levinson, Véronique Rivest, and Heidi Mäkinen, MW. After careful deliberation, eight sommeliers have moved on to the semifinals of the ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas.

The Semi-Finalists:

Dustin Chabert, USA


Hugo Duchesne, Canada


Tiago Roberto Locatelli, Brazil


Mark Guillaudeu, USA


Martin Bruno, Argentina


Valeria Gamper, Argentina

 

Congratulations to all the candidates and good luck to the 6, who will continue to compete for the title! 

The semifinals will take place on the 18th of February and the final will be live streamed on our YouTube channel (link in bio!) on the 19th of February from 15.00 Santiago time!

 

 

Read here the whole programme;

 ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas 2022

16-19 February

Santiago, Chile

Official Program

 Friday, February 18th (Day 2 – Semifinal)

 

Exclusively TC & Candidates (semifinalists only)

 

  • 08:30

Semifinalists in front of San Cristobal A & C rooms

  • Dress code: Sommelier Attire

 

  • 09:00 to 17:30

Semi Final

 

  • 12:00 to 14:30

Lunch at Bohio Restaurant at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center

  • Follow the instructions of the TC

 

ASI Board, Presidents, Candidates (other than semifinalists) and journalists

 

  • 10:00

Departure to De Martino Winery for visit and tasting

  • Dress code: casual

Be prepared for a wineland day! Sunscreen/Sunblock, hat and walking shoes (no sandals allowed)

 

  • 12:30

Transfer to Santa Clara Winery

 

  • 13:00 to 16:00

Lunch at Santa Clara Winery

 

  • 16:30

Transfer to Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center

 

 

All ASI official delegations (ASI Board, Technical Committee/TC, Presidents, Candidates) and Journalists

 

  • 18:30 to 19:30

MOVI seminar: Wines at human scale production

  • Venue: San Cristobal C Room at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center
  • Dress code: smart casual

 

  • 19:30

Dinner at Bohio Restaurant at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center

  • Dress code: smart casual

 

  • 22:00 to 00:30

Bar des Sommeliers: Discover Chile's diversity of red wines.

  • Venue: Quixote Bar at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center
  • Dress code: casual

 

 Saturday, February 19th (Day 3 – Final)

 

All ASI official delegations (ASI Board, Technical Committee/TC, Presidents, Candidates) and Journalists

 

  • 11:00 to 15:00

SommDate / open wine fair

Attendance to the open wine fair in the morning is mandatory for all candidates.

  • Venue: San Cristobal A & B & C rooms
  • Dress code: smart casual

 

  • 13:00 to 15:00

Light lunch (buffet style) hosted by Wines of Chile

with Coastal Range and Sparkling wines

  • Venue: Bohio Restaurant at Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center

 

      All the detailed instructions to candidates will be given by the TC on Friday evening during the dinner.

 

  • 15:00 to 18:30

Grand final of the ASI contest of the Best Sommelier of Americas 2022

  • Venue: TBC
  • Dress code: Suit with a black necktie / Sommelier attire for ALL candidates

 

  • 19:00 to 22:30.

Gala dinner

  • Venue: TBC
  • Dress code : Suit with black necktie / Sommelier attire for ALL candidates

       and ready to dance

  Link for the live stream: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dqga_9SSPOk

 Source: Association de la Sommellerie Internationale(ASI)

Photo Credit: ASI