About the Competition
The Chaine des Rotisseurs Alberta Young Sommelier Competition was started in 2018 with our First winner Evan Watson coming from Bar Clementine in Edmonton. That year he took home the championship medal and $1000 in cash. We had six competitors that first year.
In our second year, Kevin Milne of the Chateau Lake Louise took home the first-place hardware which now includes not just the medal but also the Roger Baekeland Memorial Award along with the $1000 cash prize. Kevin had to beat out a field of twelve competitors, double the previous year.
In 2022, with a field of six competitors, first place went to Julian Simard-Gillis from the Post Hotel in Lake Louise. He went on to compete in Wiesbaden, Germany.
In 2023, we had three enthusiastic competitors, and first place went to Marianna Pirhalova from the Guild.
2024 was a most exciting year! Our regional competition morphed into a national competition which will continue going forward. We had competitors from Montreal, Kelowna, and Calgary. Maxwell Bryer from Kelowna was the champion, and he went on to compete in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Sommelier Competition is the only competition in Canada designed specifically to test and develop young Sommeliers and wine professionals. The goal of the competition is to encourage and promote the development of young wine professionals.
2025 saw candidates from Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and the Okanagan! Competition was very close with the First Place going to Grant Bronconnier who went on to compete in the International finals in Lisbon, Portugal.
The 2026 Canadian competition will have two stages. First the written theory exam on February 21, 2026, held either in person in Calgary or under the oversight of a proctor in the candidate’s city. The Practical Service and Blind Tasting stage is scheduled to take place in Calgary on March 28.
The Canadian First Place holder will be eligible to compete in the International Jeunes Sommeliers Competition to be held on October 21-24, 2026 in Verona, Italy!
Prizes
1st Place
1st place medal
$1000.00
2nd Place
2nd place medal
$500.00
3rd Place
3rd place medal
$250.00
Cost to Compete
$0