Regional Competition Rules | 2025

A competitor must be at least 21 (twenty-one) on Saturday, February 22, 2025, and will NOT yet reach their 29th (twenty-ninth) birthday by September 10, 2025. There is NO cost to participants to enter the National Competition.

In addition, if you know other sommeliers who meet the age requirements above, please tell them about the event. If they need a nudge, send us an email with their name and contact information and we will follow up.

On this page, you will find detailed information about the 2025 Young Sommeliers competition.

Please contact Llyn Strelau (vice.echansonyyc@gmail.com)

or Linda Robinson Echanson for Canada at (lindar@pacificwineandspirits.com) if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Vive La Chaîne and Mondial!

Deadline for Submissions of Candidates is February 15, 2025.

Preface

L’Ordre Mondial was created to promote the enjoyment, knowledge and understanding of fine wines and crafted beverages. The framework of the Mondial provides for professional and amateur participation, with one of its goals being to provide help, encouragement and support for the young professionals who are to be the best sommeliers of the future. The Young Sommeliers Competition promotes the expertise of the young wine and spirit professional and encourages mastery of wine and spirit knowledge.

Eligibility

The 2025 National Young Sommeliers Competition is open to any qualified individual who:

Is a Canadian citizen (by birth or naturalization) AND has demonstrated an active interest in the wine and crafted beverage industry. Or is a legal resident of Canada, holding a valid work permit AND is actively employed in that country as a sommelier on the date of each stage of the competition in which the individual seeks to compete.
Is at least 21 (twenty-one) years of age on February 22, 2025, and have not yet reached their 29th birthday on September 10, 2025.
Is sponsored by a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs (if you don’t yet have a sponsor, don’t worry – we’ll arrange that for you). To attain the distinction of being selected as the National Young Sommelier of the year, the candidate must successfully progress through two stages: a first-round written test administered in person or with proctor. The top six scoring competitors from the written exam will, on April 26 in Calgary, participate in a series of Service Performance Exercises.

First Round Written Test

The first-round written test will be administered in person on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 1:00 pm at the Ranchmen’s Club, 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta and candidates whose applications have been previously accepted will arrive at the Ranchmen’s Club at 12:30 pm for orientation. This is a closed-book test and will be given at a single time this day ONLY. No other dates or times are possible. The results of the first-round exam are used to determine the competitors who will be invited to advance to the finals. The initial written test result may also be a component of the final testing score. ONLY the TOP 6 contestants will advance to the final competition.

If you live outside Calgary, alternative arrangements for the written exam may be possible based on your situation. We will arrange for proctors to oversee the examination. Any alternate arrangements are strictly at the discretion of the competition committee.

The Second Regional Final Stage

Gabriella Desbiens-Richard, Montreal

The SIX top-scoring candidates from the first-round test are invited to participate. It will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the Ranchmen’s Club 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta. These tests require full restaurant service skills, composure, appropriate dress and personal sommelier equipment.

Appropriate attire at this second stage is required: Female contestants should have a business suit or after-five/evening attire appropriate for a professional sommelier. Attire for male contestants is a business suit or tuxedo (black tie) appropriate for a professional sommelier.

The National Final phase will consist of the following, EACH within a 20-minute time frame:

The Blind Tasting test is a timed blind tasting of four wines. Scoring will be based on the Court of Master Sommeliers deductive tasting method. Scores are assigned for assessment by sight, nose, and palate and by initial and final conclusions of each wine.
A station-based service performance exam, presenting, decanting, and serving a mature red wine.
A station-based service performance exam representing, opening, and serving of a sparkling wine.
A table-side wine pairing exercise, recommending appropriate wines to match a presented menu.

Competitors may be quizzed about their wine knowledge during the Service Examination.

Other Test Elements

To stay updated with a sommelier’s evolving job demands, new exam components may occasionally be added without prior notice. In 2013, a wine-term pronunciation test was introduced. Cocktail service began in 2014. Additional innovations may be incorporated in the future.

Results

The final results will be announced after the competition ends on April 26, 2025. Results are final and not subject to review or appeal. Appeals are not allowed. All competing sommeliers at the Final Competition must attend the entire announcement and awards ceremony, to be eligible to receive an award. The National Press Officer (or representative) is responsible for all photographs and press releases to be included in the upcoming issue of the Chaine Canada Newsletter.

Prizes

At the National Final competition, prizes will be presented as follows:

Maxwell Bryer, Kelowna, BC the 2024 National Champion

First Place:

First Place Medal
Roger Baekeand Memorial Trophy to First Place (to be displayed at winner’s business establishment for one year)
Cash prize $1000.00

Second Place:

Second Place Medal
Cash prize $500.00

Third Place:

Third Place Medal
Cash prize of $250.00.

Next Opportunities

The winning Canadian sommelier will be invited to compete in the International Jeunes Sommelliers Competition to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, September 10-14, 2025.

All participants in the final competition must agree in advance, as a condition of their eligibility to compete, that if they are invited to advance to a higher level of the competition, they are committed to doing so. A sommelier who has participated in the national competition and is subsequently invited to represent the Chaîne Canada to compete in the Chaîne International Young Sommeliers competition (Concours International des Jeunes Sommeliers), agrees upon applying to compete to do so. Expenses for the Canadian winner to attend internationally are paid by the Chaîne. The 2025. competitors must make sure that they do not have any date conflicts for the time period, September 10-14, 2025, so that if invited by the Chaîne Canada to compete they will be available to do so.

Fotoaufnahmen: Young Sommeliers Competition, CHAINE DES ROTISSEURS, Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
Lauf der 16 besten Sommeliers der Welt durch das Städtle in Vaduz.
Foto: ©Paul J. Trummer