Competition Rules 2023

A competitor must be at least 21 (twenty-one) on Saturday, March 25, 2023, and will NOT yet reach his or her 27th (twenty-seventh) birthday by September 12, 2023.

The Deadline for application is March 15, 2023.

If You’re a Sommelier

If you know other sommeliers who are older than 21 as of March 25, 2023 AND will NOT have reached 27 years of age as of September 12, 2023 who are polishing their skills and looking for an educational challenge, tell them to enrol in this year’s contest right away! And in case 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 2023 Young Sommeliers competition. Please contact Llyn Strelau (vice.echansonyyc@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Thank you. Vive La Chaîne and Mondiale!

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 2023 Young Sommeliers Competition is open to any qualified individual who:

Is an 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 March 25, 2023 and has not yet reached his or her 27th birthday on September 12, 2023.
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 Best Young Sommelier of the year, the candidate must successfully progress through two stages: a first-round written test administered in person, on Saturday March 25, 2023, at the Ranchmen’s Club, 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta, OR for Edmonton candidates, the test will be written in Edmonton location is TBD. The top six scoring competitors on the written stage will advance to the second final round test held in person on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, at the Ranchmen’s Club, 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta.

First Round Written Test

The first-round written test will be administered in person on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 1:00pm 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 and then write the test at 1:00 pm. This is a closed-book test. The test will be given at a single time this day ONLY. No other dates or times are possible for taking this test. The results of the first-round exam are used to determine the competitors invited to advance to the final. 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.

The final competition will feature the six top-scoring candidates from the first-round test. The final completion will be held on Saturday, April 1st at the Ranchmen’s Club 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta. The final competition will consist of:

Edmonton candidates will write the test in Edmonton on the same date at the same time. The location is to be determined.

If you reside outside of Calgary or Edmonton alternate arrangements for our written exam may be considered depending your particular situation. Any alternate arrangements are strictly at the discretion of the competition committee.

A blind tasting evaluation of four wines described orally to the judges in 20 minutes
A service test requiring the opening and serving of a sparkling wine
A Service test requiring the decanting and serving of a red wine
A table-side wine pairing exercise.

There is no cost to the young sommeliers to participate at any level of the competition. For a competitor selected after the competition to represent the Chaîne Canada at the International Competition all expenses will be paid by Chaîne Canada.

Oral (Theory) Test

Competitors will be quizzed about their wine knowledge, the questions will cover the same areas of knowledge as the first-round test but at a higher level of difficulty. Questions will test competitors’ knowledge especially of wine regions, wine grapes, wine labels, wines styles, vintages, wineries, wine companies, wine laws, and key people in the world of wine, but will also address wine growing and wine making, vine diseases, and the history of wine, as well as beers, spirits, and other crafted beverages including tea service. There will not be any cigar questions unless the international rules allow for same and competitors will be advised in advance should that be the case.

Service Skills Testing

The Practical Service Skills test is a station-based service performance exam that includes old redline service (decanting) and sparkling wine service. There is also an exercise to recommend wines for pairing with various meal choices. These tests require full restaurant service skills, composure, appropriate dress and personal sommelier equipment.

Blind Tasting

The Blind Tasting test is a timed (20-minute) blind tasting of four wines. Scoring will be done based on the Court of Master Sommeliers deductive tasting method. Scores will be assigned for assessment by sight, nose, and palate and by initial and final conclusions of each wine.

Other Test Elements

In the spirit of keeping current with the evolving demands of a sommelier’s job, the exam may include new components from time to time that are not divulged in advance. In 2013, a wine-term pronunciation test was introduced. In 2014, cocktail service was added.

Other innovations may be added without prior notice.

Final Competition

The final competition will be administered in person at the Ranchmen’s Club, 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta. The candidates with the top six scores on the March 25, 2023 written test will be invited to compete in the final test at 1:00pm on Saturday April 1, 2023.

Location

The final competition will be administered in person at the Ranchmen’s Club, 710 – 13 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta. The candidates with the top six scores on the March 25 written test will be invited to compete in the final test at 1:00pm on Saturday April 1.

Attire

Attire at both the regional and national competitions for female contestants is 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. Attire for the judges is business attire.

Results

The final results will be announced directly after the conclusion of the final competition on April 1, 2023. Results are final and not subject to review or appeal. Appeals will not be considered. All competing sommeliers at the Final Competition must attend the entire announcement and awards ceremony in order to be eligible to receive an award. The announcement of the results will be recognized with photographs and press releases. The Chargée de Presse National (or her representative) is responsible for all photographs and press releases to be included in the next issue of Chaine Canada Newsletter.

Prizes

At the Final competition, medals will be awarded as follows:

First Place

First Place Medal
Roger Baekeand Memorial Trophy to First Place ( on display at winners business establishment for one year)
Cash prize $1000

The first place contestant also moves on to the Canadian National Young Sommelier competition with a chance to represent Canada in Ljubljana, Slovenia September 13-17 2023.

Second Place

Second Place Medal
Cash prize $500.00

Third Place

Third PlaceMedal
Cash prize of $250.00.

Third Round International Competition

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 do 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 2023 International Competition will be held September 12-17, 2023, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Competitors must make sure that they do not have any date conflicts for this time period (September 12-17, 2023), so that if invited by the Chaîne Canada to compete he or she 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