Finalists announced for the 2026 Sommelier Challenge
Tickets to attend a special dinner ceremony at Lee Ho Fook to find out who is Australia’s Best Sommelier now available for Monday, 6 July
EVENT DETAILS:
2026 Sommelier Challenge: Finding Australia’s Best Sommelier
Black Tie Ceremony Dinner
Tickets available here
Monday, 6 July 2026, 6:00pm
Lee Ho Fook’s celebrated signature dishes plus matching wines and the unveiling of Australia’s Best Sommelier for 2026.
Sommeliers Australia is proud to announce the four finalists competing for the 2026 Sommelier Challenge: Finding Australia’s Best Sommelier, taking place on Monday, 6 July 2026 in the
iconic Sydney Tower at Infinity by Mark Best.
After progressing through a highly competitive selection process, finalists Justin Biskup (CARPE VINO, VIC), Clotilde Candusso (Freyja, VIC), Isaac Pockney (Bennelong, NSW) and
Paolo Saccone MS (LUCAS Restaurants, NSW) will now face a series of written, tasting, practical and theory examinations as they compete for the title of Australia’s Best Sommelier.
The winner of the 2026 Australia’s Best Sommelier will be announced at a special black-tie dinner ceremony that same evening at restaurant Lee Ho Fook, with tickets available to the
public to attend.
More than 30 sommeliers from across Australia applied to participate in the nation’s premier wine service competition. After undergoing a rigorous online interview featuring questions
reflecting Master Sommelier, WSET Diploma, and ASI Diploma level standards designed to test technical knowledge and industry expertise, these four outstanding finalists have secured their
place in the final stage of the competition.
Judges for this year’s Sommelier Challenge include noted professionals in the industry including Sommeliers Australia President Louella Mathews, Master Sommelier Andreas Aragon & Sarah
Andrew WSET Dip (previous Sommeliers Australia President). Previous winners for the Sommelier Challenge include Chris Ryan, Rajat Bhatia, Adrian Filiuta MS and Leanne Altmann
(the inaugural winner in 2014).
The winner of the local Sommelier Challenge will earn the honour of representing the nation on behalf of Sommeliers Australia at the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) Best
Sommelier of the World 2026 competition, to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 11–17 October 2026.
“This 2026 Sommelier Challenge is the modern reboot of Australia’s Best Sommelier of the Year. Beyond being a competition, it provides a pathway for professionals to demonstrate their
knowledge on the world stage and engage with the global sommelier community. It strengthens Australia’s wine and hospitality sector by elevating standards of service, deepening collective
knowledge, and fostering the exchange of expertise across peers and the next generation of sommeliers. With each candidate contributing to the wine community through a masterclass
delivered in partnership with their sponsor,” said Sommeliers Australia President Louella Mathews.
Tickets to attend the 2026 Australia’s Best Sommelier Awards Ceremony at Lee Ho Fook are $165.00 and available to purchase now via the Sommeliers Australia website. Guests will enjoy
Lee Ho Fook’s celebrated signature dishes, including its iconic duck, accompanied by exceptional wines generously paired by Sommeliers Australia Gold Sponsors Ruinart, House
of Arras, Jim Barry and Pewsey Vale.
For more information about Sommeliers Australia, please visit:
www.sommeliers.com.au
@sommeliersaustralia
About Sommeliers Australia
Sommeliers Australia is a national, not-for-profit hospitality industry association, governed and managed by a committee of volunteers, at both national and state level.The association began life in the early 1990’s in Victoria and New South Wales as separate associations. In August 2007, the two associations merged to form Sommeliers Australia, and in 2009 State Chapters in Queensland and Western Australia formed, with other States forming shortly afterwards. Sommeliers Australia is the only association in Australia that represents and supports the education of Australian sommeliers and wine professionals. The focus of the association is to provide our members, and the hospitality industry at large, with relevant education and career development opportunities. As an association, Sommeliers Australia’s core mission is to develop and deliver education opportunities for not only our members but for all involved in the hospitality and drinks industries. With a key focus on improving the tasting, communication, education and business skills of our Professional members, this in turn extends to educating our keen and knowledgeable Enthusiast members, as well as the industry at large.
