Sommelier

Uncorked: Bella Babbit

22-Mar-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Swedish-born wine director at NoMad London on her Nebbiolo-heavy list, Stockholm’s Cafe Nizza and Coulée de Serrant.

Uncorked: Anna Dolgushina

16-Mar-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The sommelier and co-founder of Soho’s Firebird on her favourite new wave Burgundy producers, Georgian wine and Champagne and fish and chips.

Uncorked: Seamus Sharkey

08-Mar-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The head of wine at JKS Restaurants on and pairing a cheeky Nando's with an off-dry Riesling.

Uncorked: James Ratcliffe

02-Mar-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The co-owner and MD of Cumbria's The Black Bull Inn on Slovakia's Strekov 1075, the great wine lists of The North and pairing Beaujolais with brie.

Uncorked: Maria Boumpa

23-Feb-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The sommelier of Bethnal Green restaurant Da Terra on the unicorn wines of Clos Joliette in Jurançon and why there's a lot more to Greece than Assyrtiko and Xinomavro.

Uncorked: Ross Trueman

16-Feb-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Belfast-born general manager at recently launched Brighton restaurant Furna on working for Gordon Ramsay in Bordeaux and Slovenian producer Marjan Simčič.

Uncorked: Rob Maynard

02-Feb-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The co-owner and overseer of the list at Hove's Wild Flor on Sanlucar de Barrameda's Conde De Adalma, knackered 1980 Lafite and pairing soft cheese with maturing Spatlese riesling.

Uncorked: Charles Carron Brown

26-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier and restaurant manager at Aulis London on pairing skin contact wines with Marmite toast, Californian Counoise and ‘smooth’ wines.

Uncorked: Tom Lakin

19-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The wine consultant behind the lists at Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ Paco Tapas and Casa restaurants on Raj Parr, Pax Mahle and frozen Ruinart.

Uncorked: Seoridh Fraser

12-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The bar manager at Edinburgh’s Heron on why he refuses to use the word ‘interesting’ when talking about his wines.

Uncorked: Sara Rossi

05-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Clapham restaurant Trinity on Cathy Corison, underestimating Gavi and Giacomo Conterno's Cascina Francia.

Uncorked: Emanuel Pesqueira

21-Dec-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay on the concept of balance, Portuguese winemaker Herdade do Rocim and the perils of opening Champagne at sea.

Uncorked: Melania Bellesini

15-Dec-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at The Fat Duck on overseeing a wine list that balances the classics with hidden gems and pairing venison with sake.

Uncorked: Laurentiu Bulprich

08-Dec-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The restaurant manager at Kysty in Ambleside, Cumbria, on why sherry is the best value wine, his respect for Jancis Robinson, and New Zealand's still unexplored wine making potential.

Uncorked: Emma Denney

30-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head of wine at Restaurant St Barts on Covid temporarily robbing her of her sense of smell and taste, and a mysterious Furmint from her home country of New Zealand.

Gold Service Scholarship 2023 finalists announced

30-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile front of house competition the Gold Service Scholarship has revealed the eight front of house professionals that will go through to its final.

Uncorked: Alice Bussi

23-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The co-owner and sommelier at Kent’s Michelin-starred Hide and Fox on treading grapes as a child and South African winemaker Elizma Visser.

Uncorked: Martin Hagen

17-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The owner of Cave Bristol on his love of ‘natural’ wines and discovering hidden gems in underrated places.

Uncorked: Enzo Russomanno

10-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

With a CV that includes Murano`and Locanda Locatelli, Luca head sommelier presides over one of London’s very best Italian wine lists.

Uncorked: Elliott Ashton-Konig

04-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The restaurant manager at The Fordwich Arms in Kent oversees its 300-bin wine list of New and Old World wines.

Semi-finalists for The Gold Service Scholarship 2023 revealed

31-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The Gold Service Scholarship has announced the list of candidates who have reached the semi-final stage of its 2023 competition.

Uncorked: Cameron Dewar

26-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The sommelier and co-founder of travelling supperclub Retan on a wine that evoked flavours of fried egg and ketchup, staying three months with Languedoc legend Jeff Coutelou, and what he believes to be the most underrated wine-producing country.

Uncorked: Lara Jordaan

20-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The GM at Smokey Kudu is responsible for the wine list across the Peckham-based Kudu Collective, which also includes Kudu and Kudu Grill.

Uncorked: Julien Beltzung

13-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The executive sommelier at Perthshire’s The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant on his upbringing in Alsace, opening bottles properly and La Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1945.

Uncorked: Daniel Illsley

06-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The wine director at Maison François and the owner of wine shop Theatre of Wine on Hugh Johnson, Clos de Crappe and Champagne Marie Courtin.

Uncorked: Monique Ziervogel

22-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The South African-born head sommelier at London’s Spring on the joys of Edorado Valentini’s Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and presiding over a list that leans towards small, organic and biodynamic producers.

Uncorked: Paul Morgan

15-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The owner and wine buyer of Hove’s Fourth and Church on his love of Sherry, German Riesling and the wines of Loire producer Domaine François Chidaine.

Uncorked: Adam Ramic

08-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The Slovenian-born sommelier behind the list at The Lanesborough Grill on Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl and matching beef tartare with vintage rosé Champagne.

How an untrained Country Durham chef created one of the UK’s most exciting restaurants

05-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Self-taught chef James Close has brought two stars to the North East with his The Raby Hunt restaurant. Can he dish up a third?

Uncorked: Adrian Castro

01-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Tapas Brindisa’s wine buyer and operations manager on Manchuela-based producer Juan Antonio Ponce, mishaps with magnums and octogenarian sherry.

How I Got Here: Gearoid Devaney

31-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The master sommelier, restaurateur and co-founder of hospitality industry members club Trade on his partnership with Xavier Rousset, communicating the possibilities of a career in hospitality, and staffing woes.

Uncorked: Sergi Guillen Beneito

12-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The wine director at Ormer Mayfair by Sofian on having to pour a bottle of 2001 Petrus down the sink and Castilla Leon-based producer Alvar de Dios.

Uncorked: Michele Orbolato

03-Aug-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at D&D London’s Le Pont de la Tour and the recently launched Le Pont de la Tour Bistrot on Piedmont-based wine superstar Angelo Gaja and wines from Spain’s Bierzo DOP.

Uncorked: Daniel Stojcic

28-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The sommelier at The Raby Hunt on his white and Old World heavy wine list, getting into wine relatively late on in life and the Loire's Domaine Belargus.

Uncorked: Charlie Stein

21-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head of wine at Rick Stein Restaurants on his love of modern South African wine and roasting one of his dad's bottles of Penfold’s Grange.

Uncorked: Josh Castle

06-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Noble Rot’s group head sommelier on swapping out Aussie Shiraz for Côte-Rôtie and the joys of venerable NV Champagne.

Uncorked: Élise Mérigaud

05-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Anne-Sophie Pic’s London outpost on inspirational women in wine and Sicily’s Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.

Uncorked: Fernando Cubas

30-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Theo Randall at the InterContinental on his Italy-focused list, Trentino-based producer Elisabetta Foradori and his love of Sicilian wines.

Uncorked: Clara Rubin

23-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The group wine manager at Hawksmoor on her passion for wine education and the steak-focused group’s ‘guest first’ mindset.

Uncorked: Francesco Tessa

16-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The Puglian-born head Sommelier at The City-based Angler on Josko Gravner’s famed Ribolla Gialla, the Mosel’s Clemens Busch, and Jancis Robinson.

Uncorked: Filip Viorel

01-Jun-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at high-end Mayfair Indian restaurant Benares on over pouring and why the Balkans and former Soviet Bloc countries should be reappraised by wine lovers.

Uncorked: Vanessa Majella Stolz

26-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The somm at Northumberland restaurant Pine on Coravin mishaps, sexist wine service and the joys of British wine.

Uncorked: Giacomo Recchia

19-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The Puglia-born senior sommelier at Bob Bob Ricard City on catching the wine bug in Languedoc-Roussillon, Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix and presiding over one of the best value wine lists in the capital.

Barletta duo to open Cliftonville wine bar and restaurant

17-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Barletta founders Natalia Ribbe and Jackson Berg will open a wine bar and restaurant in Margate's Cliftonville area this summer.

Uncorked: Sam Weatherill

05-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The restaurant manager (and wine guru) at Hove’s Etch on the joys of battered oysters with Vecchio Samperi and being mistaken for his boss.

Uncorked: Matilda Tsappis

28-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

One half of the duo behind Scotland's Killiecrankie House on championing Chinese wine, peculiar sakes and matching Champagne with Co-op salt and vinegar crisps.

Uncorked: Valentin Mouillard

21-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Simon Rogan's flagship L'Enclume on being the grandson of a winemaker in Jura, Austrian natural winemaker Johannes Zillinger and why muscadet needs to be reappraised.

Uncorked: Emily Acha Derrington

14-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head of wine at Manteca raises a glass to the women that juggle working in wine and restaurants with young families.

Uncorked: Marie-Paule Herman

07-Apr-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The group sommelier and senior ops manager at Maximal Concepts on her wine list at the recently launched The Aubrey and her love of riesling and Champagne.

Uncorked: Sarah Wright

17-Mar-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at The Mulwray on presiding over one of London’s most eclectic lists and why the concept of Old World versus New World wine should be ditched.