- 1
- 2021-12-01
- Ruinart
2021 Edition RUINART SOMMELIER CHALLENGE
Ruinart is delighted to announce the 2021 edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge. An annual event to highlight and support local sommelier talents and pass on the knowhow of Maison Ruinart, this year’s Hong Kong edition took place in November 2021 and was based on the theme “The Ripening of the Grape Berry”.
Ruinart侍酒師大賽源自於美國，在2010年舉辦了第一屆後，現時比賽已成功拓展至於13個國家舉辦。Ruinart侍酒師大賽的目的是把志同道合的業界精英連繫起來，一同鑽研對葡萄酒及其過程的知識。是次於香港的比賽，吸引了21名來自城中享負盛名餐廳或酒店的侍酒師參加，當中包括香港瑰麗酒店、米芝蓮二星法國餐廳Ecriture、位於中環蘇豪區的Think Wine酒吧，香港深灣遊艇會、米芝蓮一星嘅法國餐廳Epure、香港喜來登酒店等等。
參賽的侍酒師於當日為期半日的活動上盲測品嚐四款氣泡酒，目的是讓他們懂得清晰準確地形容各款氣泡酒，並建議適合搭配的佳餚美食及各款氣酒的最佳享用温度。盲測環節完結後，品牌位於巴黎的釀造研究團隊透過視像方式，實時為參加者舉辦了一場大師班。今年的主題是葡萄成熟的過程，團隊與參賽的侍酒師們分享釀酒葡萄的結構、葡萄裡的糖、酸、芳香族酚類化合物等於不同時間的變化，如何控制葡萄成熟過程以及斷定每款葡萄品種的最佳收成時間。當天早上的活動以一場由Ruinart搭配佳餚的午宴完滿結束。
是次比賽的評審團包括Ruinart首席釀酒師Frédéric Panaïotis、Ruinart侍酒師大賽優勝者及前太古集團首席侍酒師Yvonne Cheung及亞洲侍酒及教育中心創辦人兼行政總裁Stephen Mack。
盲測選用的氣泡酒包括，2014 年 Laherte Freres Les Empreintes Extra-Brut Champagne、2008年House of Arras Grand Vintage、2010 年Champagne Agrapart & Fils Avizoise Blanc de blancs extra brut 及 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Brut ‘sous-bois 。
評審團於比賽後審閱參賽者的匿名盲品筆記，從而選出2021年Ruinart侍酒師大賽香港分站的優勝者為米芝蓮一星高級泰國菜Aaharn 的首席侍酒師Kiki Sontiyart。
『對於成為了今屆Ruinart侍酒師大賽香港分站優勝者，我感到十分驚訝。我對葡萄酒搭配的興趣早於修讀廚藝學院時已經開始萌芽，一直希望能創造出一份不局限於法國菜，而是能給食客嶄新味覺體驗的搭配佳餚。我特别喜歡以家鄉泰國菜為構思搭配的藍圖，因為泰國菜始终是我最喜愛的菜式，要完美地以佳酿去襯托它，需要用上更多的時間，作更大膽的嘗試，而我最喜歡的，就是挑戰自己。』
———— Kiki Sontiyart。
Ruinart侍酒師大賽香港賽自2014年開始每年於香港舉行，至今已吸引逾140名參賽侍酒師，並成功誕生了幾個名優勝者，分别為 2019年優勝者Mirco Taraducci及2018年優勝者Leo Au。
每個國家的Ruinart侍酒師大賽優勝者將獲邀到法國香檳區參與一個四日三夜的導賞團，細味各款珍藏佳釀。優勝者亦會獲得一瓶特别版Cuvée和Ruinart侍酒師大賽獎盃一座。
『Ruinart侍酒師大賽不只是個比賽，而是一個讓侍酒師們交流與分享經歷的空間。』
———— Ruinart首席釀酒師 Frédéric Panaïotis
參賽的侍酒師於當日為期半日的活動上盲測品嚐四款氣泡酒，目的是讓他們懂得清晰準確地形容各款氣泡酒，並建議適合搭配的佳餚美食及各款氣酒的最佳享用温度。盲測環節完結後，品牌位於巴黎的釀造研究團隊透過視像方式，實時為參加者舉辦了一場大師班。今年的主題是葡萄成熟的過程，團隊與參賽的侍酒師們分享釀酒葡萄的結構、葡萄裡的糖、酸、芳香族酚類化合物等於不同時間的變化，如何控制葡萄成熟過程以及斷定每款葡萄品種的最佳收成時間。當天早上的活動以一場由Ruinart搭配佳餚的午宴完滿結束。
是次比賽的評審團包括Ruinart首席釀酒師Frédéric Panaïotis、Ruinart侍酒師大賽優勝者及前太古集團首席侍酒師Yvonne Cheung及亞洲侍酒及教育中心創辦人兼行政總裁Stephen Mack。
盲測選用的氣泡酒包括，2014 年 Laherte Freres Les Empreintes Extra-Brut Champagne、2008年House of Arras Grand Vintage、2010 年Champagne Agrapart & Fils Avizoise Blanc de blancs extra brut 及 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Brut ‘sous-bois 。
評審團於比賽後審閱參賽者的匿名盲品筆記，從而選出2021年Ruinart侍酒師大賽香港分站的優勝者為米芝蓮一星高級泰國菜Aaharn 的首席侍酒師Kiki Sontiyart。
『對於成為了今屆Ruinart侍酒師大賽香港分站優勝者，我感到十分驚訝。我對葡萄酒搭配的興趣早於修讀廚藝學院時已經開始萌芽，一直希望能創造出一份不局限於法國菜，而是能給食客嶄新味覺體驗的搭配佳餚。我特别喜歡以家鄉泰國菜為構思搭配的藍圖，因為泰國菜始终是我最喜愛的菜式，要完美地以佳酿去襯托它，需要用上更多的時間，作更大膽的嘗試，而我最喜歡的，就是挑戰自己。』
———— Kiki Sontiyart。
Ruinart侍酒師大賽香港賽自2014年開始每年於香港舉行，至今已吸引逾140名參賽侍酒師，並成功誕生了幾個名優勝者，分别為 2019年優勝者Mirco Taraducci及2018年優勝者Leo Au。
每個國家的Ruinart侍酒師大賽優勝者將獲邀到法國香檳區參與一個四日三夜的導賞團，細味各款珍藏佳釀。優勝者亦會獲得一瓶特别版Cuvée和Ruinart侍酒師大賽獎盃一座。
『Ruinart侍酒師大賽不只是個比賽，而是一個讓侍酒師們交流與分享經歷的空間。』
———— Ruinart首席釀酒師 Frédéric Panaïotis
Created in 2010 in the United States, and now organized in 13 countries, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge is a program that aims to unite talented sommeliers who share the same values of excellence and want to continue learning about wine and winemaking. This year in Hong Kong, Ruinart invited 21 participants from prestigious venues such as Rosewood, Ecriture, Think Wine, Aberdeen Marina Club, Epure, Sheraton etc.
During the half-day event, participants conducted a blind tasting competition of four sparkling wines. The aim was to describe and draw conclusions about the wines to identify them as precisely as possible, as well as suggest pairing and ideal serving temperatures. Following this practical challenge, the Maison’s oenological team led a masterclass, live from Paris. This year’s topic is the grape ripening: structure of the grape berry, when and how grapes load with sugar, acids and other aromatic and phenolic compounds, how to monitor ripening and determining the optimal harvest date to guide the style of the wine. The morning concluded with a lunch accompanied by Ruinart wines.
The judging panel comprised of Frédéric Panaïotis, Chef de Caves of Ruinart, Yvonne Cheung, previous winner of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge and ex Swire Group Director of Wine and Stephen Mack, Founder and CEO of Asia Wine Service and Education Centre.
The wines included in the blind tasting were: Laherte Frères champagne les Empreintes Extra brut 2014, A by Arras Grand Vintage 2008, Champagne Agrapart & Fils Avizoise 2010 Blanc de blancs extra brut and Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Brut ‘sous-bois’
Over the following days, the jury went through all the anonymous sealed copies and selected the winner of the blind tasting the 2021 edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, Hong Kong: Kiki Sontiyart, Sommelier of Aarharn fine dining restaurant.
“I am still wonderstruck knowing that I have won the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge 2021. My interest in wine pairing all started back when I was in culinary school, I aspire to be able to create innovative pairing suggestions that range from classic French cuisine to the kinds of Asian food that I like to eat, pairing wine with Thai food is my absolute passion not only because it is my favourite, home-styled cuisine, but also that it requires a lot of out-of-the-box thinking, and I am all about challenges. “ – Kiki Sontiyart
Held in Hong Kong since 2014, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge has already welcomed nearly 140 participants and crowned winners including sommeliers Mirco Tarducci (2019) and Leo Au (2018).
The winners of each national edition win the opportunity to be part in a unique four-day training experience to discover the Champagne region, receive an exceptional cuvee bottle from Ruinart Maison as well as a Ruinart Sommelier Challenge Trophy.
« More than a competition, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge is a privileged moment of encounters, exchanges and shared experiences for sommeliers.»
Frédéric Panaïotis, Cellar Master, Maison Ruinart
Enjoy responsibly
Content not intended to be seen or forwarded to non-legal drinking age
During the half-day event, participants conducted a blind tasting competition of four sparkling wines. The aim was to describe and draw conclusions about the wines to identify them as precisely as possible, as well as suggest pairing and ideal serving temperatures. Following this practical challenge, the Maison’s oenological team led a masterclass, live from Paris. This year’s topic is the grape ripening: structure of the grape berry, when and how grapes load with sugar, acids and other aromatic and phenolic compounds, how to monitor ripening and determining the optimal harvest date to guide the style of the wine. The morning concluded with a lunch accompanied by Ruinart wines.
The judging panel comprised of Frédéric Panaïotis, Chef de Caves of Ruinart, Yvonne Cheung, previous winner of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge and ex Swire Group Director of Wine and Stephen Mack, Founder and CEO of Asia Wine Service and Education Centre.
The wines included in the blind tasting were: Laherte Frères champagne les Empreintes Extra brut 2014, A by Arras Grand Vintage 2008, Champagne Agrapart & Fils Avizoise 2010 Blanc de blancs extra brut and Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Brut ‘sous-bois’
Over the following days, the jury went through all the anonymous sealed copies and selected the winner of the blind tasting the 2021 edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, Hong Kong: Kiki Sontiyart, Sommelier of Aarharn fine dining restaurant.
“I am still wonderstruck knowing that I have won the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge 2021. My interest in wine pairing all started back when I was in culinary school, I aspire to be able to create innovative pairing suggestions that range from classic French cuisine to the kinds of Asian food that I like to eat, pairing wine with Thai food is my absolute passion not only because it is my favourite, home-styled cuisine, but also that it requires a lot of out-of-the-box thinking, and I am all about challenges. “ – Kiki Sontiyart
Held in Hong Kong since 2014, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge has already welcomed nearly 140 participants and crowned winners including sommeliers Mirco Tarducci (2019) and Leo Au (2018).
The winners of each national edition win the opportunity to be part in a unique four-day training experience to discover the Champagne region, receive an exceptional cuvee bottle from Ruinart Maison as well as a Ruinart Sommelier Challenge Trophy.
« More than a competition, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge is a privileged moment of encounters, exchanges and shared experiences for sommeliers.»
Frédéric Panaïotis, Cellar Master, Maison Ruinart
Enjoy responsibly
Content not intended to be seen or forwarded to non-legal drinking age
