NZ based Sommelier ranked 8th best in the world

Media Release: NZ Sommelier ranked 8th in World

23/2/23

Over 5 days 68 champion sommeliers, from 65 countries, competed for the title of Association of Sommeliers International (ASI) World Best Sommelier 2023. 

 Andrea Martinisi represented New Zealand for the second time and was placed 8th in the world.

‘It’s such an honour to compete for New Zealand for a second time and to know that I am coming face-to-face with the best sommeliers of the world. While we are competing against each other, we are also colleagues and become friends.

‘I have learnt so much from these competitions because they force me to get better, to study and to focus and to think about regions and drinks from all over the world that I would otherwise never know about. 

‘ASI has provided this unique opportunity for us to demonstrate our skills that have been honed and developed in restaurants and hotels over many years. To see the finalists on stage and observe their expertise and professionalism excites all of us,’ says Andrea Martinisi.

This year of the 68 candidates, 12 or 18% were women, in a sector that has historically been dominated by men with 3 women being placed in the top 6 sommelier rankings.