Baudary, sommelier at Gordon Ramsey’s Maze Restaurant in Grosvenor Square, London, came second in the competition – runner up to the overall winner Chris Moore from the US, with Australian Yuki Hirose taking third place.
Based on the Master Sommelier advanced examination, the competition combined theory and service skills and challenged finalists to demonstrate composure, knowledge and tasting skills. All finalists took part in a week of visits to wineries and restaurants accompanied by a diverse group of Chaîne members from round the world.
“Competitions such as these serve to improve understanding and appreciation of the dedication it requires to excel as a sommelier,” said Philip Evins, Bailli Délégué of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.
“By nurturing and harnessing our young talent, we can continue to produce outstanding sommeliers who add so much to the front of house service in our better restaurants.”
“Arnaud achieved a great result and it’s a true reward for the consistent effort he has put in over the last year since he first entered the national stages of the competition. This is a real accolade for The Maze and our congratulations to general manager Sid Clark and his team.”