THE NAMES of the sommeliers through to the semi-finals of this year's Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2013 have been announced by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS).

The winner of the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2013 title wins a trip to Maison Moët & Chandon to taste the Grand Vintage collections with chef de cave Benoît Gouez.

This follows regional finals held simultaneously in Bristol, London, Manchester, Tunbridge Wells and Edinburgh. This year there were a record number of entries, with 89 making it through to the regional finals.

The 2013 semi-finalists are:

Romain Bourger, The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury

Tobias Brauweiler, The Ritz, London

Remi Fischer, Gleneagles, Perthshire

Michael Jenni, Launceston Place, London

Kathrine Larson, Orrery, London

Tanguy Martin, Hotel TerraVina, Hampshire

Stefan Neumann, The Fat Duck, Berkshire

Marcin Oziebly, The Albert Square Chop House, Manchester

Mark Perlaki, Hotel du Vin, Harrogate

Stuart Skea, 21212 Restaurant, Edinburgh

All 10 now go forward to the semi-finals at London's Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park on 28 May 2013, along with last year's runners up Laurent Richet of Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham and Clement Robert of Medlar Restaurant, London.

At the semi-final just three sommeliers will be selected to compete in the grand final later that day.

Now in its 34th year the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year competition seeks to find the best wine waiter or sommelier based on wine and drink expertise, ability to deal with customers, and front of house service skills. Last year's winner was Jan Konetzki of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

The winner of the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2013 title wins a trip to Maison Moët & Chandon to taste the Grand Vintage collections with chef de cave Benoît Gouez.

In addition, the Boutinot Bursary will fund an all-expenses paid trip to visit the Southern Rhone Valley during the 2013 harvest giving the winner a wonderful opportunity to learn more about this stunning area.

All three finalists will be given a 12-month complimentary membership of The Wine Guild of the United Kingdom, including an invitation to its annual winter banquet held at Vintners' Hall in London, the historic home of the UK's wine trade.

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