From trendy wine bars to Michelin-starred restaurants, these sommeliers have mastered their craft, showcasing remarkable skill and passion for all things vinous. Whether you're dining out or exploring new varieties at home, understanding what makes a great sommelier can enhance your culinary experiences tremendously. Join us as we celebrate the crème de la crème of London's wine scene—those whose expertise and creativity inspire countless oenophiles across the globe. 

Introduction to Sommeliers and Their Role

Sommeliers play a vital role in the dining experience. They bridge the gap between food and wine, transforming meals into memorable occasions. Their expertise extends beyond just knowing grape varieties; it's about understanding how each element interacts on the palate.

Top 20 Sommeliers in London: Who They Are and What Sets Them Apart

London boasts an impressive roster of sommeliers who redefine the wine experience. Each one brings a unique flair and passion for their craft. Among them, you’ll find seasoned veterans with decades of expertise alongside rising stars eager to make their mark. These professionals are skilled in curating exquisite wine lists that cater to diverse tastes.They possess profound knowledge about regions, varieties, and the intricate relationships between food and wine. This allows them to create memorable pairings that elevate every dining occasion. What truly sets these sommeliers apart is their dedication to storytelling. They engage diners by sharing the history behind each bottle, making every sip an exploration of culture and tradition.Their charisma draws guests in, transforming a simple meal into an unforgettable journey through flavor and aroma. The top sommeliers in London don’t just serve wine; they cultivate experiences that linger long after the last glass is poured.

Here is the list of the top 20 Sommeliers in London:

1. Matteo Montone MS, Maison Estelle Group and Gleneagles

Matteo Montone became a Master Sommelier on his first attempt in 2020, joining an elite group of 267 globally. With a background at top venues like The Ritz and Aqua Shard, he is now the Group Wine Director at Maison Estelle Group and Gleneagles. Originally aiming for a career in tourism, a visit to Montepulciano shifted his focus to wine. He has won multiple awards, including GQ UK Best Sommelier, and is a WSET certified educator, teaching courses up to Level 3.

Image Credit -  London Wine Competition

2. Erik Simonics, Head of Wine & Beverage - UK · Sunset Hospitality Group

Erik Simonics is the Head of Wine and Sommelier at Caprice Holdings Ltd. With experience at luxury venues like Four Seasons, he developed key skills in business management and leadership, helping him excel in sales and meet financial goals. He was also part of the judging panel for the 2020 London Wine Competition.

Image Credit -  London Wine Competition

3. Christopher Delalonde MS, Head of Wine, Tao Group Hospitality

Christopher Delalonde MS, a global wine expert, began his wine journey unexpectedly during catering school. With over 30 years in the industry, his career took off when he became a sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Despite knowing little about wine at first, his curiosity fueled a lifelong passion for mastering the craft.

Image Credit - London Wine Competition

4. Ronan Sayburn, The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe

Ronan Sayburn, a Master Sommelier from Scarborough, has over 30 years of experience in wine and hospitality. He’s held key roles at Gordon Ramsay Group, Hotel du Vin, and The Dorchester Collection. Currently, he’s Head of Wines for 67 Pall Mall, a private wine lovers' club, and CEO for the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe. Ronan has judged international wine competitions, won three Catey Awards, and worked with top restaurants, curating extensive wine lists and training sommeliers worldwide.

Image Credit - London Wine Competition

5. Terry Kandylis, Founder - Bendito Destino

Terry Kandylis, named Best Sommelier in Greece (2015) and UK Sommelier of the Year (2016), is now Group Head Sommelier at Noble Rot, London. Originally from Evia, Greece, he discovered his passion for wine through his cousin and part-time restaurant work while studying Physics. After a rookie mistake in wine service, he dove deeper into wine, leading to roles at top restaurants like The Fat Duck and The Ledbury, and as Group Wine Director at Caprice Holdings.

Image Credit - Good Food Revolution

6. James Lloyd, Vitis Fine Wines Ltd.

James Lloyd’s sommelier journey began in 2002 at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea. He moved to New York in 2006 to join the opening team at Gordon Ramsay at The London, followed by a stint in Piedmont as an apprentice winemaker. Back in London, he worked at top spots like Marcus Wareing and Alain Ducasse. In 2011, he swapped fine dining for The Playboy Club as head sommelier, only to return to Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in 2016, this time leading the sommelier team.

Image Credit - Wine List Confidential 

7. Elvis Ziakos, Head Sommelier · The Beaumont Hotel

Ziakos began his career in Greece, studying at Le Monde Institute and serving as Head Sommelier at Kohylia from 2002 to 2007. He then worked at Michelin-starred Spondi before moving to London in 2012 to join Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. He later spent six years at The Greenhouse as Head Sommelier. Ziakos has earned numerous awards and represented Greece at the Best Sommelier of the World competition in 2007.

Image Credit - Hospitality Media

8. Stefan Neumann MS, Director and Founder of StefanNeumann Ltd

Stefan joined Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in 2013 as Assistant Head Sommelier after 3 years at The Fat Duck. He became Head Sommelier in 2015 and Director of Wine in 2018. In 2017, he earned the Master Sommelier title, joining an elite group of 239 worldwide. Passionate about wine education, Stefan actively contributes to the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, helping with courses and exams from Introductory to Master.

Image Credit -: Stefan Neumann

9. Clément Robert MS, Larsen-Robert & Associates

Clément Robert MS began his wine career young, studying at Le Touquet and earning his sommelier degree in Angers. He started in England in 2006, climbing from assistant head sommelier at Hotel Du Vin Brighton to head sommelier at Hotel Du Vin Cambridge. In 2009, he joined Summer Lodge Hotel, winning International Young Sommelier of the Year and UK Sommelier of the Year in 2013. After five years as head sommelier at Medlar and overseeing wine at 28-50, he passed his MS in 2015. By 2019, he was Head Wine Buyer at Caprice Holdings & The Birley Clubs, crafting an impressive wine program.

Image Credit - Robb Report

10. Sunaina Sethi, JKS Restaurants

Sunaina Sethi, one-third of the dynamic Sethi family, is the wine buyer for JKS Restaurants, including Michelin-starred Gymkhana and Trishna, and Sri Lankan spot Hoppers. Known for curating bold wine lists with picks from Greece, Germany, and India, Sunaina almost became a banker. Thanks to her brother Karam’s restaurant venture and her family’s support, she swapped finance for wine at 23, diving into the world of sommelier excellence.

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11. Romain Bourger, Director of Wine & Beverage, The Vineyard, Berkshire

Romain, originally from the French Mosel region, developed a passion for wine during his studies in hospitality. After passing his sommelier exam, he relocated to England in 2008 to join Hotel du Vin Winchester, where he had previously completed a month-and-a-half internship. He later moved to The Vineyard Hotel in Newbury, initially starting as a Sommelier and now serving as the Director of Wine and Beverage. He also works closely with Vineyard Cellars, the wine distributor for The Vineyard Group. Romain's accolades include winning the Young Sommelier of the Year Competition in 2016, an Acorn Award in 2018, and the UK Sommelier of the Year in 2019.

Image Credit - Relaischateaux

12. Vincenzo Arnese, Director of Wine, Raffles London at The OWO, London

In 2023, Vincenzo Arnese began serving as the Wine Director at Raffles London at The OWO, where he developed an outstanding Wine List for Mauro Colagreco. A skilled professional in his field, he has earned a WSET Diploma and passed the Advanced examination from the Court of Master Sommeliers. His notable accomplishments include winning the Bellavita/UKSA ‘Best Sommelier UK’ award in 2015 and being a Runner-up in the 2019 UK Ruinart Sommelier Challenge. He was also the judge for the London Wine Competition in 2022.

Image Credit - Sommelier Business

13. Matteo Furlan, Head of Wines, The Dorchester, London

Matteo, originally from a small town near Venice with a family background in hospitality, graduated in Tourism and Catering management. After completing sommelier courses in Italy, he gained experience at top establishments across Europe. He arrived in the UK in 2015, working for Caprice Holding and Hakkasan Group before joining the Ritz Hotel as Deputy Head Sommelier. Promoted to Head Sommelier after two years, he now oversees a team of 7 and manages a 1200-reference wine list. He has won the Best UK Sommelier award and serves as a judge at the London Wine Competition.

You can read more about him here.

Image Credit - London Drinks Guide

 

14. Emanuel Pesqueira, Group Head of Wine, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, London

Emanuel, known as "the perfect host," has built a diverse career in hospitality, including roles as a chef, Restaurant Manager, Bar Manager, Head Sommelier, and Food and Beverage Operations Manager with top establishments like Crystal Cruises, Red Carnations Hotel Group, and 67 Pall Mall Club. In 2014, he was named one of the Top 12 Best Sommeliers in the UK and judged the London Wine Competition in 2023. With experience in over 3,000 cities, he values the emotional and sensory journey of wine, seeing it as a blend of science, history, and nature.

Image Credit - Sommelier Edit

 

15. Joel Bastian, Group Head Sommelier, The Kitchin, Edinburgh

Joel Bastian, head sommelier at The Kitchin, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Leith, has been named Scotland's top sommelier and fifth overall in the UK’s Top 100 Sommeliers for this year. Recognized by Sommelier Edit for his deep wine knowledge and passion, Joel, originally from Alsace, France, spent a decade in hospitality there before moving to Edinburgh in 2010 to join The Kitchin team.

Image Credit - SLTN

16. Sumith Alahakoon, Head Sommelier, Sushisamba, W Hotel, Edinburgh

Renowned sommelier Sumith Alahakoon, originally from Sri Lanka, brings a wealth of experience to his role at Turnberry, where he has been since 2002. Having traveled the world to study his trade, Sumith expertly selects wines tailored to your menu and preferences, maintaining a record of members’ tastes for future visits.

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17. Stuart Skea, Group Head Sommelier, Lyla, Edinburgh

“We try and make the wine pairings interesting - too many places just tick a box” - Stuart Skea

Skea began his career in wine after a trip to Bordeaux inspired him, starting at Malmaison in Edinburgh 11 years ago. Since then, he has worked at various restaurants in eastern Scotland. While his initial passion remains strong, his focus has since expanded. Read more about his work at Fhior, here.

Image Credit - The Drinks Business

 

18. Agnieszka Swiecka, Head of Wine, Mount Street Restaurant at The Audley, London

Agnieszka Swiecka, Head of Wine for Mount St restaurant and The Audley in London, manages the wine program for all its venues. With extensive experience, including roles as Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer for Michelin-starred restaurants like Pollen St Social and The Five Fields, she won the UK Sommelier of the Year and an emerging talent award in 2023.

Image Credit - Women In The Food Industry

 

19. John Power, Head Sommelier, The James Thomson Collection, Edinburgh

John Power began his career at the prestigious five-star Gleneagles hotel, where he trained as a sommelier before transitioning to The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburgh. In 2008, he became head sommelier and wine buyer for the James Thompson group, which includes top Edinburgh dining venues like The Witchery and Rhubarb at the five-star Prestonfield hotel, where he is currently based.

Image Credit - Sommelier Edit

 

20. Andres Ituarte, Head Sommelier, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Born in British Columbia, Canada, Andres Ituarte began his career in the food and beverage industry at 19. Initially starting in the kitchen, he shifted to wine after discovering the role of a sommelier. He became a certified sommelier in 2009 and moved to London in 2010. He has since been Head Sommelier at Coq d’Argent, Group Head Sommelier for Tamarind Collection, and is now Head Sommelier at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair.

Image Credit - LinkedIn

Conclusion:

The artistry of a sommelier extends far beyond selecting wines. It’s about creating meaningful connections between the drink and the dining experience, enhancing every meal with thoughtful pairings and stories behind each bottle. The sommeliers on this 2024 list epitomize these qualities, setting benchmarks in service excellence and wine knowledge.

As we raise our glasses to these esteemed professionals, it’s clear that their influence shapes the future of wine culture both locally and globally. Each sommelier represents dedication to craftsmanship and an unwavering commitment to sharing their love for wine with others. Cheers to those who continue pushing boundaries within this vibrant community!

Header image credits - Sommelier Edit