Ep 274 - What Does It Take to Become a Top Sommelier? Inside the UK Sommelier of the Year Competition with Emma Denney, 2026 Winner

What does it actually take to become the UK Sommelier of the Year? And how do the world's best sommeliers blind taste wine under pressure?

In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina sits down with Emma Denney, the newly crowned UK Sommelier of the Year 2026 and Director of Wine at Claridge's, to go behind the scenes of elite sommelier competition, blind tasting and fine wine service.

Emma takes us inside the competition - from identifying grape varieties, regions and vintages in a blind tasting, to recognising wine faults by aroma alone, tackling food and wine pairing and serving Champagne under pressure. She also explains how professional sommeliers build their tasting knowledge, read the clues in a glass and develop the confidence to make decisions quickly.

But this isn't just an episode about becoming a sommelier. Emma is a brilliant guide to some of the wine world's most fascinating regions and producers. We dive into Champagne and grower Champagne, Northern Rhône Syrah and Hermitage, Jumilla Monastrell, Ningxia Riesling, Margaret River and New Zealand Pinot Grigio, with plenty of bottles and wine travel ideas to add to your list.

You'll also learn what RM and NM mean on Champagne labels, why Champagne's chalk soils matter, what Coteaux Champenois is, how lees ageing and late disgorgement affect Champagne, how to recognise common wine faults such as Brett, cork taint and oxidation, and why some of the world's most exciting wines are coming from places you might not expect.

So whether you're already deep into wine, studying for a qualification, improving your blind tasting or simply looking for your next bottle, region or wine trip to explore, this episode is packed with things to taste, learn and investigate.

Shownotes

02:30 – What does it take to become UK Sommelier of the Year? Emma reflects on winning the competition and the preparation behind it.

05:03 – The Champagne that started it all — how one bottle sparked Emma's passion for wine and hospitality.

07:06 – Best value wine at Claridge's — Emma's recommendation: Casa Castillo Monastrell from Jumilla.

08:41 – Why Jumilla deserves more attention — modern Monastrell, old vines and one of Spain's most exciting wine regions.

09:27 – Unexpected wines at Claridge's — why Emma champions Canaan Riesling from Ningxia, China.