Andrea Martinisi to World Best Sommelier Competition 2026

Andrea Martinisi had been selected to represent New Zealand at the ASI World Best Sommelier Competition 2026 in Portugal.

'Being selected to represent the New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2026 is both an honour and a responsibility.

It’s a chance to test myself at the highest international level of sommellerie and really see what I can achieve and where I rank.

My preparation will be rigorous. Studying wine regions from around world, regular blind tastings of international wines, developing my own personal set of wine world flashcards and working on my practical service performance under pressure.

I also must keep up to date with what is happening globally in wine as this also forms part of the overall assessment.

My personal goal is to arrive in Portugal well-prepared  and to give it my best shot!'

Andrea Martinisi

In March, New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals' competition sub-committee of Cameron Douglas MS, Cashias Gumbo and Celia Hay, set up a series of theory and practical assessments to select the candidate for the ASI World Best Sommelier Competition.

New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals will be hosting a series of fundraising events to support Andrea and the costs of attending this competition in Portugal.

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16/3/26