Suraj GC wins New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2024

L-R: Minnie Tan, Takaki  Yasuoka (Japan), Craig Beattie - 3rd place Joao Marreiros, 2^nd NZ Sommelier of Year, Suraj GC, Andrea Martinisi, Cameron Douglas NZ, Celia Hay, Andrea Tremaud, Winner - NZ Junior Sommelier of Year

Suraj GC New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2024 

Born in Pokhara Nepal, Suraj GC first came to New Zealand as an international student studying computer engineering in Hawke’s Bay. He gained part time work as a waiter at Elephant Hill Winery Restaurant.

'My time at Elephant Hill was formative and I learnt so much working under Robert Ferbar as restaurant manager and owner Roger Weiss and his son Andreas. Over these 5 years I progressed to maitre d’ and then restaurant manager. During this time Elephant Hill was awarded Best Winery Restaurant in New Zealand and 2 hats from the prestigious Cuisine Awards.

Wine became an integral part of my life and I started to study WSET and gained Court of Master Sommeliers certification,' comments Suraj CG. 

Suraj gained permanent residency in 2016 and moved permanently to Auckland in 2019 taking the role of Head Sommelier at the Park Hyatt Hotel.

'I am very blessed to be Head Sommelier at one of the finest Hotel in New Zealand with access to some of the best wines in the world. My love and passion for hospitality and wine has only grown bigger and bigger and now I am able to enjoy my hobby as my work'.

In 2022, Suraj was awarded a scholarship to attend the Association of Sommeliers International (ASI) Sommelier Bootcamp in Malaysia. This provided a unique setting to train under the best sommeliers in the world. 

As part of his award, Suraj has been invited to attend the New Zealand Winegrowers Sommit - sommelier summit in Gisborne 2025. In the photo above, Suraj is pictured with Cameron Douglas MS, Andrea Martinisi, Vice-president of NZ Sommeliers, Charlotte Read of New Zealand Winegrowers and Celia Hay, President of NZ Sommeliers and Wine Professionals.

'I am very grateful to the New Zealand Sommelier Association for providing such incredible opportunities and hosting amazing competitions to an international standard. 

It has been such an mind-blowing feeling to win the Best Sommelier of New Zealand 2024, after being the runner up in 2023,' says Suraj.

'With every single bottle I open, I feel an opportunity to learn about the dedication, love and passion behind the label. The story of the owner, the winemaker, the location and the joy of every sip. 

I get to share my knowledge and passion of wine with others and hope to inspire my colleagues and other passionate sommeliers to give their best.

I feel truly blessed to be able to also represent my home country Nepal, where the wine industry has just begun. I hope someday to inspire more Nepalese people to work in this beautiful world of wine and experience this magical journey.

I also am a proud Dad to a two year old daughter  Luna, who motivates me every day to do better and work even harder and I am ever grateful to my lovely partner Aibby, and my parents who are always very supportive of my career. I believe a new journey has just started for me. There is a lot of work to do and I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity'.

Congratulations Suraj!

Previous winners of New Zealand Sommelier of the Year

2014 Andrew Gladding - The French Café

2015 Maciej Zimny - Noble Rot

2016 Dion Wai - Baduzzi & The Grove

2017 Stephanie Guth - The French Cafe

2018 Marek Pryzborek - Huami, Sky City

2019 Dion Wai - Baduzzi & The Grove

2020 Andrea Martinisi - Baduzzi & The Grove

2021               No Competition (Covid Lockdown)

2022 Andrea Martinisi - Baduzzi & The Grove

2023 Angela Allan - Culprit

2024 Suraj GC - Park Hyatt Hotel

The New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association is a non-profit registered society supporting people working in wine and hospitality in New Zealand. It is a member of ASI Association of Sommeliers International who run regular competitions around the world.