MARIA BOUMPA wins 2025 UK Sommelier of the Year: Competition Report
We are delighted to have partnered for the second year with the IWSC to run the UK Sommelier of the Year.
Maria Boumpa, restaurant manager and wine director at Da Terra in Bethnal Green (and UKSA member), was crowned IWSC UK Sommelier of the Year 2025. The two-day competition saw 43 sommeliers compete in a series of rigorous challenges, including blind tasting, service tasks, theory, and the iconic Champagne pour. Maria’s calm under pressure and attention to detail set her apart, earning her the title after finishing third in 2024.
Maria not only took the trophy but also VIP trips to Western Australia, Austria
Image courtesy of Hospitality Media & Ben Meadows
Joining Maria in the final were Dion Wai (Raffles London at The OWO) in second place and Joanna Nerantzi (5 Hertford Street) in third.
The rest of the top ten were:
4th - Melania Battiston (Cornus)
5th - Emma Denney (Claridge’s)
6th - Zareh Mesrobyan (Estelle Manor)
7th - Daniel Stojcic (Estelle Manor)
8th - Kristina Gladilina (Lita)
9th - Wilem Powell (BiBi Restaurant)
10th - Martin Kleveta (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay)
All the top 10 won gifts from Coravin, Gabriel-Glas & Chateau Laguiole
Image courtesy of Hospitality Media and Ben Meadows
BEST Performer categories
Best performer in the practical exam, sponsored by Moet Hennessy.
Kristina Gladilina (Lita).
Best performer in the theory paper, sponsored by Bibendum.
Maria Boumpa (Da Terra).
Best performer in the food & wine matching task, sponsored by Edmond de Rothschild Heritage.
Emma Denney (Claridge's).
Best performer in the wine tasting exam, sponsored by Chateau D’Esclans.
Joanna Nerantzi (5 Hertford Street).
Best performer in the spirits tasting exam, sponsored by Amathus Drinks.
Dion Wai (Raffles at The OWO).
OUR SINCERE GRATITUDe TO the UKSA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE, JUDGES and THE IWSC
Thank you so much to all our judges who helped to ensure the success of the contest. Their expertise, professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication is gratefully appreciated. Without their involvement the UKSOY would not be the great contest that it is.
Special mention goes to Alexandre Fréguin who stepped in at the last moment to lead the judging and of course we were honoured with the presence of Raimonds Tomsons, Best Sommelier of the World who spoke of his admiration for the UK Sommelier community and the competition which he described as a celebration of ‘people, skills and stories’.
Raimonds emphasised that the sommelier role marries knowledge with heart, spoke of the passion, patience & perseverance involved in him winning World’s Best Sommelier as well as his structured preparation, systematic study, and both mental and physical training. He encouraged building a supportive environment: peer networks, mentors, sharing knowledge, which of course is what we are all about and praised the IWSC and UKSA for nurturing talent, creating networks, and offering ongoing mentorship and opportunities post-competition.
So in turn, we thank our generous supporter, The IWSC, especially to Christelle Guibert and Tristan Wynn along with their team who are so generous, supportive and have continued to organise the most exciting, vibrant and fabulous contest in partnership with the UKSA
Thanks go to:
Agnieszka Swiecka MS
Alexandre Fréguin
Claire Thevenot MS
Eric Zwiebel MS
Isa Bal MS
Jan Konetzki
Kathrine Larsen MS
Matt Wilkin MS
Matthieu Longuère MS
Nicolas Clerc MS
Nigel Wilkinson MS
Nina Basset FIH
Olivier Marie
Philipp Reinstaller
Romain Bourger
Salvatore Catano
Tanguy Martin
Terry Kandylis
Vincent Gasnier MS
Vincenzo Arnese
Xavier Rousset MS
Thanks also go to Ben Meadows and Hospitality media for such incredible images!