UKSA Champions Maria Boumpa on Her Journey to the ASI Bootcamp Americas 2026 in Brazil
We have some monumental news to share within the UK wine and hospitality community! Our exceptionally talented UKSA member, UK Sommelier of the Year 2025, and the UK’s official candidate for the ASI Best Sommelier of the World competition this October, Maria Boumpa, has been selected to attend the exclusive ASI Bootcamp Americas 2026!
Taking place from the 20th to the 24th of July in the vibrant culinary hub of São Paulo, Brazil, this year’s Bootcamp received a record-breaking number of global applications. Maria’s selection stands as a testament to her unwavering dedication, expertise, and passion for the craft.
Sponsoring Global Excellence
As part of our commitment to championing British sommelier talent on the global stage, the UK Sommelier Academy (UKSA) is incredibly proud to fully sponsor Maria’s trip to Brazil.
"We are delighted to support Maria for this year's ASI bootcamp. The ASI bootcamp is an exceptional experience for any Somm to be part of. The learning, sharing of knowledge and experiences and the network it offers is second to none and we are grateful to the ASI for having Maria as one of this year's cohort."
Why the ASI Bootcamp Matters
Launched by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, the ASI Bootcamp is designed as a rigorous, intensive multi-day dive into elite hospitality standards. Shifting continents annually to share education globally, the program skips traditional competitive pressure to zero in on top-tier education, masterclasses hosted by world-renowned tutors, and complex tasting workshops.
Beyond the intensive curriculum, past attendees emphasize that the single greatest asset of the Bootcamp is the lifelong peer network it builds. It connects ambitious sommeliers from entirely different cultures who share a common goal: pushing the boundaries of international service standards.
For Maria, this immersion serves as the perfect training ground and catalyst as she steps into final preparations for the pinnacle event of her career—the ASI Best Sommelier of the World competition in Portugal this autumn.