Six Sommeliers Secure Spots in 2026 Meilleur Sommelier de France Final After Paris Selection

The six finalists for the 2026 Meilleur Sommelier de France competition have been announced following a selection event held at the Wine Paris 2026 trade show. The event, organized by the Union de la Sommellerie Française (USDF), took place on Monday and brought together around thirty of France’s top sommeliers. Over the course of half a day, candidates faced a series of theoretical and technical challenges, including a knowledge questionnaire, wine list corrections, blind wine identification, and spirit tastings.

After these rigorous tests, six sommeliers earned their place in the final round, which will take place in Lyon on June 28 and 29. The finalists are Julia Scavo, a consulting sommelier and winner of the 2018 Best Sommelier of Romania title; Audrey Brugière, sommelier at Vol aux vins; Marie Wodecki, head sommelier at Saba restaurant in Annecy and winner of the 2023 Best Young Sommelier of France award; Augustin Belleville, assistant head sommelier at Pavyllon Ledoyen; Pierre-Alexis Mengual, director of sommellerie at Indie Group; and Clément Sommier, sommelier at Berthaudin Frères and runner-up in the 2024 competition.

The Meilleur Sommelier de France is one of the most prestigious titles in French gastronomy. The competition is known for its demanding standards and its role in highlighting excellence within the profession. The six finalists will now prepare for the final phase in Lyon, where they will compete for the title currently held by Bastien Debono, who won in 2024. The winner will be announced at the end of June.