Baltic states’ best sommelier to be chosen on Saturday

The best sommelier in the Baltic states will be announced late on Saturday evening at the Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix in Vilnius. Three top sommeliers and one young sommelier from each Baltic country will compete for the title, joined by an international contestant from Poland. The jury will be chaired by the reigning world champion, Raimonds Tomsons of Latvia.

“Earning a place at the Vana Tallinn Grand Prix is an achievement in itself – only the top three sommeliers from each national championship final are invited to compete. The contest for the best sommelier in the Baltics has helped strengthen the professionalism and confidence of our sommeliers. We have seen great success stories: the current European champion is Estonian, Mikk Parre, and the reigning world champion, Raimonds Tomsons from Latvia, has twice won the Vana Tallinn Grand Prix. Nineteen years ago, when the competition was founded, no one could have dreamed of such Baltic triumphs,” said jury member and Liviko sommelier Urvo Ugandi.

At last year’s competition in Riga, the first and second places both went to Estonia – Mikk Parre was named the best sommelier in the Baltics for 2024, followed by Alex Pogrebnoi in second place and Yan Biazruchka of Lithuania in third.

Representing Estonia in the competition for the Baltic states’ best sommelier are Aleksei Pogrebnoi (NOA Chef’s Hall), Federico Grasso (Controvento) and Kevin Lilleleht (180° by Matthias Diether), joined by young sommelier Siim Lümat (Vixen Vinoteek). The Latvian team includes Madara Greize-Kapzema (Barents), Uldis Grigalis (Max Cekot Kitchen), Pēteris Vaskis (Gongu / MV Group) and young sommelier Paulis Dzenis (Barents). Competing from Lithuania are Kristijonas Valančiūnas (Valhalla Baras), Ignatij Semionov (Saint-Malo), Ugnė Mažutaitytė (Gaston) and young sommelier Ernestas Sadauskas (HeJi). Poland will be represented by Paulina Sitarz from Bottiglieria 1881.

The two-day competition will test sommeliers’ knowledge and skills in both theory and practice. On the first day, participants will complete a written test and solve practical tasks. The four best competitors will advance to the final on the second day, where they will demonstrate their knowledge and skills before the jury and audience through a series of surprise challenges. In previous years, finalists have faced tests such as blind tastings, decanting, correcting wine lists and recommending drink pairings for multi-course dinners.

Each country is also represented by one young sommelier, giving emerging professionals the opportunity to gain international experience.

The international jury includes representatives from all participating countries and is chaired by the reigning world champion and two-time Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix winner, Raimonds Tomsons of Latvia.

Liviko has awarded a 1,500-euro prize to the best sommelier in the Baltic states.

The Vana Tallinn Baltic Sommelier Grand Prix has been held annually since 2006. It was established to promote a responsible drinking culture, in which sommeliers play a key role. The competition is named after Estonia’s most popular liqueur, Vana Tallinn, and has been organised by Liviko in cooperation with the sommelier associations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.