Antoine Lehebel wins Sommelier of the Year

Antoine Lehebel, 32, of restaurant La Villa Lorraine in Uccle was voted best sommelier of Belgium on Sunday during the annual Sommelier of the Year competition, organised in Belgium since 1963.

Finishing behind Lehebel in second and third place were Benoît Couderé of De Karmeliet in Bruges and Jasper Van Papeghem of Hostellerie L'Esco in Wetteren.

The final for the election of Belgium’s best sommelier took place in Brussels’ Radisson Blu hotel on Sunday. The finalists had to pass seven tests, including blind tasting and wine decanting.

This year’s event was organised by the Guild of Belgian Sommeliers, the Flemish Sommelier Association, Prosper Montagné and Gault&Millau.