WELCOME TO THE UK SOMMELIER ASSOCIATION WEB PAGE!

Based in Central London, we hold our acclaimed Sommelier course once a year. We create a relaxed and informal atmosphere, where we offer you a complete journey in wine making, wine tasting, beers, spirits, sake and tea, culminating with wine and food pairing tuition. This is all designed for passionate wine professionals, seeking to advance in their careers, or those simply wishing to deepen their knowledge and enjoyment of wine. CHECK OUT OUR NEW COURSE FORMAT

But it doesn't stop there! Once you have graduated with our internationally recognised diploma, we take great pride in finding employment opportunities for our students, providing the perfect platform for fast-track career progression, with our continued support throughout.

Gold Awards 2025: A Celebration of Excellence in Wine and Hospitality

The highly anticipated Gold Awards Ceremony took place on Monday, 3rd February, bringing together key figures from the wine and hospitality industries for an unforgettable day of recognition, celebration, tasting, and education.

The Gold Awards celebrate excellence across the entire spectrum of the wine trade, acknowledging not just sommeliers but also wine buyers, importers, brand ambassadors, restaurateurs, and wine journalists. This year’s nominees, chosen through an industry-wide voting process, were recognised for their dedication and contribution to the world of wine. Additionally, the event highlighted outstanding wine lists across different establishments, showcasing the importance of the talent behind them.

Professionals from prestigious establishments such as The Ritz, The Savoy, The Dorchester, La Gavroche, Hide, Hedonism , 67 Pall Mall, The Fat Duck, were recognised by the industry for their professionalism and hard work. Celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr. was also honoured as an icon of the hospitality industry and awarded a well-deserved sommelier diploma.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, guests participated in a walkaround tasting featuring an impressive selection of wines from leading producers and importers, generously supported by our sponsors.

Three expert-led masterclasses took place throughout the day, offering deep insights into iconic wine regions and grape varieties. Adding to the significance of the event, the 2023/24 sommelier course students were awarded their diplomas and tastevins, marking an important milestone in their professional journeys.

The success of this year’s Gold Awards reaffirms the importance of recognising the talent and passion behind the wine industry. We extend our gratitude to all participants, sponsors, and attendees for making the event a resounding success.

Staff Wanted, a documentary directed, filmed and edited by Federica Zanghirella, UK Sommelier Association VP, sheds light on an important issue: the pressing challenge of staff shortage in the UK hospitality industry.

Prestigious achievement for our Vice President Federica Zanghirella! She was awarded as the most influential woman in the global wine and spirits industry in 2022 in the social media category by the Women in Wine and Spirits Award.

Our best feedback is the happiness of our students when they receive their well deserved Sommelier diploma!