Malta Sommelier Association formed

Officials and members of the International Sommelier Association and other guest speakers from the food and beverage industry are expected to host training seminars and associate educational sessions at the Institute of Tourism Studies, St George's.

This was possible after Malta was represented as an observer country at the 33rd Sommelier Assembly of the International Sommeliers Association, held in April in Santiago, Chile.

Richard Pons, an assistant lecturer at the Institute of Tourism Studies, represented Malta.

Malta's aim was to get endorsement to be recognised and granted permission to form a Maltese Sommelier Association that would become a member of the International Sommeliers Association.

The Malta Sommelier Association will have four categories of membership: Wine and Spirit Education Trust Students, Food and Beverage Waiters, Wine and Spirit Representatives and Wine Lovers.

The creation of this association of Malta was conceived after Mr Pons was sponsored in 1998 by M. Demajo (Wines & Spirits) Ltd, to compete in the Ruinart Sommelier of Europe Trophy.

This prestigious event sponsored every year by Ruinart Champagne brings together the very best of Europe's sommeliers. The contestants compete in various disciplines over three days to challenge for the accolade to be recognised as the champion of this very gruelling competition and the best sommelier in Europe of the year.

For this year's event, Harish Malani represented and competed for Malta. He was sponsored by Ruinart Champagne and was accompanied by two committee members of the new Malta Sommelier Association who went as observers and to report on his participation.