Selection process
In order to apply to the Swiss Ruinart Challenge 2018 fill in the application form by answering all questions and completing the fields with your personal and contact details. The application deadline is February 26th, 2018.
The Jury will evaluate the answers and nominate 20 participants who will be in invited to participate in the Swiss Ruinart Sommelier Challenge on March 26th in Lausanne. The selected participants will receive an invitation via email on March 5th.
The Sunday before the challenge - Optional participation
For all selected participants Ruinart will book a double bedroom at the Beaurivage Palace. The reservation will be done for check in on March 25th and checkout on the 26th. You can stay at the Beaurivage palace with your partner, spouse or a friend. You will be able to enjoy the SPA and all the other amenities of the hotel on Sunday and your guest will be able to relax on monday as well while you will be participating in the challenge. On Sunday Evening at 8 PM you will be invited together your guest to an informal and convivial dinner in the presence of the Cellar Master Frederic Panaïotis and the Ruinart Team. Both the dinner and the overnight are optional, therefore it's completely up to you if you wish to join. We would be glad to welcome you and spend a nice evening with you.
Overnight: for two people in a double room. Check in on March 25th and Check out on March 26th
Dinner: March 25th 8pm at Miyako in Lausanne - Exact location will be defined soon
The Challenge Day - Mandatory participation
Location: Beaurivage Palace Lausanne
Date: March 26th 2018
Day program
10:30 – Welcome
11:00 – Blind Tasting
12:00 – Masterclass
13:30 – Informal lunch
15:00 – End
Dress code: Business casual
Evaluation & prizes
In the afternoon of the challenge day, the jury will evaluate the written tests and identify the winner. The winner will be announced on this website on March 27th 12pm.
The winner will participate to the Champagne trip in July 2018 together with the winners of all the Ruinart Challenges in the World.
Jury
Frédéric Panaïotis
Cellarmaster Ruinart
Born in 1964, Frédéric Panaïotis spent much of his time in the small Champagne vineyards of his grandparents as a child. He graduated from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon in Viticulture & Oenology, and earned the Diplôme National d’Oenologue of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique in Montpellier in 1988. Panaïotis joined Champagne Ruinart in 2007 as a Chef de Caves. In his position, he has the responsibility of creating the blends, from the non-vintages to the prestige cuvees of Ruinart.
Paolo Basso
Best Sommelier of the World 2013
Winner of the ‘ASI Best Sommelier of the World’ title in 2013, Basso is one of only six sommeliers in the world to have won both the European and global titles for ‘Best Sommelier’. He is also member of the technical committee of the International Sommelier Association (ASI). Member of the jury of the most prestigious international tasting competitions, he also works as lecturer and wine teacher at the Wine School in Changins, Switzerland, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland and at the Worldsom Sommelier Academy in Bordeaux.
Samuele Calistri
Winner of the Ruinart Challenge - Swiss Edition 2017
Born in 1990, Samuele Calistri has already 10 years professional experiences as Sommelier. He is working since March 2014 as Sommelier at the 1 Michelin Star restaurant Il Lago at the Four Season Hotel Des Bergues in Geneva. On his career-path he worked in numerous starred restaurants across Europe and won several awards. In March 2017 he won the 1st Swiss Edition of the Ruinart Challenge which was held in Lucerne.
In order to apply to the Swiss Ruinart Challenge 2018 fill in the application form by answering all questions and completing the fields with your personal and contact details. The application deadline is February 26th, 2018.
The Jury will evaluate the answers and nominate 20 participants who will be in invited to participate in the Swiss Ruinart Sommelier Challenge on March 26th in Lausanne. The selected participants will receive an invitation via email on March 5th.
The Sunday before the challenge - Optional participation
For all selected participants Ruinart will book a double bedroom at the Beaurivage Palace. The reservation will be done for check in on March 25th and checkout on the 26th. You can stay at the Beaurivage palace with your partner, spouse or a friend. You will be able to enjoy the SPA and all the other amenities of the hotel on Sunday and your guest will be able to relax on monday as well while you will be participating in the challenge. On Sunday Evening at 8 PM you will be invited together your guest to an informal and convivial dinner in the presence of the Cellar Master Frederic Panaïotis and the Ruinart Team. Both the dinner and the overnight are optional, therefore it's completely up to you if you wish to join. We would be glad to welcome you and spend a nice evening with you.
Overnight: for two people in a double room. Check in on March 25th and Check out on March 26th
The Challenge Day - Mandatory participation
Location: Beaurivage Palace Lausanne
Date: March 26th 2018
Day program
10:30 – Welcome
11:00 – Blind Tasting
12:00 – Masterclass
13:30 – Informal lunch
15:00 – End
Dress code: Business casual
Evaluation & prizes
In the afternoon of the challenge day, the jury will evaluate the written tests and identify the winner. The winner will be announced on this website on March 27th 12pm.
The winner will participate to the Champagne trip in July 2018 together with the winners of all the Ruinart Challenges in the World.
Jury
Frédéric PanaïotisCellarmaster Ruinart
Born in 1964, Frédéric Panaïotis spent much of his time in the small Champagne vineyards of his grandparents as a child. He graduated from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon in Viticulture & Oenology, and earned the Diplôme National d’Oenologue of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique in Montpellier in 1988. Panaïotis joined Champagne Ruinart in 2007 as a Chef de Caves. In his position, he has the responsibility of creating the blends, from the non-vintages to the prestige cuvees of Ruinart.
Paolo BassoBest Sommelier of the World 2013
Winner of the ‘ASI Best Sommelier of the World’ title in 2013, Basso is one of only six sommeliers in the world to have won both the European and global titles for ‘Best Sommelier’. He is also member of the technical committee of the International Sommelier Association (ASI). Member of the jury of the most prestigious international tasting competitions, he also works as lecturer and wine teacher at the Wine School in Changins, Switzerland, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland and at the Worldsom Sommelier Academy in Bordeaux.
Samuele CalistriWinner of the Ruinart Challenge - Swiss Edition 2017
Born in 1990, Samuele Calistri has already 10 years professional experiences as Sommelier. He is working since March 2014 as Sommelier at the 1 Michelin Star restaurant Il Lago at the Four Season Hotel Des Bergues in Geneva. On his career-path he worked in numerous starred restaurants across Europe and won several awards. In March 2017 he won the 1st Swiss Edition of the Ruinart Challenge which was held in Lucerne.
