NZ woman named top UK's wine waiter

A New Zealand woman has been judged the UK’s Sommelier of the Year at an intense, multi-day live competition held in London.

Emma Denney, 33, from the North Shore of Auckland, is Head of Wine at London’s exclusive Claridge’s Hotel, the latest step in a career which began as a 13-year-old dishwasher in a Takapuna eatery.

At 19, she got a job at Dida’s Wine Bar in Ponsonby, followed by stints at SPQR and Ebisu, before moving to London to choose and serve in the city’s high-end restaurants nine years ago.

A sommelier is a highly trained wine professional, typically working in fine restaurants, who specialises in all aspects of wine service, storage, and food pairing. They are experts at navigating wine lists, assessing wine faults, and tailoring recommendations to individual tastes and budgets.

Denney’s award is regarded as the premier accolade in UK wine service. Candidates are judged on their wine and drink expertise as well as their ability to deal efficiently and knowledgeably with customers by demonstrating exemplary front-of-house skills.

Denney was judged the winner of the grand final, which required her to compete against her peers in a live, high-level event watched by fellow professionals, wine buyers, and leading figures from across the UK hospitality industry.