Fat Duck Sommelier scoops top wine award

  The head sommelier of Heston Blumenthal’s molecular gastronomy restaurant in Bray has been awarded the Dom Perignon Award for Excellence at the Academy of Food and Wine’s Annual Awards for Excellence.

  Isa Bal of The Fat Duck was presented with the award at today’s ceremony held in London’s Vintner’s Hall, after being announced as the runner-up in the UK Sommelier of the Year in April, and scooping the Best Sommelier in Europe title in May.

  Roy Ackerman, restaurateur and president of ACFWS, said: “Over the past year Isa has shown complete dedication to the role of sommellerie. It’s vital to recognise those that are working hard to improve front-of-house service as it’s an often over-looked, but absolutely vital, area of the hospitality business. So often in the industry it’s chefs that gain the recognition, but we must remember that front-of-house staff are responsible for looking after our customers in the most direct way. Isa’s commitment is an example we hope others will follow in the future.”

  The ACFWS award for Excellence is awarded each year to an outstanding personality in the UK’s hotel and catering industry, and along with all the other categories, rewards those individuals, companies and colleges that have raised the profile, standards and skills of front-of-house as a profession.