On a sunny day in January, we had the honour of hosting the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection at the vineyard as part of their three-day stay in the UK for a day of networking. The sommeliers were invited by William Reed through their extensive network within the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, with Ray O’Connor MW hosting the event.
A truly one-of-a-kind occasion, there are few instances where the industry’s top minds come together for such an extended period, allowing them to share insights and discuss current trends in the restaurant trade from different corners of the globe.
The World's Best Sommeliers' Selection (WBSS)
The WBSS itself is a unique selection of wines put together following a panel tasting with each sommelier sharing their thoughts on the wines submitted.
Producers submit their wines to be included in the tasting - those successful receive feedback from industry’s top palates and their wines are able to reach all corners of the world in just one tasting. The result? A carefully curated collection of wines that go beyond their exquisite flavours and aromas, delving into the rich narratives behind each bottle.
The 2025 WBSS Selection can be found here, along with a video summarising their time spent together can be found via this link.
European wines were highly commended within the selection and countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic being recognized for their winemaking excellence. Argentina proved to be a strong performer securing 13 standout wines and was the most featured South American country.
More information on the WBSS can be found on their website here.
Networking Day at Chilworth Manor Vineyard
Their day at the vineyard was spent discussing a range of topics at the forefront of the restaurant trade. As this was only the second year of the event, we were honoured to welcome this group of inspirational professionals to the vineyard. From here, not only is a fine selection of world-class wines curated, but the industry’s most relevant topics are explored from a global perspective.
During their networking day, the Sommeliers also tasted the range of Chilworth Manor wines with our 2018 Classic Cuvée Alwyn receiving some great reviews on the day! More information on this wine can be found here
