We can only raise our glass to salute the performance of Pier-Alexis Soulière, who has just been named Best Sommelier of Canada 2020 (the competition took place in October 2021), confronted with the best of wine experts and spirits in the country.
After advancing to the final, the Quebecer battled for first place against Ontarian Emily Pearce and Matthew Landry of British Columbia. Tuesday evening (early Wednesday in the Quebec time zone), the palm was awarded to Pier-Alexis Soulière at the end of the events in Penticton, British Columbia. On the program: a section focusing on service and questions from seated customers, followed by the identification of photographs and the correction of wine lists, all ending with the proverbial blind wine tasting.
The jury was made up of Michelle Bouffard, Véronique Rivest and Bryant Mao.
Having won the title of Master Sommelier in 2016, before his 30th birthday, Pier-Alexis Soulière won the title of Best Sommelier of Quebec in 2017, then that of Best Sommelier of the Americas the following year. In 2019, he made it to the top ten list for the Best Sommelier of the World competition.
Having started his career in Montreal, he has worked in many prestigious establishments around the world, such as the Californian Manresa, the Londoner Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, or the New Yorker The Modern.
In Quebec, he served at La Chronique in Montreal, and recently embarked on the adventure of the new restaurant Le Clan, opened at the end of September in Quebec by chef Stéphane Modat.
Another Quebec sommelier, Hugo Duchesne, who won the title of best Quebec in September 2020, advanced to the semi-final of the national competition held in Penticton.