Maëva Rey honoured at the Chapoutier competition

The latest edition of the Chapoutier Competition Best Young Sommelier of Wines and Spirits in France was held on May 15 and 16 at the Lycée Hôtelier in Tain l’Hermitage. Among the 36 candidates from across the country, Maëva, currently training in sommellerie at La Tour d’Argent, distinguished herself brilliantly by earning the highest score on the written exam. This achievement earned her the Muriel Lafourcade Prize, a tribute to the former sommelier professor in whose memory the award was created.

Having only entered the world of wine in September 2024, following an initial career in pastry, Maëva has turned her curiosity for wine into a true vocation. As part of her work-study program at La Tour d’Argent, she prepared with great discipline for this prestigious competition, supported by her mentors and instructors Victor Gonzalez, Guillaume Delvert, and Antoine Cabre.

On May 15, the semi-final challenged the candidates with a blind tasting of one white and one red wine, followed by a theoretical questionnaire of 122 questions to be answered within an hour. The final tested service techniques and placed participants in professional role-play scenarios.

Maëva placed 7th overall — a remarkable result for her very first competition and a promising step in her career. Congratulations !