Fat Duck sommelier wins world title

The Fat Duck’s Loic Avril has been named Chaîne des Rôtisseurs 2013 International Young Sommelier of the Year.

Avril prevailed from a field of 12 sommeliers from worldwide hotels and restaurants at the competition's final, which was held at the French Embassy in Washington DC, US.

Finalists were judged by "Court of Master Sommelier" standards and marked on three main areas; theory, service and blind tasting.

In second and third places were Bobby Conroy of the Benu restaurant in San Francisco and Jarrod Mills of Est Restaurant in Sydney, Australia.

Avril won €1,000 euros, an engraved Champagne sabre and a trophy.

He said: “It is an honour to have competed against my peers at such as prestigious competition, and of course to have won is just amazing.

“To be judged on your performance by some of my heroes was the most nerve-racking experience of my life but I just imagined I was at work and tried to keep it together. Having narrowly missed out of the top spot last year I am absolutely delighted to bring the title back to Britain.”