What does it actually take to become the UK Sommelier of the Year? And how do the world’s best sommeliers blind taste wine under pressure? In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina sits down with Emma Denney, the newly crowned UK Sommelier of the Year 2026 and Director of Wine at Claridge’s, to go behind the scenes of elite sommelier competition, blind tasting and fine wine service. Emma takes us inside the competition – from identifying grape varieties, regions and vintages in a blind tasting, to recognising wine faults by aroma alone, tackling food and wine pairing and serving Champagne under pressure. She also explains how professional sommeliers build their tasting knowledge, read the clues in a glass and develop the confidence to make decisions quickly. But this isn’t just an episode about becoming a sommelier. Emma is a brilliant guide to some of the wine world’s most fascinating regions and producers. We dive into Champagne and grower Champagne, Northern Rhône Syrah and Hermitage, Jumilla Monastrell, Ningxia Riesling, Margaret River and New Zealand Pinot Grigio, with plenty of bottles and wine travel ideas to add to your list. You’ll also learn what RM and NM mean on Champagne labels, why Champagne’s chalk soils matter, what Coteaux Champenois is, how lees ageing and late disgorgement affect Champagne, how to recognise common wine faults such as Brett, cork taint and oxidation, and why some of the world’s most exciting wines are coming from places you might not expect. So whether you’re already deep into wine, studying for a qualification, improving your blind tasting or simply looking for your next bottle, region or wine trip to explore, this episode is packed with things to taste, learn and investigate.   Shownotes 02:30 – What does it take to become UK Sommelier of the Year? Emma reflects on winning the competition and the preparation behind it.  05:03 – The Champagne that started it all — how one bottle sparked Emma’s passion for wine and hospitality.  07:06 – Best value wine at Claridge’s — Emma’s recommendation: Casa Castillo Monastrell from Jumilla.  08:41 – Why Jumilla deserves more attention — modern Monastrell, old vines and one of Spain’s most exciting wine regions. 09:27 – Unexpected wines at Claridge’s — why Emma champions Canaan Riesling from Ningxia, China. 12:42 – Worth every penny — Emma highlights Northern Rhône legends René Rostaing and Jean-Louis Chave, explaining why mature Syrah can rival the world’s finest wines. 14:12 – If money were no object — why Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage remains Emma’s dream bottle. 15:52 – A must-visit wine destination — why every wine lover should experience Hermitage and the Northern Rhône. 19:23 – The best part of being a sommelier — introducing guests to new wines and sharing unforgettable wine experiences. 20:54 – Inside the theory exam — the extraordinary breadth of knowledge required to become UK Sommelier of the Year. 22:45 – Lessons from Vincenzo Arnese — how one piece of advice about listening carefully became Emma’s biggest competitive advantage during the competition. 23:36 – Blind tasting without tasting — identifying wine faults using aroma alone during the competition semi-final. 25:30 – Recognising common wine faults — Brett, cork taint, oxidation, volatile acidity and how sommeliers train their senses. 27:53 – Train your nose like a sommelier — Emma discusses common wine faults, while Janina recommends Le Nez du Vin aroma and fault kits for improving your tasting skills.  30:26 – Spotting mistakes on a wine list — how sommeliers identify incorrect vintages, appellations and producer details under pressure. 31:13 – How to start a blind tasting — Emma explains the first clues sommeliers look for.  32:03 – Reading the clues in the glass — alcohol, oak, climate and terroir cues that help identify grape varieties and wine origins. 34:34 – Food and wine pairing under pressure — how Emma approached one of the competition’s toughest practical service challenges. 37:05 – The visual challenge — recognising legendary winemakers, vineyards and wine tools from a single image. 38:12 – Caroline Frey’s Swiss wines — Emma discusses the acclaimed winemaker’s latest project beyond Bordeaux and the Rhône. 40:31 – The Champagne pouring challenge — one Jeroboam, twenty-four glasses and one of the competition’s most nerve-racking tasks. 43:15 – Why Krug is so revered — barrel ageing, reserve wines and the philosophy behind one of Champagne’s greatest houses. 44:46 – Champagne producers to discover — Emma recommends Eric Rodez and explains why grower Champagne deserves more attention. 48:07 – The Champagne riots of 1911 — how protests helped shape today’s appellation system. 48:54 – What is sur pointe? — understanding long lees ageing and late disgorgement in Champagne. 50:01 – RM vs NM Champagne: What do the letters on Champagne labels mean?  51:32 – Why does Champagne have chalk soils? Understanding drainage, roots and Champagne’s terroir.  52:26 – Who invented sparkling wine? — Christopher Merret and the origins of traditional method sparkling wine. 53:50 – Coteaux Champenois explained — discovering the still wines of Champagne and why they deserve more attention. 54:55 – Egly-Ouriet’s still wines — the renowned Cuvée des Grands Côtés  55:14 – Pre-phylloxera Champagne — why Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises remains one of the world’s rarest wines. 56:17 – Margaret River — why this remote Australian wine region belongs on every wine lover’s travel bucket list. 58:46 – Pinot Grigio deserves a second chance — why New Zealand is producing some of the world’s most exciting examples – such as Greywacke Pinot Gris. 📩 Email: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk 📸 Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat 🎥 YouTube: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat 🌐 Website: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Cheers to you 🥂 THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST Featured in Decanter Magazine and Radio Times, and ranked among the Top UK Wine Podcasts by Feedspot. RECOGNITION: Finalist, 67 Pall Mall Award for Best Global Wine Communicator in Audio (2025) Shortlisted, IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication (2025 and 2026) Ranked #18 in 2024 and #22 in 2025 on Drinks Retailing’s Most Influential People in Drinks list.