Laura Rhys celebrates Sommelier award with Champagne's Piper-Heidsieck

Laura Rhys ( Lovethatwine.co.uk’s resident sommelier) from Hotel TerraVina, Southampton tantalised her tastebuds as the guest of Champagne’s Piper-Heidsieck & Charles Heidsieck's head wine maker Régis Camus.

Each year award-winning Camus has the task of blending the wines of both Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck according to the characteristics of each base and reserve wine.

The highlight of the trip for Rhys, was not only to pick up her award for the 2009 UK Sommelier of the Year, but she had the opportunity to taste still wines from the 2009 harvest and selections from Heidsieck's collection of reserve wines with Camus.

The UK Sommelier of the Year competition is organised by the Academy of Food & Wine. The judging for the 2010 competition is currently underway, with regional finals being held on February 22. The final is on April 28 at The Westbury Hotel, London.