Sommelier of the Year

Sommelier of the Year 2009 celebrates winning prize

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.Read more

Alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc

By Laura Rhys, Sommelier of the Year


Sauvignon Blanc has enjoyed a huge increase in popularity in recent years and it’s not hard to see why. Dry, crisp, fruity and elegant, these wines are very easy to enjoy, with or without food, in rain or shine. So, where does a die-hard Sauvignon Blanc fan turn when they fancy trying something a little different but still with some of the same qualities as Sauvignon Blanc? Here are a few suggestions... hopefully just in time for an Indian summer! Read more