Mark Protheroe, head sommelier of the Grossi group of restaurants (Florentino, Merchant and so on), returned from Tokyo last week after competing in the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) Best Sommelier in the World competition. Held every three years, this year's competition included 54 candidates from around the world. Protheroe and Franck Moreau of Sydney's Merivale Group were the only two Australian competitors. All sommeliers were judged not just on their wine knowledge but ''the length and breadth of the beverage world, including coffee,'' Protheroe says, ''and cigars as well.'' The rules also stipulated that competitors could not compete in their mother tongue but had to compete in either English, Spanish or French. Protheroe, a competent Italian speaker, studied French before the competition and came in at a very impressive 20th in the world.
Hilary McNevin
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