Florian Richter on his way to Belgrade

The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) is organising the prestigious "Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa & Middle East 2024" competition this week. A total of 41 participants will compete against each other in Belgrade, Serbia, to bring the title "home". Germany will be represented by Florian Richter. The maître and head sommelier at Rheingau's Kronenschlösschen won the Sommelier Trophy last year and has held the title of "Germany's Best Sommelier" ever since. In Belgrade, he is now facing strong international competition. In this interview, he talks about his experiences over the past few months and his preparations for the upcoming competition.

What has changed for you since winning the Sommelier Trophy?

Florian Richter: "The moment I won the title was wonderful. A lot of work went into the preparation. I'm very proud that it worked out. The response is still great today. Guests regularly talk to me about the Sommelier Trophy and I keep getting calls from the media asking me about certain topics. My network has also expanded considerably - especially on an international level. Renowned wineries from all over the world approach me to work with me. My own wine shop "Florian Fine Wine" has also benefited from this. In short: winning the title is a real enrichment for my professional life that goes far beyond the everyday life of a sommelier."

How are you preparing for the "Best Sommelier of Europe, Africa & Middle East 2024" competition?

"I work full-time and became a dad a few weeks ago. So it's important for me to integrate learning into my everyday life. I prefer to invest ten minutes here over coffee every day or a quarter of an hour there after work instead of completing large learning units in a block. From a purely technical point of view, I work with my private database as I can't stand index cards. I keep myself up to date with news from the wine world. My day-to-day work provides me with sufficient training for the practical tasks. I taste a lot of wines every week and organise high-quality tastings."

How does the Sommelier Union support you in your training?

"I regularly take part in the Sommelier College's high-quality masterclasses and tastings - here we learn a lot about individual regions and the specific products. The Sommelier Union also provides me with samples of everything from sake to beer. That is very helpful. Of course, I also regularly exchange ideas with our president Yvonne Heistermann and sommelier world champion Marc Almert. After all, if anyone knows how to do well in international competitions, it's Marc!"

How do you feel travelling to Belgrade?

"With great anticipation. It's a mixture of Olympic spirit and my own high expectations. The competition is very strong - I know many of the participants personally. Everyone has their own individual requirements. I would be disappointed if I didn't reach the semi-finals, but at the end of the day, form is what counts. I trust my intuition and my strengths. In everyday life, I have to constantly react to new situations and solve tasks in the interests of my customers and guests. I try to do this with the necessary calmness in Belgrade too."

What makes competitions like this one so special for you?

"For me, of course, it's a huge honour to represent the German sommellerie on the international stage. It's a very special responsibility that spurs you on! From a purely personal point of view, such an event is not a competition against others, but a competition against yourself. You learn an incredible amount in preparation for your profession and on stage about yourself and your ability to perform under pressure. Every competition has helped me progress so far. I've also got to know a lot of people in the course of the competitions who have become very close to my heart. Our industry is quite small - but the team spirit is great. I hope that I can inspire some of my younger colleagues to take on this kind of competition."