Laurent Derhé, Best Sommelier in France, is the Honorary President of this 9th edition

Laurent Derhé, Meilleur Ouvrier de France Sommelier (Best Sommelier in France) 2007, and President of the Association des Sommeliers Lyonnais et Rhône-Alpes since 2014, will be the Lyon International Competition’s honorary president in 2019.

Laurent Derhé began his career as a sommelier after studying at the École Hôtelière de Thonon-les-Bains (Thonon-les-Bains hotel school), and then for two years at the Tain l’Hermitage hotel school. Beginning in 1991, Laurent worked for some of the most well-known chefs and finest restaurants:Alain Ducasse in Monaco,Philippe Chavent at La Tour Rose in Lyon, Hôtel Sofitel, also in Lyon, and Château de Bagnols in the Beaujolais region.

Laurent’s career has been punctuated by numerous competitions. He was named Best Young Sommelier in the Rhône-Alpes regions several times in the 1990’s and was runner-up for the title of Best Regional Sommelier in 1999.  In 2007, Laurent signed up for the Concours des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best craftsmen in France) competition, in which sommeliers from the finest French establishments compete. On 15 March 2007, he was named Best Sommelier in France.

Since 2000, he and his wife have run the Auberge du Ru and Comptoir et dépendances establishments in Frontonas (Isère).

Source: Les Toques Blanches du Monde