Who's the Swede named the world's best sommelier?
Take your hat off, Italy. Eat your heart out, France. The world's best wine waiter is... a Swede.
Swedish sommelier Jon Arvid Rosengren has been crowned the world's best wine waiter, at the culmination of a four-day competition attracting entrants from around the globe.
The 31-year-old took home the award in the prestigious finals of Le Concours du Meilleur Sommelier du Monde, held in the Mendoza province, home to the Malbec grape, of Argentina.
"Wow, that was unexpected. It was a really, really tough final and I didn't think I would win. Thank you very much," Rosengren told the audience after he was named this year's winner.
It was the first time in its 15-year history the contest was organized in a South American country.
The Swedish champion beat 60 other participants from 58 countries to the title, including runners-up David Biraud, representing France, and Julie Dupouy, born in France but competing for Ireland.
He adds the new crown to an already impressive list of accolates, including best sommelier in Europe in 2013, in the Nordics in 2009 and on home turf in Sweden in 2010 and 2011.
The final took place in front of an audience of 500 spectators. The sommeliers were judged on their skills in several categories, including service and wine tasting, and quizzed on their knowledge about wine production, geography, gastronomy and the wine development process.
Born and raised in southern Sweden, Rosengren normally spends his days at the trendy restaurant Charlie Bird in New York's SoHo district.
However his success follows a recent boom in the food and wine industry within Sweden, which is increasingly becoming known for hip and pioneering cuisine.
Earlier this year chef Magnus Nilsson from restaurant Fäviken in the rural Jämtland region claimed the nation's first two Michelin stars for an eatery located outside Stockholm.
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Swedish sommelier Jon Arvid Rosengren has been crowned the world's best wine waiter, at the culmination of a four-day competition attracting entrants from around the globe.
The 31-year-old took home the award in the prestigious finals of Le Concours du Meilleur Sommelier du Monde, held in the Mendoza province, home to the Malbec grape, of Argentina.
"Wow, that was unexpected. It was a really, really tough final and I didn't think I would win. Thank you very much," Rosengren told the audience after he was named this year's winner.
It was the first time in its 15-year history the contest was organized in a South American country.
The Swedish champion beat 60 other participants from 58 countries to the title, including runners-up David Biraud, representing France, and Julie Dupouy, born in France but competing for Ireland.
He adds the new crown to an already impressive list of accolates, including best sommelier in Europe in 2013, in the Nordics in 2009 and on home turf in Sweden in 2010 and 2011.
The final took place in front of an audience of 500 spectators. The sommeliers were judged on their skills in several categories, including service and wine tasting, and quizzed on their knowledge about wine production, geography, gastronomy and the wine development process.
Born and raised in southern Sweden, Rosengren normally spends his days at the trendy restaurant Charlie Bird in New York's SoHo district.
However his success follows a recent boom in the food and wine industry within Sweden, which is increasingly becoming known for hip and pioneering cuisine.
Earlier this year chef Magnus Nilsson from restaurant Fäviken in the rural Jämtland region claimed the nation's first two Michelin stars for an eatery located outside Stockholm.
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