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About ASI

Association de la Sommellerie Internationale

Uniting 72 national associations across 6 continents since 1969

Since 1969

Learn. Challenge. Compete.

The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI)
was founded in 1969 to unite the world’s national sommelier
associations under a single international voice.
Today, ASI represents 72 national associations across
six continents — setting global standards in education,
ethics and competitions.

· Promote one central sommelier association per nation
· Coordinate tools to advance the profession
· Educate consumers on the role of the sommelier
· Defend the ethics of the profession

72

National Associations

55

Years of Excellence

35 000+

ASI Community Worldwide

6

Continents

Our Mission.

ASI exists to shape the standards, education, and ethics of sommellerie — globally. We are not a wine producer, not a buyer, not a publication. We are the association of national sommelier associations, a federation of practitioners who set the bar for our craft.

Founded in Reims in 1969 by representatives of nine national associations, ASI today represents 72 national associations, an ASI Community of 35 000+ sommeliers, and the annual rhythm of continental and world competitions that have crowned every great champion of the modern era.

The mission is unchanging: to make sommellerie a recognised profession, to train its practitioners to the highest standards, and to connect the producers, the houses, and the guests they ultimately serve.

What We Stand For

Credibility. Community. Connection.

Every program of ASI ladders back to one of three commitments — the same ones that define a great sommelier.

01

Credibility

The ASI Diploma is the most rigorous sommelier certification in the world. Our ethics charter and exam standards are the benchmark national associations align to.

02

Community

From Tokyo to Lisbon, ASI unites associations, instructors, champions, and the next generation of working sommeliers around a shared craft.

03

Connection

We bridge sommeliers with producers, hospitality groups, and partners who fund the education and competitions that move our profession forward.

Our History

55 Years of Excellence

ASI was a little bit like the European Union in the beginning, today it is more like the United Nations.

Markus Del Monego MW · Best Sommelier of the World 1998.
2026

ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon hosts the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, 11–17 October 2026.
2021

Launch of the ASI Bootcamp

ASI introduces high-intensity educational bootcamps, gathering top young global talents for intensive, hands-on masterclass mentorship.
2019

Global Multilingual Education Architecture

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, ASI opens its official exams in English, French, and Spanish simultaneously worldwide.
2012

Introduction of the ASI Diploma

ASI launches its international diploma exam, creating a standardized, gold-standard benchmark for professional sommeliers globally.
2004

Creation of Continental Vice-Presidencies

Under a major governance restructuring, ASI decentralizes its operations by creating dedicated Continental Groups for Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.
1990

Media Growth with SommelierS International

ASI enters a historical partnership with SommelierS International magazine, making it the official international media channel to share global sommelier news and trends.
1980

The Era of True Internationalization

Francisco Esteves Gonçalves from Portugal is elected President of ASI, serving from 1980 to 1983 and driving key structural integration across member countries.
1972

Internationalization and Expansion

The association expands beyond its European borders, welcoming its first non-European national member associations and initiating a truly international network for the profession.
1969

The First Best Sommelier of the World Competition

ASI organizes its inaugural international competition in Brussels, Belgium. Armand Melkonian is crowned the very first Best Sommelier of the World, launching a legendary global tradition.
1969

ASI Founded in Reims

The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) is founded on 3–4 June 1969 in Reims, France, as a non-profit organisation uniting the national sommelier associations.

ASI Board

The people behind the ASI

William Wouters

William Wouters

ASI President
Belgium
Beata Vlnkova

Beata Vlnkova

ASI Secretary General
Slovakia
Ivo Dvorak

Ivo Dvořák

ASI Deputy Secretary General
Czech Republic
Philippe Faure-Brac

Philippe Faure-Brac

ASI Treasurer
France
Samuil Angelov

Samuil Angelov

ASI Deputy Treasurer
Finland
Saiko Tamura-Soga

Saiko Tamura-Soga

ASI Vice-President for Asia & Pacific
Japan
Michele Astrom Chantome

Michèle Aström Chantôme

ASI Vice-President for Africa & Middle East
Morocco
Piotr Kamecki

Piotr Kamecki

ASI Vice-President for Europe
Poland
Matias Prezioso

Matias Prezioso

ASI Vice-President for the Americas
Argentina

Our Ethics

The Standards We Hold Ourselves To.

ASI’s Code of Ethics define the principles of professional conduct for the global sommellerie community – the foundation of everything we do.

01

Integrity

Professional conduct and transparency in all actions

02

Excellence

The highest standards in sommellerie worldwide

03

Respect

For culture, diversity and the sommelier tradition

04

Education

Continuous learning and professional development

72

National Associations

55

Years
Years of Excellence

35000

+
ASI Community Worldwide

6

Continents

Since 1969

Learn. Challenge. Compete.

The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI)
was founded in 1969 to unite the world’s national sommelier
associations under a single international voice.
Today, ASI represents 72 national associations across
six continents — setting global standards in education,
ethics and competitions.

· Promote one central sommelier association per nation
· Coordinate tools to advance the profession
· Educate consumers on the role of the sommelier
· Defend the ethics of the profession

72

National Associations

55

Years of Excellence

35 000+

ASI Community Worldwide

6

Continents

Our Mission.

ASI exists to shape the standards, education, and ethics of sommellerie — globally. We are not a wine producer, not a buyer, not a publication. We are the association of national sommelier associations, a federation of practitioners who set the bar for our craft.

Founded in Reims in 1969 by representatives of nine national associations, ASI today represents 72 national associations, an ASI Community of 35 000+ sommeliers, and the annual rhythm of continental and world competitions that have crowned every great champion of the modern era.

The mission is unchanging: to make sommellerie a recognised profession, to train its practitioners to the highest standards, and to connect the producers, the houses, and the guests they ultimately serve.

What We Stand For

Credibility. Community. Connection.

Every program of ASI ladders back to one of three commitments — the same ones that define a great sommelier.

01

Credibility

The ASI Diploma is the most rigorous sommelier certification in the world. Our ethics charter and exam standards are the benchmark national associations align to.

02

Community

From Tokyo to Lisbon, ASI unites associations, instructors, champions, and the next generation of working sommeliers around a shared craft.

03

Connection

We bridge sommeliers with producers, hospitality groups, and partners who fund the education and competitions that move our profession forward.

Our History

55 Years of Excellence

ASI was a little bit like the European Union in the beginning, today it is more like the United Nations.

Markus Del Monego MW · Best Sommelier of the World 1998.
2026

ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon hosts the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, 11–17 October 2026.
2021

Launch of the ASI Bootcamp

ASI introduces high-intensity educational bootcamps, gathering top young global talents for intensive, hands-on masterclass mentorship.
2019

Global Multilingual Education Architecture

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, ASI opens its official exams in English, French, and Spanish simultaneously worldwide.
2012

Introduction of the ASI Diploma

ASI launches its international diploma exam, creating a standardized, gold-standard benchmark for professional sommeliers globally.
2004

Creation of Continental Vice-Presidencies

Under a major governance restructuring, ASI decentralizes its operations by creating dedicated Continental Groups for Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.
1990

Media Growth with SommelierS International

ASI enters a historical partnership with SommelierS International magazine, making it the official international media channel to share global sommelier news and trends.
1980

The Era of True Internationalization

Francisco Esteves Gonçalves from Portugal is elected President of ASI, serving from 1980 to 1983 and driving key structural integration across member countries.
1972

Internationalization and Expansion

The association expands beyond its European borders, welcoming its first non-European national member associations and initiating a truly international network for the profession.
1969

The First Best Sommelier of the World Competition

ASI organizes its inaugural international competition in Brussels, Belgium. Armand Melkonian is crowned the very first Best Sommelier of the World, launching a legendary global tradition.
1969

ASI Founded in Reims

The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) is founded on 3–4 June 1969 in Reims, France, as a non-profit organisation uniting the national sommelier associations.

ASI Board

The people behind the ASI

William Wouters

William Wouters

ASI President
Belgium
Beata Vlnkova

Beata Vlnkova

ASI Secretary General
Slovakia
Ivo Dvorak

Ivo Dvořák

ASI Deputy Secretary General
Czech Republic
Philippe Faure-Brac

Philippe Faure-Brac

ASI Treasurer
France
Samuil Angelov

Samuil Angelov

ASI Deputy Treasurer
Finland
Saiko Tamura-Soga

Saiko Tamura-Soga

ASI Vice-President for Asia & Pacific
Japan
Michele Astrom Chantome

Michèle Aström Chantôme

ASI Vice-President for Africa & Middle East
Morocco
Piotr Kamecki

Piotr Kamecki

ASI Vice-President for Europe
Poland
Matias Prezioso

Matias Prezioso

ASI Vice-President for the Americas
Argentina

Our Ethics

The Standards We Hold Ourselves To.

ASI’s Code of Ethics define the principles of professional conduct for the global sommellerie community – the foundation of everything we do.

01

Integrity

Professional conduct and transparency in all actions

02

Excellence

The highest standards in sommellerie worldwide

03

Respect

For culture, diversity and the sommelier tradition

04

Education

Continuous learning and professional development

72

National Associations

55

Years
Years of Excellence

35000

+
ASI Community Worldwide

6

Continents
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