Dear Friends,

The National Jeunes Sommeliers Competition is the signature event for professionals for the USA’s Société Mondiale du Vin* every year. The top sommeliers under 30 years of age compete in provincial competitions for the opportunity to participate in the National competition. It is our opportunity as active, passionate, and supportive Mondiale and Chaîne members to support and celebrate these talented professionals in their pursuit for excellence.

The journey to the 2026 National Jeunes Sommelier Competition commenced in January as 58 young sommeliers took the online theory test. Sixteen competitors achieved a qualifying score earning them a spot in one of two Provincial competitions around the United States. On March 9th and 23rd, provincial competitions were held in New York City and Atlanta respectively with young sommeliers representing five Provinces: Northeast, Midwest, South Central, Far West, and Hawaiian Islands.

On March 9th in New York City, eight young sommeliers from the Northeast province competed, with the top three sommeliers advancing to the National competition. The top three sommeliers were Erik Canselmo (National runner up in 2025) from Grill 23 & Bar in Boston, John Fuller (National competition finalist in 2025) from Eleven Madison Park in New York City, and Anais Flebus from Per Se in New York City.

On March 23rd in Atlanta, eight young sommeliers from the four Provinces competed with the top three advancing to the National competition. They were Caitlin Hall from The Perlant in Atlanta, Stefano Manzocco from Prime & Proper in Detroit, and Christian Jay Udarbe from Senia in Honolulu.

These six amazingly talented young sommeliers competed in the Finger Lakes wine region in upstate New York on May 4th - 5th at the Del Lago Resort & Casino for the opportunity to be crowned 2026 National Jeunes Sommeliers Competition Winner. The competition was comprised of blind tasting, sparkling wine service, decanting service, written theory and wine list correction.

After a very closely contested competition, John Fuller was the winner. He will compete in the International Competition in Sweden in October. The runner ups were Erik Cancelmo and Anais Flebus.

The judges for the competition included George Staikos (Grand Échanson des Etats-Unis), Mark Guilladeau MS, Geoff Labitzke MW, Jienna Basaldu, Eric Palmer (2023 National Jeunes Sommeliers Competition Winner and Vice-Échanson des Jeunes Sommeliers des Etats-Unis), and Pinto Naravane (Vice-Échanson des Etats- Unis).

Please join me in congratulating John Fuller and all the competitors for the passion, talents, and contribution to their trade and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

Vive la Chaîne! Vive la Société Mondiale!

George Staikos
Grand Échanson des Etats-Unis

* Ed. The Société Mondiale du Vin is the equivalent in the Bailliage of USA to the Ordre Mondial Gourmet des Gourmets Dégustateurs (OMGD) in the rest of the world. The OMGD is also open to Chaîne members in the USA.

Editorial acknowledgement
With much appreciation to the Bailliage of USA (via Executive Director Kathy Aber) for permission to publish this article originally included in “Cuvée”, the monthly e-magazine which is the official publication of the National Bailliage of USA.