Here are the profiles of the three young men who participated in this year’s Final of the Jeunes Sommeliers Competition.

Marie Jones
International Vice-President
Competition Committee Chair

Photography by Cecilia Wimmerstedt

Winner: John Fuller (USA)
He received:
- The Competition Gold medal
- Five-year Sommelier membership in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs
- Five-year membership of the OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs)
- A Wempe Zeitmeister wristwatch
- A cheque for 2,500 euro
- A bottle of Thora Vineyard's Pinot Noir

John grew up on Block Island, Rhode Island, where he was born into a hospitality family. His passion for wine came about almost right after he tried his first one. After graduating John moved to New York City and enrolled in a Sommelier programme. Upon completion he began working at Eleven Madison Park where he was exposed to world class hospitality. John moved up the ranks eventually becoming a Captain in 2024. All the while, he continued to study wine. Later, John became Sommelier at Clemente Bar when it first opened but then moved back to Eleven Madison Park as a Sommelier in 2025, where he still works today.

Runner-up: Junxing “James” Li (Canada)
He received:
- The Competition Silver Medal
- Five-year Sommelier membership in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs
- Five-year membership of the OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs)
- A cheque for 1,500 euro
- A bottle of Chapoutier red wine from the Rhône Valley

A skilled Advanced Sommelier and WSET Diploma holder, James has experience in leading all facets of hospitality management, wine service, bartending and retailing. Having gained a BA in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Toronto, he in fact began his professional career as a Wine Sales Specialist in Beijing in 2022 before returning to Canada later that year. James held Lead Sommelier and restaurant management positions in several Toronto restaurants until joining DaNico in March 2026 as Assistant GM/Sommelier. At DaNico contemporary Italian culinary traditions meet exceptional service and design.

Third Place: Charlie Richards (Australia)
He received:
- The Competition Bronze Medal
- Five-year Sommelier membership in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs
- Five-year membership of the OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs)
- A cheque for 500 euro
- A bottle of Chapoutier red wine from the Rhône Valley

Charlie is Head Sommelier at Agnes Restaurant in Fortitude Valley a vibrant, inner-city suburb of Brisbane. After completing his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at King’s College London, he has channelled his skills into the scientific premise of wines and how processes such as clonal selection of yeast and fermentation pathways may be altered to produce wines of exceptional quality and ability to age. His career goal includes becoming Head Sommelier/Beverage Director of a 5-Star Hotel or Michelin 3-Star restaurant, eventually becoming a winemaker and putting his research and enthusiasm into productive use.

Special awards
The Tasting Trophy was awarded to Great Britain’s Kamila Błaszczyk. Charlie Richards (Australia) was deemed to be the Best Competitor under 25 years old. Both received an engraved Silver Cup and a bottle of Chapoutier red wine from the Rhône Valley.

Semi-finalists
The other talented competitors who participated in the Competition’s Semi-final were:
Belgium - Colin Lurot
Finland - Leila Karhunen
Germany - Tom Zink
Great Britain - Kamila Błaszczyk
Korea - Dahee Kang
Malaysia - Thong Way Chern
Mexico - Pablo Gutierrez Lezama
Norway - Robin Winje
Portugal - Tiago Franco
Sweden - Isak Kristian Lauridsen
Türkiye - Merve Biçak