UK Sommelier Challenge
VINTAGE PORT YEARS
TAYLOR'S VINTAGE PORT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT ICONIC WINES.
Renowned for their massive structure and aromatic power, tempered by a characteristic understatement and restraint, Taylor’s Vintage Port is a wine like no other. Discover the archetypal Port house, whose wines embody the quintessential essence of Port.
We are looking for the very best sommeliers to help lead the Taylor's Vintage Port movement.
The Taylor’s Port Vintage Years | UK Sommelier Challenge was designed specifically for the UK’s top sommeliers to demonstrate their Vintage Port expertise and to determine their knowledge and pairing abilities with some of the world’s finest Vintage Ports.
The challenge took place on Monday 14th July 2025, in the storied Napoleon Cellar of Berry Bros. & Rudd, bringing together a select gathering of the nation’s most accomplished sommeliers.
Organised as a closed invitation event, the challenge ran from 12:30 pm to 4 pm and was expertly overseen by David Guimaraens, Technical Director and Head Winemaker at Taylor’s Port.
The afternoon began with an engaging seminar on Vintage Port, featuring a practical masterclass in the traditional Port Tong method. Sommeliers then faced the central blind-tasting challenge: six Vintage Ports representing six distinct decades. Participants were tasked with crafting tasting notes, accurately identifying the vintage years with justification, and proposing dish pairings suitable for their own restaurant menus.
Following the event, participants had one week to refine their answers prior to submission using candidate numbers only, after which they were judged by David Guimaraens.
THE PRIZE
The Taylor’s Port Vintage Years | UK Sommelier Challenge winner receives a two-night trip to Porto for two people staying at The Yeatman Hotel, including meals and a private tasting with David Guimaraens as well as a selection of Taylor’s Vintage Port. The runner up and those competitors who are placed third, fourth and fifth, will also receive prizes.
The six Vintage Ports that were blind tasted during the challenge can now be revealed as follows:
1. Taylor’s Vintage 1970
2. Taylor’s Vintage 1985
3. Taylor’s Vintage 1994
4. Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas 2004
5. Taylor’s Vintage 2016
6. Taylor’s Sentinels 2022
THANK YOU
David Guimaraens and the team at Taylor’s Port wish to extend their heartfelt thanks to all Sommeliers for taking part in the inaugural Taylor's Port Vintage Years | UK Sommelier Challenge. Vintage Port relies on Sommeliers to help continue educating audiences everywhere on the majestic and versatile nature of one of the world’s finest wines.
