Having just been crowned 2026 UK Sommelier of the Year, Emma Denney, director of wine at Claridge’s, joins The Drinking Hour podcast to share the secrets to her success. Podcast host David Kermode also happens to act as compere for the UK Sommelier of the Year competition, making this episode a true insider’s guide to what has come to be known as ‘the Olympics of the wine world’.
The discussion turns to the pressure to perform on stage and Denney’s athlete-like approach to preparing for the main event, as well as the importance of trusting your gut when it comes to blind tasting and the discipline required in the sommelier trade to commit the world’s wine regions to memory.
The episode also touches on the challenges faced by women in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and tracks Denney’s own journey from humble beginnings in hospitality as a pot washer in New Zealand to landing her dream job at London’s hallowed Claridge’s hotel. And she shares with listeners how it was the Somm documentary that first inspired her to embark on her Master Sommelier qualification.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here.
