Margaux made it to the final of the competition, organized by the Belgian Sommeliers Guild during the Horeca Expo in Flanders Expo in Ghent. She had to compete against top players such as Vincent Pharazijn from two-star store De Jonkman and Elizio Masson from two-star store Hof van Cleve.
Each finalist had to be able to demonstrate his or her knowledge and skills extensively in six different practical tests. The search was not only for the best wine connoisseur. Blind tasting, recognizing alcoholic drinks and beers from all over the world and decanting wine were also part of the final. Blood-curdling, especially with all those experts and jury members watching your fingers, but the young candidate did not succumb to stress.
Loud cheering
Last year Margaux also came second. After her victory, she was loudly cheered by the wine lovers and sommeliers present. She works for Sanglier des Ardennes in Durbuy, the catering empire of Marc Coucke, which also has Wout Bru as chef.
This competition has been organized in Belgium since 1963. Balemans succeeds Jeno Del Turco of restaurant Le Chalet de la Forêt in Uccle.
READ ALSO. Laurence De Smet (25) is the first woman ever to win the title of ‘First Chef of Belgium’: “It’s a shame that it had to take 72 years”
(bepr)
