Welcome
ASI Best Sommelier of the World
2026 Lisbon
11-17 of October 2026.
The Portuguese Sommelier Association (AEP) is proud to welcome Lisbon as the host city for the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2026, one of the most prestigious international events in the world of wine and hospitality.
Lisbon is preparing to host professionals, experts, and opinion leaders from 72 countries, offering a unique experience that celebrates the finest Portuguese wines, national gastronomy, and excellence in service.
More than 3,500 industry professionals will come together for this historic edition, participating in an event that simultaneously serves as a high-level competition, international gathering, and cultural celebration.
Portugal opens its doors to the world, with full glasses, beautifully set tables, and a wine identity that speaks for itself.
About the Competition
11-17 of October 2026.
Portugal will host the 18th edition of the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2026.
Held every three years, the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2026 is the ultimate competition in international sommellerie, organized by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), of which the AEP is a founding member. The event recognizes the world’s best sommelier.
Since its inception, the competition has played a crucial role in elevating the sommelier profession to a globally recognized standard of excellence.
AEP
Lisbon 2026 – a Historic Edition
The AEP is honored to host the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2026 in Lisbon, marking a historic moment for both the country and the profession.
During the competition week, international delegations will be welcomed in some of the city’s most iconic venues, including:
- Coliseu dos Recreios – one of Portugal’s most emblematic performance halls
- Pavilhão Carlos Lopes – a restored historic venue located in one of Lisbon’s most unique areas
- Official Moments at Sheraton Lisbon – situated in the heart of Lisbon, this five-star hotel combines classic elegance with modern facilities, providing the perfect setting for the competition’s official tastings. With spacious, fully equipped rooms designed for high-level events, the Sheraton will host the sessions for all 72 competitors, ensuring comfort, organization, and an environment reflecting the technical excellence of the competition.
- Gala Dinner in honor of Gérard Basset, the most awarded sommelier of all time
- Vineyard visit in Oeiras with a themed dinner at the Palácio do Marquês de Pombal
This is a rare opportunity to witness live a competition of the highest technical demands, where talent, precision, and emotion converge at the table.
The international impact of the ASI Best Sommelier of the World is well established: the 2023 edition in Paris brought together representatives from 68 countries, more than 4,000 in-person participants, and 250,000 livestream viewers for the final. Lisbon 2026 promises to exceed all expectations.
The day-by-day programme will be announced soon.
Our Partners
Platinium
Wines of Portugal
Created in 2010, the Wines of Portugal brand embodies the core values and distinctive characteristics of Portuguese wines. It is the result of a collective effort to achieve international recognition for the outstanding quality and diversity of Portugal’s wines.
Vini Portugal
Founded in 1996, ViniPortugal is the Interprofessional Organisation for Portuguese Wine, officially recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture.
IVDP
The Douro and Port Wine Institute (IVDP, I.P.) is a public institute that forms part of the Portuguese State’s indirect administration. It has administrative and financial autonomy, as well as its own assets, and operates as an interprofessional public institute under Decree-Law No. 97/2012 of 23 April.
Gold
Diam
Diam develops technical cork closures for still wines, sparkling wines and spirits.
Austrian Wine
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) is a service organisation based in Vienna and dedicated to supporting the Austrian wine industry.
Champagne Castelnau
Immersing yourself in the world of Champagne Castelnau is to savour the Art of Delicacy.
Champagne Abelé 1757
Since its foundation in the 18th century, Abelé 1757 remains a reference among the most beautiful Houses in Champagne.
Sogrape
Founded in 1942 by Fernando Van Zeller Guedes, Sogrape was born to demonstrate the quality of Portuguese wines to the world.
Município de Oeiras
The Municipality of Oeiras is the proud custodian of the historic Carcavelos Wine Region, the smallest demarcated wine region in Portugal and home to one of the country’s most distinctive fortified wines.
Silver
JSS
The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) was established in 1953 under the Japanese liquor taxation law to support industry stability, fair trade, and product promotion.
Casa Relvas
Casa Relvas is a family-owned company from the Alentejo region, dedicated to producing wines that reflect the authenticity, diversity and character of the region. By combining tradition, innovation and sustainability, it creates high-quality wines recognised in Portugal and international markets.
Aveleda
Founded in 1870 by Manoel Pedro Guedes, Aveleda has been a family-owned winery for 5 successive generations. Guided by tradition, innovation and a legacy of passion, Aveleda has created iconic brands. Present in 4 different wine regions of Portugal, Aveleda combines respect for terroir, sustainable practices and biodiversity preservation to craft wines present in more than 85 markets.
CVR Alentejo
The Wines of Alentejo proudly join ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2026, one of the most prestigious international events in the wine and sommelier sector.
Château Phélan Ségur
Founded in the early 19th century in the heart of Saint-Estèphe, Château Phélan Ségur is one of Bordeaux’s most distinguished wine estates.
Jcdecaux
JCDecaux is the world’s leading outdoor advertising company, reaching 850 million people every day across 79 countries.
Lisbon Tourism Association
Founded in 1997, the Lisbon Tourism Association (ATL – Visitors & Convention Bureau) is dedicated to the sustainable development and promotion of Lisbon as a leading international destination for leisure travel, meetings, congresses, exhibitions and incentive travel.
Vinhos Verdes
Established as a Demarcated Region and Protected Designation of Origin in 1908, the Vinho Verde Region is one of Portugal’s most distinctive and dynamic wine regions.
Official
Crédito Agrícola
Crédito Agrícola is the only Portuguese-owned cooperative financial group operating in Portugal. With 115 years of history and strong ties to local communities, it reaffirms its commitment to the wine sector through initiatives that promote excellence, innovation and the recognition of Portuguese products and expertise.
Event Concept
Event Concept specialises in the design, planning and execution of events, transforming visions into memorable experiences. With a strategic approach and meticulous attention to detail, it creates unique moments that reflect each client’s identity and remain in guests’ memories.
Xjourney Travel
XJourney is a boutique travel company specialising in bespoke luxury experiences. With a focus on exclusivity, personalisation, creativity and meticulous attention to detail, it designs unique journeys and experiences that reflect each client’s identity and create lasting memories.
Imppacto
With more than 25 years of experience in the private and corporate events sector, Imppacto, Catering & Events is a recognised reference in the industry. Quality, excellence, creativity, organisational rigour, attention to detail and gastronomic sensitivity define the essence of exclusive and memorable experiences.
Momentos
Casa Relvas Herdade São Miguel
Herdade de São Miguel was the first wine range created by Casa Agrícola Alexandre Relvas.
Justinos
Justino’s Madeira Wines is one of Madeira’s oldest and largest wine producers, with origins dating back to 1870.
Salon
Casal das Aires
Casal das Aires was born from a desire to rediscover the Tejo through a new perspective, centred on freshness, elegance and authenticity. Located in the Charneca of Alpiarça, the vineyards benefit from loam-clay soils and a distinctive microclimate, ideal conditions for balance and expression. Choosing quality over quantity, the project is rooted in sustainable viticulture and respect for the land, giving life to its first wines, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Parapente
Parapente is Joana Pinhão’s personal wine project, created under Pine Nuts Vines & Wines and rooted in a commitment to sustainable viticulture and minimal-intervention winemaking. Across Trás-os-Montes and Vinho Verde, the project explores distinctive terroirs and traditional grape varieties through small-batch wines defined by freshness, elegance and authenticity. Each wine seeks to express, with precision and identity, the true character of the place where it comes from.
Somnium
Somnium is the shared dream of winemakers Joana Pinhão and Rui Lopes, born from a friendship and a passion for wine that began at Instituto Superior de Agronomia. The project took shape with the 2011 harvest, following the discovery of an exceptional vineyard in Murça, in the heart of the Douro. Inspired by the Latin word for “dream”, Somnium proposes a different vision of the region, where the vineyard, the wine and the project’s identity are at the heart of everything.
Vale dos Ares
Rooted in a family history dating back to 1683, Vale dos Ares was born from Miguel Queimado’s deep connection to the land and his passion for viticulture. After studying Agricultural Engineering in Vila Real, he returned to Monção, where in 2006 he began reconverting the family vineyards at Quinta do Mato. Today, Vale dos Ares celebrates the unique terroir of Monção e Melgaço, expressing the full potential of Alvarinho in distinctive wines shaped by history, land and family.
Adega Monte Branco
Founded in 2004 by Luís Louro in Estremoz, Adega Monte Branco expresses a unique Alentejo terroir. With traditional Portuguese grape varieties and a rigorous, sustainable approach to viticulture, it produces fresh, mineral wines with a strong sense of identity that tell the story of the land and the people who work it.
Vinhos Barbeito
Founded in 1946 by Mário Barbeito, Vinhos Barbeito creates wines defined by freshness, elegance and authenticity. Through old reserves, historic grape varieties and small production lots, it presents a distinctive vision of Madeira Wine, where tradition opens the way to discovery.
Czar
Czar Winery, on Pico Island in the Azores, produces wines from indigenous grape varieties grown in the historic vineyards of the UNESCO World Heritage Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture. It preserves traditional and sustainable practices that give rise to wines of distinctive identity.
Baias e Enseadas
Baías e Enseadas was born from a passion for wine and the desire to create wines with a distinctive identity. Rooted in the Colares region, it produces wines that reflect the unique characteristics of this terroir, preserving the authenticity and character of one of Portugal’s most distinctive wine regions.
Entre Santos Algarve
Quinta dos Santos is a family-run winery in the Algarve dedicated to wines that express the region’s terroir. Rooted in sustainability, artisanal winemaking and Portuguese grape varieties, it combines tradition and innovation to create high-quality wines that reflect the authenticity and character of the Algarve.
Menin
Founded in 2018 under the leadership of Rubens Menin, Menin Company was established with the ambition of creating exceptional Douro wines and sharing them with the world. With vineyards in the Cima Corgo and Baixo Corgo, it produces wines that reflect the excellence, authenticity and character of the region.
partners asi
Official Partners of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI)
Meet the partners supporting the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and contributing to the promotion and recognition of sommellerie worldwide.
