The head sommelier at Fouquet’s Paris wins the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge
On Monday, October 26, Dimitri Nalin, the head sommelier at Fouquet’s restaurant in Paris, won the eighth French edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge 2026.
“Exploring rosé champagne: aging and production” was the theme of the eighth edition of the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge 2026, held on Monday, October 26, at Cheval Blanc Paris. Among the 24 sommeliers from all over France, Dimitri Nalin, head sommelier at Fouquet’s Paris (1 toque), stood out. He was selected by a jury composed of Caroline Fiot, cellar master at Maison Ruinart; Brice Beuzeville-Loiseau, head sommelier at Racine restaurant and winner of the 2025 Ruinart Sommelier Challenge; Estelle Touzet, head sommelier; and Alexis Goujard, journalist.
A Path of Excellence at Leading Houses
It was during a stay in Australia that Dimitri Nalin developed his passion for wine. He enrolled at CAFA Formations in Bordeaux to train as a sommelier. He began his career at Les Sources de Caudalie before joining La Grande Maison alongside chef Pierre Gagnaire, where he rose to the position of head sommelier. He then continued his career at La Réserve Paris, where he served as assistant director of sommelier services for five years. Since July 2025, he has been putting his expertise to work at the Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s Paris as head sommelier.
Second place went to Amandine Sahuquet, head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall in Bordeaux. Nathanaël Piètre, head sommelier at Maison Despouès (2 toques) in Puylausic, took third place.
Rosé Champagne Takes Center Stage
“The Ruinart Sommelier Challenge is a unique opportunity for sommeliers to share experiences. Focusing this edition on rosé was a bold choice, and it allowed us to better understand the House’s expertise and its winemaking techniques,” said Dimitri Nalin. The day began with a blind tasting of four rosé wines, a challenge that highlights the candidates’ technical skill. An educational masterclass dedicated to the current and future challenges of rosé champagne production was also offered. Since 2018, the seven previous French editions have already welcomed more than 200 participants and honored seven professionals.
