No-Low Sommelier of the Year 2027: Orane Vanheule Named by Gault&Millau

Orane Vanheule won the title of No-Low Sommelier of the Year 2027. Jean-Paul Muntz Berger, founding president of La French, presented her with the trophy at the 2026 Gault&Millau gala on Monday, November 9, at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. Other nominees in the category included Jean-Gabriel Siviragol of Le Chantecler in Nice, Elsa Daudet of La Table de Franck Putelat in Carcassonne, and Alice Abgrall of Les Frères Ibarboure in Bidart.

The winner explained, “It’s a blending process we’ve been doing for six years now, where we create non-alcoholic drinks using only local ingredients.” “ It’s about creativity; it’s about team cohesion. I think this is truly the future of sommelier work and not just a passing trend,” she added.

Originally from Flanders, Orane Vanheule taught herself the trade, particularly during several years spent in London. Upon returning to the North, she joined Florent Ladeyn atthe Auberge du Vert Mont (3 toques), the chef’s family-run restaurant in Boeschepe, where she took charge of the wine service.

A sommelier deeply rooted in the Flemish terroir

At the Auberge du Vert Mont, Orane Vanheule curates a wine list that gives pride of place to organic, natural, and biodynamic wines, with a special focus on lesser-known estates and hidden gems. Beers brewed on-site by the chef round out this selection, guided by a simple conviction: prioritizing taste over the label. Her role, however, extends beyond wine. She also oversees the restaurant’s in-house fermented beverages: apple kefir with hops, bread-based kvass, and kombucha made with brewers’ grains or blackcurrant stems. This approach allows for the creation of unique pairings—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic—across menus that evolve with the seasons.