International
Xavier Thuizat appointed Air France head sommelier
Xavier Thuizat, head sommelier at the Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, has found his new calling. The 2023 Meilleur Ouvrier de France in sommellerie has signed the French airline's new menu.
Xavier Thuizat is on a roll! Originally from Burgundy, one of France's great wine-growing regions, he stumbled into sommellerie by chance, following a friend in his studies. The chef then went on to work in houses such as Bernard Loiseau (4 toques), Le Meurice (3 toques) and Pierre Gagnaire (5 toques). These experiences gave Boris Campanella's partner in crime the privilege of signing the new Air France menu. The airline places a high priority on its wine list, for all its classes. So it seems only natural that the head sommelier of theHôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, should have been chosen to create the new wine list.
Excellence to replace excellence
Sommellerie at the French airline is a story of excellence. Before Xavier Thuizat, it was already a chef with multiple distinctions who officiated: Paolo Basso. For 10 years, the 2013 World's Best Sommelier was responsible for the Air France menu. This meant that at least one Best Sommelier of France 2022 and Meilleur Ouvrier de France in sommellerie was needed to succeed him. A passing of the baton under the symbol of perfection in the service of customers. Here, the choice of wines is not taken lightly: every year, no less than a million bottles of champagne and 8 million bottles of wine are served to customers.
That's why, in order to make the best possible selection for the new wine list, the Crillon's head sommelier is going on a tour of France's wine-growing regions. He plans to organize large-scale blind tastings to guide his choices. In particular, this will enable him to visualize which wines will be best suited to flights or airport transit times.
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