Sylvain NICOLAS

Sommelier : 1 restaurant

Presentation

Sylvain Nicolas has held the position of head sommelier alongside chef Guy Savoy since... 2008! A rare longevity in the profession. Originally from Maine-et-Loire, he trained at the hotel school in Saumur. "ThenI met François Reverdy, sommelier at Le Prieuré; he opened up the world of wine to me, and that's when things really clicked. I was intrigued by their complexity. It was easy for me to learn about grape varieties and terroirs. "In 1997, he moved to Paris to begin his apprenticeship with Philippe Faure-Brac at the Bistrot du Sommelier in Paris. " I applied and joined the World's Best Sommelier 1992, who had been appointed five years earlier! It was with him that I really learned about wine tasting and food pairing."He stayed for two and a half years, before joining Guy Savoy's teams for the first time as a commis sommelier.

Two years later, in 2002, Jean Chauvel, chef-owner of Les Magnolias restaurant in Le Perreux-sur-Marne, gave him the job of sommelier. He was only 23 years old. "I was given responsibility for purchasing, cellar management and the opportunity to add my own personal touch to the wine list. "After this experience, in 2006, he returned to Guy Savoy as assistant to Éric Mancio, director and head sommelier. When Mancio left in 2008, Guy Savoy offered him the position. "I'm committed to building the wine list over time, ensuring continuity. I respect the spirit of the house and the expectations of our customers."His expertise has been rewarded with the 2015 Gault&Millau Young Sommelier of the Year trophy.

F.H.