Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Diederik Herbots from restaurant Ogst in Hasselt was named the best sommelier in Limburg, impressing judges with his wine knowledge. He will compete nationally on March 17, 2025.
In Limburg, Diederik Herbots from the famous star restaurant Ogst in Hasselt became the best sommelier in the province. He is known for his great taste in wine and his knowledge about it. Herbots was one of the top 3 candidates from Limburg who reached the final after getting the most votes from hospitality workers.
During the competition, he impressed the judges by identifying monocépage wines in a blind tasting. Judges mentioned that he showed strong knowledge and explained his food and wine pairings very well.
What challenges will Diederik Herbots face in the national Sommelier final?
Diederik Herbots will now compete with other winners from different provinces for the Best Sommelier in the Country. The national final is on March 17, 2025. According to officials, the winners will face tough tests in front of expert judges. They will do blind tastings and food and wine pairings. They will also answer questions about different wine regions. The winner will get national recognition and represent the sommelier profession.
More than 14,000 people from the hospitality industry voted for the best sommelier in the country. Officials mentioned that this competition was designed to test their skills and knowledge. It was not only about being popular but also about showing real expertise.
According to authorities, a group of judges made up of experts in the field, watched the competition closely. They made sure the judging was fair and thorough. They mentioned that this way, the best sommelier could be chosen based on true talent and understanding of the craft.
This year the finalists had to take part in a blind tasting of 10 different monocépage wines. They guessed each wine based only on its taste, smell, and texture, without seeing any labels. After tasting, they picked one wine they felt good about and suggested a food that goes well with it.
Officials mentioned that the judges checked how accurately they identified the wines and their knowledge of different grape types. They also looked at how well the candidates explained their food pairings and how they communicated their ideas.
