Brian Julian, master sommelier and the brain behind the foundation of the Court of Master Sommeliers, celebrated his 70th birthday in a presence of eminent master sommeliers at 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen in London.
In 1977 he founded the Court of Master Sommeliers, an educational body providing a knowledge base for sommeliers and offering exams to attain the highly recognised Master Sommelier status.
Julian said: ‘The idea of the court of sommeliers was to pass on and to help other people to achieve what we have achieved.’
The hard work and support he has given over years to sommeliers bore fruit sas he was awarded the first ever lifetime achievement trophy by the star line up of master sommeliers including the 2010 World’s Best Sommelier Gerard Basset.
Basset, MS and MW, and Julian, MS and CEO of the Court of Master Sommeliers, have been working together for many years, with Basset as apresident of the Court of Master Sommeliers worldwide.
Clearly humbled and not expecting such an accolade Julian said: ‘Wine has been very good to me and it is still today. Wine has helped me market a book, has taken me all over the world and helped me to develop my knowledge.’
Surprisingly, he admitted that tasting used to be difficult for him but afterall the exams he co-organised he does not find it difficult any more.
Written by Radka Slovackova
