Thank you very much for your continued patronage.
We are pleased to announce that “Gault et Millau 2023” has been published and Eiji Wakabayashi, General Manager of Esquisse, has received the “Best Sommelier Award”.
We are honored to receive this prestigious award. Thank you very much.
from a press release by Gault et Millau
Best Sommelier Award
Mr. Eiji Wakabayashi (French Cuisine, Esquisse, Tokyo)
The Best Sommelier Award is presented to a sommelier who not only has knowledge of wine and the composition of the wine list, but also has excellent customer service skills and always provides service with a customer-oriented attitude.
As the general manager and sommelier of “Esquisse,” Mr. Wakabayashi has developed a wine marriage based on his extensive knowledge and experience with the delicate flavors, colors, and aromas of Chef Lionel Beccat’s cuisine. He also proposes food and beverage pairings through TV programs and other media. The program has been highly praised for its ability to convey in an easy-to-understand manner the new pleasures that can be created by matching food and beverages.
I am very happy. I have been a sommelier for about 35 years. I always try to combine wines and beverages with excitement and to serve my customers with a sense of excitement. What I think most about being a sommelier is that we are nothing without good food and great wine and drinks creators. My job is not to be the creator, but to combine and finish the story, so I am really grateful to the many chefs, those who have helped me in the past, and now Lionel (Beccat) and Ugo (Perret-Gallix). I am also grateful to the producers and winemakers who make the wines we serve.”
