Sommelier, restaurant owner, writer, radio and television host, talented public speaker: meet Phillippe Faure-Brac, a leading figure in the wine industry as well as President of the French Union of Sommelleiers and now honorary patron of the 3rd Château Gassier in Provence Challenge.
He was born in 1960 in Marseille and studied culinary art at hospitality schools in Sisteron, Grenoble and Nice which was where he discovered his passion for the world of wine. He was truly in his element and was keen to learn as much as possible about the history of wine, its varietals, its terroirs and how to taste it and talk about it. After gaining experience in a number of Parisian restaurants, it was in 1984, at the age of 24, that he opened his first restaurant: Le Bistrot du Sommelier in which he placed the spotlight on the art of food and wine pairing.
In 1992 Philippe Faure-Brac was chosen to represent France in the worldwide sommellerie competition. It was in Rio in Brazil in the September of that year that he came first out of 35 candidates representing 20 different countries. He was therefore named World’s Best Sommelier in 1992. In April of 2015 he was then awarded the prestigious title of ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ at the Sorbonne in Paris.c
In 1992 Philippe Faure-Brac was chosen to represent France in the worldwide sommellerie competition. It was in Rio in Brazil in the September of that year that he came first out of 35 candidates representing 20 different countries. He was therefore named World’s Best Sommelier in 1992. In April of 2015 he was then awarded the prestigious title of ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ at the Sorbonne in Paris.
His passion for sharing his knowledge and savoir-faire with others saw him selected as patron for the third Château Gassier in Provence Challenge in 2021. He now chairs the panel for this Student sommelier Challenge! Alongside Michelin-starred chef Mathias Dandine, he is in charge of evaluating the student sommeliers who have made it to the finals. As you may know, the objective of this challenge is to place the spotlight on the Provence region, our heritage, our terroir, our values and of course our wines through a new generation of future French sommeliers. Promoting Provence Rosés involves promoting the region’s wine domaines of course but most importantly the winemakers and their savoir-faire.
Philippe Faure-Brac has also shared with us his love for Château Gassier on each of his visits to the domaine. This is his birth region and also close to where he now produces his own wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He very much enjoys returning to the Var region where one of his grandparents was a winemaker and the other a restaurant owner. This meeting point between the worlds of wine and gastronomy inspired him in finding his own vocation: that of becoming one of the World’s best sommeliers.
The final of the 4th Château Gassier in Provence Challenge for student sommeliers will be held on Monday 22 May 2022 in the presence of honorary patron Florent Martin who was named Best French Sommelier in 2020.