Zuma Abu Dhabi's Noel Pusch named 2014 Sake Sommelier of the Year

Noel Pusch of Zuma Abu Dhabi has won the title of 2014 Sake Sommelier of the Year, following a final at London's Westbury hotel in Mayfair last night.

Runner-up was Jean-Paul Choi of Origami restaurant, Luxembourg, with Miguel Hernandez of HKK in London in third place.

The competition, run by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) and the Sake Sommelier Association (SSA), saw six semi-finalists competing for three places in the final, held in front of an audience of invited guests and a panel of judges.

The finalists took the stage one-by-one to complete a blind tasting, a sake food matching test, and a service task.

In addition to his award, Pusch received a bottle of premium sake and a five-day, fully funded trip to Japan, worth around £5,000. During the trip, he will visit a number of sake breweries and have the opportunity to take the SSA's Advanced Sake Sommelier Course.

German-born Pusch, 36, began his career in winemaking gaining a Masters degree from the University of Vienna. He became one of the first certified sake sommeliers in 2009 and has worked for the Zuma group since 2013, first at its Dubai restaurant, and this year joining the launch team for Zuma Abu Dhabi, where he is one of three sommeliers.

This year's competition, sponsored by Gekkeikan, one of the world's oldest and finest sake producers, saw some strong contenders for the title.

Following the announcement all three finalists performed the ceremonial opening of the taru (cask) of sake, along with Masaaki Kasai, senior managing director of Gekkeikan. This 300-year old tradition (known as a ‘kagami biraki') involves breaking the lid of the cask with a wooden mallet after which the sake is poured into cups with a ladle.

From left to right: Jean-Paul Choi; Masaaki Kasai of Gekkeikan; winner Noel Pusch; Miguel Hernandez