A grand finale at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain
It was at Château Gassier, at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, that the final stage of the Challenge took place. The jury was chaired by two prominent figures in gastronomy: Romain Iltis, Best Sommelier of France 2012 and Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2015, honorary patron of the competition, and Mathias Dandine, Michelin-starred chef at La Magdeleine restaurant. Under their watchful eye, four finalists competed for the title:
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Sarah Niorthe from the Lycée des Métiers de l’Hôtellerie et du Tourisme d’Occitanie
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Avril Heroux from the Lycée François Rabelais IFS
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Nathan Julien from the Lycée des Métiers Jean-Paul Passedat
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Mattis Sklarz from the Lycée Hôtelier de La Rochelle
From tastings to real-world scenario tests, including technical skills, food and wine pairings, and sales pitch strategies, each candidate demonstrated their rigor, precision, and adaptability. After deliberation, the jury selected Mattis Sklarz, who officially becomes the winner of the 2026 Challenge Château Gassier en Provence for student sommeliers.
The day continued with a friendly gathering bringing together the jury, sommeliers, candidates, sponsors, winemakers, and partners, to celebrate Mattis Sklarz’s victory and wrap up together several months of competition, learning, and exchange.
Provence, a full-fledged participant in the Challenge
As in every edition, Provence wines and the region’s rich gastronomic and cultural heritage played a central role in this sommelier competition. Throughout the events, candidates were evaluated on their knowledge of the local terroirs, appellations, and Provençal winemaking heritage. Beyond the competition, the Challenge allows each generation of young sommeliers to deepen their understanding of this iconic vineyard, and to better grasp the diversity of styles, terroirs, and food pairings that drive the reputation of Provence wines today, both in France and internationally. For Domaine Gassier, it is a way to pass on its wine-growing culture to the new generation of sommeliers, tomorrow’s future wine ambassadors.
