Exactly 57 years ago, in Reims, Champagne, France, the international sommeliers’ association Association de la Sommellerie Internationale was founded, with its agreed legal seat in Paris.
One of the main initiators was Jean Valenti, an Italian sommelier working in France, and the first member states and signatories were France, Italy, Belgium and Portugal.
Today the association comprises 70 member states, with Kenya and the United Arab Emirates currently applying for membership. The member states come from Europe, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. The Croatian Sommelier Club became a member of ASI in 1994. The current president of ASI is William Wouters of Belgium, and the president of the Croatian club is Veljko Ostojić.
The founding day of ASI was established as International Sommelier Day.
We congratulate all sommeliers, women and men alike, on their day.
Cheers!
