Yann Rinaldo elevated to the rank of Master Sommelier

Yann Rinaldo has been working in the world of wine for twenty years. But the man who practises his passion at the Cave du Port Franc, in Public, probably never imagined he would achieve such a degree of recognition and excellence when he began his career. For on Sunday November 24, at the Abbaye de Collonges - Paul Bocuse, a restaurant steeped in history based in Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, Yann Rinaldo was elevated to the rank of Master Sommelier by the Board of Directors of the Union de la Sommellerie Française. The honor was bestowed by national president Fabrice Sommier.
The ceremony was attended by all the top sommeliers in France and around the world. For Yann Rinaldo, such recognition obviously brings with it responsibilities. We have a duty to set the standard," he says. Which means we have to guide. I've long understood that without education, a nation is nothing. A large part of the budget of the Saint-Barthélemy Sommelier Union is devoted to training. If we want our young people to reach a level of excellence in the service trades that are present on the island, we need to enhance and guide their training paths. That's how to build a happy society. "
"Bringing this expertise to the Caribbean".
To obtain the status of Master Sommelier, Yann Rinaldo had to undergo a meticulous investigation by the Union de la Sommellerie Française before passing through the Conseil des Sages and then the Conseil des Maîtres. It was an almost initiatory process that led him to become Saint-Barthélemy's first Master Sommelier. "It's important for me to be recognized and to bring this expertise to the Caribbean, which is often neglected when we turn to the culinary professions", he declares. Consequently, for the past four years at the head of the local Union (which includes Saint-Martin), Yann Rinaldo has been striving to bring all the island's enthusiasts and professionals on board. But not only. On Monday October 25, at the Abbaye de Collonges, the independence of the Union de la Sommellerie de Saint-Martin was voted unanimously. Vice-president alongside Yann Rinaldo, Stéphane Emorine was also elevated to the rank of Master Sommelier, but for Saint-Martin. "He now has a free hand to seek out and train young people from Saint-Martin," says Yann Rinaldo, who, for his part, has every intention of continuing to encourage talented young people from Saint-Barth to pursue further training in the pursuit of excellence.
At the same time, the new Master Sommelier will be preparing for the ultimate step: obtaining the Diploma, the highest degree of competence in the sommellerie field.