Joris Gutierrez Garcia, 11th Best Sommelier in the World
After Quebec, Canada and the Americas, Joris Gutierrez Garcia took on the world’s elite. The head sommelier at Moishes finished 11th at the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2026 contest in Lisbon.
The result crowns a career built with patience. Named Best Sommelier of Quebec and of Canada in 2023, then of the Americas in 2025, the Montrealer devoted more than ten years of work to reaching this world stage.
“Above all, it’s a personal challenge, a way to push myself,” he told us in February 2025, a few days after his win in the Americas. Preparation demands in-depth knowledge of vineyards, production methods and a world of beverages that reaches far beyond wine. Add to that the tasting and service rounds, where precision, speed and composure in front of the judges must go hand in hand.
His interest in wine grew gradually, from bottles discovered with his family to his first restaurant jobs as a teenager, then a first course at the ITHQ with Stéphane Leroux, himself a former Best Sommelier of Quebec. Working the floor still feeds his preparation, with every service helping him sharpen his technique and his competition reflexes.
At the table, his tastes range from Egon Müller rieslings to the most spontaneous pleasures. “Champagne with chips is so good!” A great champion of Loire wines, he loves passing on his discoveries through training sessions and tasting workshops, driven by the energy of young people entering the profession.
From Le Filet to Club Chasse et Pêche, by way of Moishes, we’ve followed his progress closely for several years. Seeing him earn a place among the world’s best is a tremendous recognition and an invitation for the next generation of sommeliers to dream big.
Congratulations, Joris!
Written by Maya Cloutier
Photography by l’ACSP Québec
