The day
The best wine lists start with the best sommeliers
An essential in-person event made for sommelier and wine-focused hospitality. Enjoy a day of panel discussion, workshops, talks and tasting for the UK Sommelier community, centred around business skills, career growth and leadership while spending time with your peers - hosted at the iconic location of The Savoy Hotel.
The voices
Speakers include:
Scrollable list of 17 speakers. Use the arrow keys to move through it, or activate the button below to show them all at once.
With more speakers to be announced.
Opening up more possibilities through wine is at the very heart of the Coravin proposition. The Symposium grew from that same aspiration: we want to support sommeliers who are creating extraordinary wine experiences for their guests, helping them to develop their skills, advance their careers and connect with their community.
Greg Lambrecht
Founder & Inventor of Coravin
Schedule for the day
The Agenda
Registration, Coffee and Tasting Studio opens
Welcome from Greg Lambrecht
PANEL SESSION: Understanding your guests: using data and customer insight to improve your wine service
Speakers include:
Richard Siddle - Moderator
Davina Kortright – Head of Research and Insight, WSTA
Nicolas Schell – F&B Director, The Savoy
Hannah Russo- Head of Operations & Brand, Camino
Luma Monteiro - Head of Marketing, Davy's of London
Session A
Excel for Somms: Own Your Numbers
This practical, no-jargon workshop gives sommeliers a working grounding in Excel as a professional tool covering list management, margin calculation, pour cost tracking, and the kind of reporting that earns credibility with a GM or Finance Director.
Session hosted by:
Clara Rubin – Consultant strategist
Session B
Leading the Floor: Managerial Skills for the Modern Sommelier
Renowned hospitality leadership coach Madeleine Geach presents an essential hour of management skills specifically designed for sommeliers and FOH professionals to bring out the best in their teams. You’ll leave with a simple framework for understanding different thinking, working and communication styles, and practical techniques to build stronger relationships and create a more engaged, high-performing team.
Session hosted by:
Madeleine Geach – Hospitality leadership consultant
Lunch
PANEL SESSION: The Wine List as a Business Tool
Speakers include:
Regine Lee MW – Moderator – Managing Director, Indigo Wines
Fred Brugues – Wine Director, Sketch
Lisa McBain – Wine buyer, Fuller’s
Cameron Foster – Owner, Portfolio MCR
MS vs MW: What Sets Them Apart?
Speakers include:
Stefan Neumann MS
Emma Dawson MW
Coffee break
PANEL SESSION: Superhero Somms - Building Your Toolkit For Success
Speakers include:
Christelle Guibert – TRADE, UK Sommelier of the Year
Sunny Hodge – Owner, Diogenes the Dog
Charles Carron Brown– Sommelier and Restaurant Manager, Aulis
Douglas Blyde– Restaurant columnist and drinks consultant
Giuseppe D’Aniello- Group head of wine, Gordon Ramsay restaurants
Happy Hour By-The-Glass
Alongside the programme
All-day experiences
The Wine Studio
Tasting studio with wines from top suppliers.
The Coravin Clinic
Hands-on product support and maintenance.
Ask Me Anything
Open sessions with Greg Lambrecht.
Blind Tasting
A competition with post-event prizes.
Goody Bag
Delegates receive a goody bag worth over £100, including Coravin and YETI branded items.
How to get there
The Savoy
on London's historic StrandThe Symposium is held at The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, easily reached from Charing Cross and Embankment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Who is the Symposium for?
The day is built for sommeliers, wine directors, floor managers and hospitality leaders, anyone who shapes or serves a wine-by-the-glass programme and wants to develop their skills, commercial confidence and network.
What's included in my ticket?
Full access to every session and breakout, the networking lunch and closing reception, all-day Wine Studio tasting experiences and the Coravin Clinic, plus a premium delegate care package to take home.
Where exactly is the venue?
The Symposium is held at The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, easily reached from Charing Cross and Embankment.
What time does the day run?
The programme runs from 10:00 for registration and coffee, opening with the leadership session and closing with a networking reception at 17:00 before Happy Hour by-the-glass begins. Arrival and registration details are shared ahead of the event.
Can I transfer or refund my ticket?
Tickets are refundable or transferable to a colleague up to one week before the event.
Reach out by emailing symposium@coravin.com if your plans change.
Monday 5 October 2026 · The Savoy, London
Join us for the day
Delegate places are limited. Reserve yours and spend a day investing in your craft, your programme and your network.