Fat Duck sommelier in coveted competition

A sommelier is in the running for a prestigious award.

Remi Cousin at Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck has won a coveted place in the finals of the Academy of Food and Wine, UK sommelier of the year.

He is one of 15 finalists who will now compete in the finals to be held in London next month.

The contest will see him take part in a questionnaire and blind tasting, a food and wine matching scenario.

He will also have to pour a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck champagne equally into eight flutes without returning to any of the glasses.

If Remi wins the competition, he would be crowned sommelier of the year as well as winning a trip to Reims, France, where he would meet Piper-Heidsieck's champagne blender Régis Camus.