Scottish sommelier to compete in Master of Port UK Finals
A Scottish sommelier, and former social worker, is one of five professionals to make it through to the Master of Port UK finals.
Troy Sides, the sommelier and wine manager at Divino Enoteca in Edinburgh is one of five hopefuls taking part in the Master of Port UK Finals later this month.
A former social worker, Mr Sides said his growing passion for wine took over as his career four years ago. He said: “My background is actually in social work. I was a case manager serving homeless and at-risk youth for over a decade before my growing passion for wine eventually took over about four years ago when I took and passed my Sommelier 1 and 2 tests in the same summer.
“I worked at a wine bar, winery, and wine shop before getting my first restaurant opportunity at Divino, an Italian restaurant in the heart of Old Town Edinburgh.”
It was at Divino Enoteca that Mr Sides developed his wine, and port knowledge after being appointed as sommelier after a year.
He said: “I started out as a server, I didn't even know how to read the notes at the pass - and was appointed Sommelier during my first year there. As an Italian restaurant, our main focus is Italian wines, but I've always had a love affair with port, especially tawnies, so I kept a few on the wine list.”
As for the Master of Port UK, Mr Sides said he “couldn’t resist” the chance to take the test for the quarterfinal in the competition, something he admitted he “didn’t even know existed.”
He said: “It felt incredibly lucky and unplanned to even be in Porto for the quarterfinal last year, but it was a beautiful, astonishing, and nerve-racking experience that will always travel with me. Long may the memories of the semifinal/final do the same.”
Mr Sides will join Alexandru Tiron, also of Edinburgh, Christopher Frayling-Cook from London, Emily Robotham from York and Grace Shih from London at the competition this month, as each go head to head to win the Master of Port UK title.
The five sommeliers earned their places after a trip to Porto and the Douro Valley in 2025 for the quarter-finals, where 10 candidates tasted, studied and sat exams with the experts of the Port and Douro Wines Institute (IVDP). The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, I.P. (IVDP) is the Portuguese public body responsible for the certification, control and promotion of Port and Douro wines.
On 23 November, the five semi-finalists take on theory and practical challenges in front of a jury of IVDP wine educators and leading UK wine experts. The top three go through to the final the next day.
The winner will be crowned at an evening reception at The Charterhouse on 24 November, taking home a silver chalice and becoming an ambassador for Port in the UK, recognised by
the trade as an expert in one of the world's great wines.
Gilberto Igrejas, president of IVDP said: “The UK has always been a very special market for Port. Master of Port UK recognises the talent of the sommeliers who share Port with consumers every day, and helps a new generation discover its history, diversity and quality.”
Master of Port also has editions in France, Scandinavia, Benelux and Canada. The UK final coincides with the Port Wine Grand Tasting, which brings 23 Port producers to The Charterhouse on the afternoon of 24 November.
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