A Highland restaurateur has cemented her place among the UK’s leading wine experts after being named one of the country’s top twenty sommeliers.
Matilda Tsappis, co owner and head sommelier at Killiecrankie House, has climbed to number 20 in the latest Taylor’s Port UK Top 100 Sommeliers List, continuing an impressive rise through the national rankings.
Having first entered the list in 2024 at number 48, Matilda moved up to 36th place in 2025 and has now risen another sixteen places to secure a position inside the UK’s top twenty.
The annual list celebrates excellence in wine service and recognises sommeliers who demonstrate exceptional knowledge, professionalism and dedication to their craft.
Candidates are nominated by industry peers, fellow sommeliers and diners before being assessed by an expert panel, with their career achievements, education, experience, responsibilities and competition performance all considered before a final ranking is decided.
For Highland hospitality, Matilda’s recognition is another reminder that world class food and drink talent is thriving beyond the country’s major cities and competing successfully on a national stage.
Killiecrankie House has built its reputation around ambitious dining, careful hospitality and a wine experience shaped by knowledge, curiosity and attention to detail.
Matilda said:
‘’It’s incredibly rewarding to see the progress I’ve made over the past three years and to be recognised alongside so many talented sommeliers from across the UK.
“This profession demands constant curiosity and a commitment to learning, not only about wine but also about the wider world of drinks and hospitality.
“To be ranked in the Top 20 is a real honour, and I’m especially proud to represent Scotland on a national stage while helping showcase the exceptional food, drink and hospitality experiences we have here.’’
This year’s list also marked a wider shift in the profession, with organisers highlighting that the UK’s highest ranked sommelier is female and that women accounted for nearly half of the Top 50.
Matilda’s progress from 48th to 20th in just three years tells its own story.
It is a story of persistence, expertise and quiet ambition, but also one that speaks to the strength of Highland hospitality at a time when restaurants across the country continue to face testing conditions.
For Killiecrankie House, and for the wider food and drink scene across the Highlands, the recognition places another marker on the national map.
