In a few weeks, I'll be travelling to Canada. From May 15 to 17, 2026, the Fine Water SUMMIT 2026 takes place at the Hôtel Place d'Armes in the heart of historic Old Montréal – and I'll be there once again: as speaker and as a juror for the TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS.
The hotel is no accidental venue. It holds a Michelin Key and was ranked 2nd Best Urban Hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure. All events – from the jury session to the gala dinner – take place within the hotel itself, in the Opéra Room and at Brasserie 701.
At the heart of the TASTE & DESIGN AWARDS is a blind tasting: a six-member international panel of professional water sommeliers evaluates waters from more than 80 countries on minerality, carbonation, pH, origin, and bottle design. Water as a product with terroir, character, and story – that is the standard we apply.
The evening of May 15th opens with the Fine Water Experience Dinner at Brasserie 701. It may well be the only gala dinner in the world where no alcohol is served – not by policy, but by conviction. Instead: over 100 international premium waters paired to each course, with a water sommelier at every table. Water not as a side note, but as the main event.
The Fine Water SUMMIT has been held since 2008 – from Barcelona to Shanghai, Stockholm, Athens, and now Montréal. It is the only place where the entire fine water world meets at one table: source owners, sommeliers, distributors, investors. Three days. No other format achieves this concentration.
I'm looking forward to Montréal.
