Born in Montréal, Québec, Élyse Lambert graduated with a degree in hotel management from the prestigious Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) in 1998 and as Sommelier from L’École Hôtelière des Laurentides in 1999.

Her career as a Sommelier began in the Québec Laurentians at the award-winning Relais & Châteaux l’Eau à la Bouche. Her next move was to the Eastern Townships where, from 2000 to 2004, she was an integral member of the sommelier team at Auberge Hatley, a 5 diamond CAA - Relais & Châteaux.

In 2005 she joined the XO restaurant of Hôtel Le St. James in Montréal, where she leads the sommelier team until 2008.  Subsequently, went on to build the wine program and was on the opening team of Montreal’s Le Local restaurant in 2008 and curated the restaurant’s much-lauded wine list until 2013 when she joined the sommelier team at The Ritz Carlton Montreal’s Maison Boulud.

Throughout her exciting career path, Elyse continued to earn credibility for her craft and accolades in Canadian and international competitions.

After winning «Best Sommelier of Québec» in 2004 and third best in Canada in 2006, she won the title of «Best Sommelier of the Americas 2009» in the prestigious competition held in Buenos Aires.

Representing the Americas at the «Best Sommelier of the World» competition 2010 in Chile, she reached the semi-final and was classified amongst top 12 sommeliers in the world.

In May of 2015 in Aspen Colorado she became Canada’s first Quebecer, fourth Canadian and second Canadian woman to hold the prestigious and globally recognized title of Master Sommelier. There are only 273 Master Sommeliers in the World.

After winning «Best Sommelier of Canada» in 2015, she again represented Canada in the competition for «Best Sommelier of the World »in Argentina.

Elyse Lambert is now the 5th Best Sommelier of the World 2016.

She is currently working as a Sommelier Consultant and continues sharing her passion at Radio-Canada’s morning show, Medium Large and as a wine column in Journal de Montreal.  Elyse lives in Montreal and consults for private and corporate clients and is often invited to facilitate wine education seminars and to speak at corporate functions in Canada and around the world.