In the kitchens of the Auberge de l’Ill, in Illhaeusern, the lunch service has a different taste. We whisper in the dining room, between two plates: , . We feel that a page is turning, without yet knowing what the next one will look like.
On July 13, 2026, Serge Dubs will experience his last service as sommelier in this two-star Michelin house. Arriving as a clerk at the age of 19, he built a career crowned by the title of best sommelier in the world in 1989. More than a retirement, it is the end of an emblematic presence in the dining room.
Serge Dubs at the Auberge de l’Ill: a member of the family who is leaving
Behind the scenes, this last service has the feel of a family reunion. Chef Marc Haeberlin, a lifelong companion, sums up this link: , he explains to France 3.
Arriving in 1972 as a clerk, he immediately fell under the spell of the Auberge de l’Ill. He never left the house and met Béatrice, his future wife.
From clerk to best sommelier in the world: the journey of Serge Dubs
Trained in the dining room, then in wines, by Jean-Pierre Stoeckel, best sommelier in France in 1972, Serge Dubs became master sommelier at the Auberge de l’Ill in 1976. He was crowned best sommelier in France in 1983, in Europe in 1988 and then in the world in 1989, after a long apprenticeship in this Illhaeusern house.
Behind his good-natured demeanor hides a competitor. His favorite phrase says it all: From regional competitions to world titles, this requirement has carried him through and made him a model for many sommeliers.
The cellar, the students and the legacy of Serge Dubs at the Auberge de l’Ill
In the basement, his kingdom remains the Auberge cellar, a showcase of great French wines. But behind the labels, he recalls the essential: For whites, he claims a particular tenderness for Alsace wines, especially Sylvaner.
When he retired, he entrusted the cellar to five sommeliers trained alongside him. One of them, Hervé Fleuriel, sums up: After nearly a million bottles tasted, Serge Dubs is preparing to follow his own path, still on the wine route.
Who is Serge Dubs?
Serge Dubs is a sommelier, best sommelier in the world 1989.
When is he retiring?
His retirement is set for July 13, 2026.
What is his most prestigious title?
His most prestigious title is that of best sommelier in the world.
