Call me crazy, but I’ve recently launched a new wine competition, my fourth. I know, there are too many wine competitions already and the economy sure isn’t conducive to new ventures.
No matter, the Sommelier Challenge is well underway. I believe in it, and am confident the Sommelier Challenge will be a huge success. The new competition will bring together a group of exceptional restaurant wine professionals to taste and pass judgment on who-knows-how-many wines the weekend of Sept. 26-27 in San Diego.
That’s the rub with a new competition: There’s no way to know what to expect in the way of entries that first year. I know because I was the founding Director of both the Monterey Wine Competition and the Critics Challenge. The San Diego International was already a mature competition when I took over seven years ago.
With the Sommelier Challenge I hope to celebrate the increased focus on wine in the modern restaurant industry. When I first started writing about wine 20 years ago sommeliers were few and far between, and the presence of a sommelier was often more intimidating than helpful.
Not so today, as the restaurant industry has been flooded with young men and women, and chefs, too, who are passionate about wine and eager to share their knowledge and assist you on the road to discovery.
The level of professionalism in restaurant wine service today, compared to just a few years ago, is astonishing. I believe we’ve recruited some of the top wine talents in the restaurant business to judge at the debut Sommelier Challenge.
And despite the scary economy, I am optimistic the timing is good. With so many new wines being released every day, I know there will be plenty of vintners eager to have their new vintages vetted by the pros as we head into the holidays. Because the majority of the competitions are staged in the first six months of the year, the Sommelier Challenge is well situated to be one of the few credible competition options at this time of year.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The Sommelier Challenge judges:
Adam Curling
M Resort, Las Vegas, NV
Previous connections: The Inn at Little Washington, Citronelle, BLT Steak, KOMI
Brian Donegan
Market, Del Mar, CA
Previous connections: Arterra
Desi Echavarrie
Charlie Trotter’s, Las Vegas, NV
Previous connections: Mary Elaine’s, Picasso
Jared Heber
BLT Steak, Los Angeles, CA
Previous connections: Gordon Ramsay, Bouchon, Mozza, The French Laundry, Canlis
Anani Lawson
The French Laundry, Yountville, CA
Sur Lucero
db Bistro, Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Previous connections: The French Laundry
Andre Mack
Mouton Noir Wines
Previous connections: Per Se
Mark Mendoza
Sona, Los Angeles, CA
Previous connections: Farallon, Redwood Park
Lisa Redwine
The Shores, La Jolla, CA
Previous connections: Aqua, Liberte, Cypress Club, Grand Cafe, Molly’s
Jesse Rodriguez
The Grand Del Mar, Del Mar, CA
Previous connections: The French Laundry, The Phoenician, Bouchon Las Vegas
George Skorka
BottleRock, Los Angeles, CA
Previous connections: Jonathan Club, Opus, Four Seasons Biltmore, One Pico, Crustacean
Alexander Weil
Mozza, Los Angeles, CA
Megan Yelenosky
Vela, San Diego, CA
Photo: Top, Jesse Rodriguez; bottom, Mark Mendoza
8