The sommelier at the Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Marta Cortizas, she was crowned as the best in Catalonia after the competition that took place yesterday at the University of Cervera, with tests in the morning at the Old Library and the final with three candidates in the afternoon at the Paranimf.
Anna Casabona, commercial representative of Juvé & Fields of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, i Christian Betoret, from Mas de la Sala de Sallent, they have been classified second and third, respectively.
The Catalan Association of Sommeliers (ACS) announced the result during the Sommelier Night Gala Dinner, which was hosted last night by the restaurant Els Comdals de Vergós.
The ACS had the col·collaboration in this edition of the Paeria de Cervera, the Board of Economic Promotion of the Provincial Council of Lleida, the Costers del Segre Denomination of Origin and the Hotel and Tourism School of Lleida, among others.
During the evening, the Awards were also presented, which are chosen each year by vote of the members of the organization. This year's winners of these awards are: career path award, Tomás Cusiné; Best communicator, Amaya Cervera; Best Initiative in the world of wine, The Threshold Foundation; Best wine tourism offer, Celler Mas Lunes; and Best room, Restaurant Divinum de Girona; while Mag Lari has been named Honorary Member of the ACS.
The University of Cervera, headquarters of the contest
They participated: Paula Cuenda (Vraba restaurant in Barcelona), Toni Trullols (with experience in different restaurants), Enrique Santisteban (Vinseum of Vilafranca del Penedès), Marta Cortizas (Can Roca restaurant in Girona), Gregory Albareda (Vinicia de Lleida wine cellar), Cyril Vermeulen (Can Roca restaurant in Girona), Alain Salamano (in preparation for the opening of a new project), Chus Brion (trainer and commercial in Barcelona), Marc Niubó (cava Miquel Pons and Font de Vi de la Granada del Penedès), Laia Vico (Viavi Vinoteca de Vilanova i la Geltrú), Christian Betoret (restaurant Mas de la Sala de Sallent), and Anna Casabona (Juve & Camps).
All the aspirants faced a theory exam of 60 questions; comment in writing on a blind tasting of two wines, one of the two in a foreign language; and another test of a commercial nature. Only three participants made it to the afternoon final where the tests were of a practical nature and their resolution or defense was made orally before a professional jury. A test of service; decanting a bottle of wine; the commented tasting of two wines and identification of three products, the correction of an erroneous wine list; or the ordering and pairing of a figurative service, were some of the challenges that the finalists had to overcome.
and they combine remembering the historical beauty of the great old paper sets that are still preserved in some scenes, in a final full of emotion and pressure, in front of the jury and the public that gathered at Paranymph of the University of Cervera from the 15 hours.
The Professional Jury was made up of: Anna Vicens, ACS president; Josep Pelegrín, teacher and Best Sommelier of Catalonia 2014 i 2015; and Best Sommelier in Spain 2016; Sandra Barrachina, sommelier and owner of the Cabana d'en Geli restaurant; Ferran Vila, Best Sommelier in Catalonia 2018 and Best Sommelier in Spain 2022; Ester Rocaginé, sommelier of the experience company Cal Agneta de Cervera; Carles Aymerich, Best Sommelier in Spain 2009 and Semi-finalist for the World's Best Sommelier of the year 2010; i Juanjo Ceresuela, sommelier at the Nobadis restaurant in Cervera.
The organization, the Catalan Association of Sommeliers (ACS), assessed very positively the spaces chosen for this year's competition, the Old Library and the Paranimf of the University of Cervera, that they wore for the occasion.
The Tourism Board emphasizes that the event has highlighted the monumental heritage and made Cervera's tourist resources known to professionals from all over Catalonia.
The chief paer, Jan Pomés, and the Councilor for Tourism, they attended the final and the awards ceremony.
Dinner and Sommelier Night
all of them so significant to this genre of artistic song, the Els Comdals restaurant hosted Sommelier Night with a wine sample and tasting with 22 wineries of the DO Costers del Segre and a Pairing Dinner with zero kilometer products and made by eighteen hands by nine chefs from Lleida.
Participating restaurateurs were: Jesus Gimena (The Spark of Lleida), Sergi Ortiz (Old Brewery Oven), Francis Molins (Call Xirricló de Balaguer), Ignasi Bustamante and Adrián Zahino (The Celler Montsonís), Angel Segura (The Comdals of Cervera), Albert Marimón (The Tàrrega Quarry), Sergi Aritzeta (The Trick of Agramunt ), Gonzalo Ferreruela (Ferreruela, Lleida), Juanjo Ceresuela (Nobadis de Cervera).
Information and images provided by the Catalan Association of Sommeliers.