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7th Spanish Team Tasting Championship: high tension in Rioja Alavesa
Bad Bunny tickets sell out rapidly... indeed. However, be mindful of the Spanish Blind Tasting Championship, as registrations vanish within minutes and participants arrive with more tension than in a Champions League final.
The 7th edition of the Spanish Team Wine Tasting Championship commenced on Friday, 22nd May with a welcome event at Bideona winery, nestled in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, and it was a dream come true for any wine enthusiast. A producer fair, educational sessions, lively music, gastronomy, and a very intriguing game proposed by La Caníbal's food truck: buy bottles blindly to pair with their gastronomic offerings. Essentially, it was covert training for the following day.
On Saturday, at Bodegas Baigorri, the real competition began. 40 teams of 3 and 4 people from all over Spain. Everything was meticulously timed: 10 minutes per wine and an additional quarter of an hour at the end to try to solve the mental puzzle that is a blind tasting. Afterwards, while the jury deliberated, it was incredible to see the teams comparing notes, hesitating, celebrating discoveries, or despairing because “a riesling? We went for Italy...”
The most thrilling moment came when the organisers began to reveal the bottles one by one. That was when the room truly erupted. The selection was a genuine world tour: single-varietal pinot noir champagne from Adrien Renoir, alvarinho from Luis Seabra, listán blanca from Suertes del Marqués, German riesling from Lukas Hammelmann, Austrian pinot noir from Claus Preisinger, Argentine malbec from Rocamadre, sangiovese from Chiara Condello, or a tinta fina from Aalto crafted by Mariano García.
And take note of the podium:
Victory went to the team comprising Yana Markos, David Selma, Hoo Yi Chan, and Marco Pasi (sommelier of Serralunga Wine Bar), who clinched the championship with 100 points and will represent Spain in the world final of the Championnat du Monde de Dégustation in Avignon this October.
The silver medal had something particularly special. An all-female team consisting of Silvia Pedrazzi (Vivino), Marivi García (Taberna Sifón), Yolanda Morán (DeVinos La Palma), and Elena Robles (Wine Merchant), who, in their debut in the competition, scored 87 points and also won the prize sponsored by Decántalo.
The third place was awarded to Rubén Moreno, Carmelo Escolano, Carlos Estruch, and Rafael Royo, all professionally linked to the wine world, with 84 points.
Having experienced it up close, it is abundantly clear that blind tasting is far more captivating than it appears from the outside. There are nerves, strategy, friendly rivalries, and unforgettable moments. And yes… it is likely that next year the registrations will once again last less time than a good bottle on a sommeliers' table.
