Sommelier Challenge: The Encore

The first Sommelier Challenge was an unqualified success. It brought together more than a dozen of the nation's finest practicing restaurant sommeliers for two days of intense wine evaluation that culminated in the final vote of the weekend, the Wine of the Year sweepstakes runoff that was captured by the 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling.

A quick glance at the final results reveals a level of quality among the Sommelier Challenge entries that may be unparalleled for a major international wine competition on U.S. soil. The Sommeliers responded to the remarkable quality of the wines entered by medaling 70 percent of all wines presented.

We fully expect to build on that outstanding first year and have welcomed back many of the same judges, including the rising star Jesse Rodriguez of Addison and Anani Lawson of The French Laundry. This year we've also added Michael Scaffidi of The Jefferson in Washington, D.C., and Jennifer Tremayne, a Sommelier from Los Angeles, to our star-studded roster of judges.

One aspect of the Sommelier Challenge that is somewhat unique is the concept of transparency. Each medal awarded by the Sommelier Challenge is published on this website along with the name of the sommelier or sommeliers who commended the wine. The honors bestowed by the Sommelier Challenge do not flow from some mysterious, anonymous panel.

The same format is employed by our sister competition, the Critics Challenge. You can rest assured that awards from either competition are made by real wine professionals with bonafide credentials who are willing to vouch for a wine's character and attach their name to the result.

As wine competitions go, it really doesn't get any better than that!

Robert Whitley
Director

Robert Whitley writes the nationally syndicated “Wine Talk” column for the Creators Syndicate, is a monthly contributor to the Reuters “Vine Talk” column, and is Publisher and Columnist for the online wine publication Wine Review Online.

 PHOTOS: Top, sommeliers Anani Lawson (The French Laundry)  and George Skorka (BottleRock); bottom left, sommelier Lisa Redwine (The Shores) at the 2009 Sommelier Challenge.

Robert Whitley on 2009 Sommelier Challenge Winery of the Year.