CVRA – Alentejo Regional Wine Commission is organizing the first Contest “The Best Sommelier in Brazil”, aimed at bringing the Brazilian market closer to the production of Alentejo Wines.
The initiative involves 85 sommeliers from the Brazilian cities of Recife, Belo Horizonte, Campinas, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Curitiba.
At the test will be the knowledge of sommeliers about the region's wines, which deserve considerable acceptance by Brazilian consumers.
CVRA plans to gradually expand this initiative, and make it an annual one. “We want, in the next year, to advance with the selection of sommeliers from other Brazilian cities, in the next edition the initiative will reach Salvador, Brasília and Florianópolis, in what will be the II Contest. Our objective is to contribute to the knowledge of Alentejo Wines, building loyalty and bringing these specialists closer to the Brazilian market”, says Dora Simões, president of CVRA.
The 1st stage of this competition, held in February and September, was based on a workshop that addressed some of the key concepts of the Alentejo region, such as its history, terroir and wine profile, directed by Portuguese wine critic Rui Falcão.
Then, the competitors participated in a wine tasting where they were invited to assess the same unique characteristics and ended up answering a written exam. This stage resulted in the selection of 2 representatives from each city, making a total of 12 finalists.
As a prize, the 12 finalists will visit the Alentejo, with contact with local producers being planned, in addition to experiencing the region's identity, in a journey that will not forget the natural landscape, gastronomy and history.
The visit program will also include several practical tastings, with the purpose of finding “The Best Sommelier of Alentejo Wines in Brazil 2014”.
List of finalist sommeliers:
Belo Horizonte
Sylvia Simão – CEASA/MG and Professor at ABS Minas
Jefferson Dantes dos Santos – Mes Amis Restaurant
Campinas
Diego Arrebola – Consultant Sommelier for the elaboration of restaurant wine lists
José Hilton da Silva – Sun of Tuscany “Duo Bruschetteria e Botega”
Curitiba
Libio Rocha Lima – Curitiba Municipal Market (Cheese and Wine Store)
Patrícia Gonçalves da Silva – New Oven by Sommelier
Recife
Fabrício Favarro – Ingá Vinhos Stores
Rafael Merisio de Filtro – Spettus Restaurants Group
Rio de Janeiro
Francisco Edcarlos – Portuguese Winery Campo de S. Cristovão
Diego Cosaquiviti de Nascimento – Fasano Al Mare Restaurant
São Paulo
Luisa Corrêa – I bring wine
Lerizandra Dias - Vicolo Nostro
What is CVRA – Alentejo Regional Wine Commission
The Alentejo Regional Wine Commission (CVRA) was created in 1989 and is an organization governed by private law and public utility that certifies DOC Alentejo wines and Regional Alentejano wines.
It is responsible for promoting Alentejo Wines, in the national market and in international target markets. Its activity is financed through the sale of the certification seals that integrate the counter-labels of the Alentejo wines.
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