The best Sangiovese Sommelier is from Cervia, Italy
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| "Sangiovese stands to Italy as the Cabernet stands to France: they are wine that express the grape and wine identity of a country”. | |
| (Doc. Giacomo Tachis) | |
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| A moment of the Third Master di Sangiovese | |
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Luca Gardini, a 22-year-old s from the Ristorante Gardini in Cervia, is the winner of the third Master del Sangiovese. The competition took place with 12 of the best Italian professional sommeliers gathered at the Hotel Casali in Cesena, Italy on December 1, 2003. They faced each other answering quizzes and tasting the best Sangiovese made in Romagna, the heart of the Sangiovese di Romagna DOC zone.
Second place went to Luigi Perazzo from Milan, Italy, sommelier at the Milan upscale restaurant El Brellin, and runner up at last year's as well, and third place went to Davide Staffa, another romagnolo, or person from Romagna, manager of the Ristorante Agriturismo, Cavecchia di Lugo. Ristorante Agriturismo means "Farm Restaurant" and, by law, most of the food and/or wine served must be produced on the farm's land.
Luca Gardini, current wunderkind of the Italian enological world, is following the footsteps of his father Roberto Gardini who, in the 60s was the overseas standard bearer of Italian sommeliers. Despite his very young age, Luca is knowledgeable and competent, able to collect prizes and titles in even the most prestigious professional competitions. In 2003, he was selected as the Miglior sommelier della Romagna (Best Romagna Sommelier), in October he was runner-up at the Miglior Sommelier d’Italia (Best Italian Sommelier) 2003 contest, in Cervia, Italy. Cesena's Master del Sangiovese was his third award of the year.
The competition, taught by the Ente Tutela Vini di Romagna and organized with the participation of the Associazione Italiana Sommeliers and the Emilia Romagna Enoteca Regionale (Regional Wine Bar), tested the participants on their specific knowledge of Sangiovese; from its history to the grape-growing technique, from the diffusion of the grape in Italy and the world to the characteristics of the wine and the food pairings suggested.
The three finalists were chosen after the morning tests and, in the afternoon, they faced each other under the curious gaze of an attentive audience, First, they had a degustazione cieca, or "blind tasting", then greeted the diners at the table, and finally decanted a bottle of Sangiovese wine.
Spotted among the spectator was Mr. Gian Carlo Minardi, owner of the Minardi F1 Race Cars Team of Faenza, who clearly appreciated the professionalism of the contestants.
The prizes were assigned at a Gala Dinner and included a certificate and cash prizes of €3,000 for the winner, €1,500 for the runner up, and €500 for the third finalist.
| Press Release – Master del Sangiovese Press Room Translated from Italian by WineCountry.IT For more information, please contact Caterina Molari - Agenzia PrimaPagina Via Sacchi 31 - 47023 Cesena Tel. 0547 24284 - Fax 0547 27328 |
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