In May, Jerez de la Frontera will be host to the world’s largest international Sherry Wine event: the prestigious COPA JEREZ food & wine pairing COMPETITION and a thematic conference, the COPA JEREZ FORUM, focusing on the latest knowledge and research about Sherry Wines. Finalists from seven countries will face the challenge to win the Copa Jerez while the Forum will feature world renowned experts from the field of food & wine.
After 14 years of competition with dozens of chefs and sommeliers from around the globe putting their talent to the test by creating their best and most creative food & Sherry Wine pairings, Copa Jerez organisers took the event to the next level by adding a Gastronomy Forum with presentations, workshops and showcooking events about Sherry Wines. Already considered the world’s most food-friendly wines and recently awarded the highest scores in Spain by the Guía Peñín, Sherry Wines are now showcased from a whole new perspective—with analyses, knowledge and innovation offering new insight into their enormous relevance and potential in gastronomy, one that awakens fascination in restaurants the world over.
Now, in 2019, another edition awaits, with two days full of activities for the 250+ wine industry professionals, chefs and Sherry lovers expected to attend and enjoy the chance to learn more about and better value the traits these wines have carried with them over centuries of history and tradition, most particularly in their relation to the culinary arts. The stage will be set to receive some of the world’s leading names on the international food & wine scene.
The Competition: Central to Copa Jerez Forum
In addition to the presentations and workshops scheduled, attendees to the congress will also be able to see the VIII Copa Jerez International Final, the food & Sherry Wine pairing competition in which chefs and sommeliers of the highest order from seven different countries will compete before an audience and a prestigious panel of judges in an attempt to create the perfect pairing.
The finalists at this year’s edition are:
Representing Germany, sommelier Sebastian Schaan and chef Dominik Markowitz, from the restaurant Le Corange, located in the city of Mannheim.
Sommelier François van de Casteell and chef Michel Van Cauwelaert were proclaimed winners of the national final in Belgium. They work as a team at Le Pilori, a restaurant in the small Flemish town of Écaussinnes.
Clou, a restaurant located in the heart of Copenhagen, will represent Denmark at the VIII Copa Jerez, bringing sommelier Jonathan K. Berntsen and chef Martin g. Sørensen to Jerez.
From Alicante, Bon Amb** placed first in the national final for Spain. The team from the restaurant located in Xábia is comprised of sommelier Enrique García and chef Pau García.
Team United States will come to Copa Jerez 2019 from the city of Los Angeles with sommelier Ryan Bailey and chef John Taube IV showcasing the talent they bring from NoMad.
Sommelier Kim Reisig and chef Jelle Hogeboom from the Netherlands will team up for the International Final, just as they do at Le Cheval Blanc, located in the city of Heemstede.
Representing the United Kingdom, sommelier Alan Bednarski and chef Karl O’Dell from London-based Texture will take up the challenge at the VIII Copa Jerez International Final.
Copa Jerez Forum & Competition:
Copa Jerez Forum is the world’s largest and most in-depth encounter centred around Sherry Wines and serves as a complement to Copa Jerez, the international food & wine pairing competition. The conference offers professional insight into the world of Sherry Wines, bringing experts and attendees together in activities that join the culinary arts with the joy of tasting, all tied into the latest knowledge and innovations surrounding these unique wines.
A comprehensive programme of presentations, tastings, showcooking and demonstrations will be given by some of the world’s leading figures on the international gastronomy scene, making this a food & wine event not to be missed. This incomparable hands-on format has drawn many distinguished figures such as Josep Roca, Ricard Camarena, Andoni L. Aduriz, François Chartier and Angel León to take to the stage, sharing their expertise on Sherry Wines with an audience comprised of more than 200 professionals from around the world.
In June 2017, an altogether new concept in wine forums emerged and based on its resounding success, a new edition of COPA JEREZ FORUM & COMPETITION is now officially announced for May 28-29, definitely a date to save on this year’s calendar of food & wine events. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the program and tickets on sale.
For more information, please contact: CRDDO Vinos de Jerez y Manzanilla
By telephone +34 633 273 696 /647 354 104 Or email: prensa@sherry.org
