Now in its third year, the Nashville Wine Auction’s Somm Showdown event has already become one of my favorite events on the culinary calendar. Six wine experts vie for the title of top somm through three rounds of competitions, including wine and food pairing, a Jeopardy-style quiz on some really esoteric wine facts and finally a blind tasting where the last two contestants remaining try to identify a pair of wines while a couple hundred people watch them. Believe it or not, it’s compelling sports!
Even more fun, the audience gets to enjoy the same food and wine as the contestants during the pairing portion of the competition and taste along with the two blind samples. Emcees Jonathan Ross and Calvin Webster are highly entertaining hosts, and they enjoy watching their fellow sommeliers sweat a little bit during the competition. The stakes are not trifles, with the winner taking home $2,000 to further their wine education (because the bottles you train your palate on along the way ain’t cheap), and the runner-up receives $1,000. Third through sixth place go home with some great wine.
Jonathan Ross (left) and Calvin Webster
The competitors this year represent a range of restaurant wine experts, industry reps, bartenders and educators. Here’s the full list of contestants along with the chefs that they’ll work with during the pairing portion of the competition:
- Eric Bowers, Certified Sommelier and Beverage Director of Bastion, paired with Chef Bryan O'Kelly, Executive Chef of Husk Nashville
- Evan Danielson, Certified Sommelier, WSET Level 3, CWS, and Fine Wine Portfolio Manager for Ajax Turner Distributors, paired with Chef De Cuisine at Iberian Pig Chef Gavin Murray
- Elizabeth Mtshali, Certified Sommelier, Lead Bartender for Bad Idea and Sommelier at Prime + Proper Steakhouse, paired with Chef John Welch, Executive Chef of The Union Station Nashville Yards
- Phillip Patti, DipWSET, Certified Sommelier, and Owner of Southeastern Beverage Education, paired with returning Chef Greg Giebler, Executive Sous Chef of The Twelve Thirty Club
- Emily Ramey, Advanced Sommelier, WSET Level 3, CWS, and Sales Associate for Harvest Wine Market, paired with Chef Alyssa Gangeri, Executive Pastry Chef and Partner of The Butter Milk Ranch, who is returning for the third year
- Jake Smith, Certified Sommelier, CWS and West Tennessee Wine Specialist for Best Brands, Inc, will be paired with returning Chef Jason La Iacona of Miel Restaurant
LeeAnne Arnold, a CMS Certified Sommelier and general manager of Harvest Wine Market, was the runner-up in the first year of the competition and the winner last year, so she’ll be joining the judging panel this year.
This year’s Somm Showdown will take place in the Goal Post Club at Geodis Park on Sunday, Nov. 15, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are limited, so buy yours here soon if you want to play along!
