The Spanish Wine Academy, a project created and driven by Ramón
Bilbao hosted the first-ever U.S.
Spanish Wine Master Competition at Mercado Little Spain's Spanish
Diner in NYC on Thursday, May 16,
2024
NEW
YORK, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --
The Spanish Wine Academy proudly announces Alberto Martinez
Interiano–wine communicator, writer and educator based in
Seattle, WA–as the first U.S.
Spanish Wine Master after winning the 2024 Spanish Wine Master x
100 Years competition driven by Ramón Bilbao. The competition made its U.S. debut on
Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Mercado
Little Spain's Spanish Diner. It was judged by Ramón Bilbao's Chief Winemaker Rodolfo Bastida
alongside Director of Wines from Spain Katrin Naelapaa and Wine Director of José Andres
Group Jordi Paronella. Martinez
Interiano received the grand cash prize of $5,000 USD and will proceed to battle for the
title of Global Spanish Wine Master in the grand finale in
Spain this fall at Ramón
Bilbao's centenary
celebration.
The Spanish Wine Master x 100 Years competition was open to
Spanish wine enthusiasts, educators and advocates interested in
showcasing their expertise and tasting skills. The competition aims
to redefine the way we understand and experience wine, while
putting the spotlight on Spanish wine. In the first round over 180
participants took a one-time online timed test consisting of 50
questions about geography, history of wine, grape varieties,
winemaking and tasting notes where they had to guess the style of
the wines described. On April 29th
the top 30 semi-finalists competed in two, intense challenges
during a hybrid-format Livestream event: a blind tasting and a
fast-paced test of visual dexterity.
Ten finalists from across the country moved on to compete
in-person in New York City at the
grand finale. The competition and final judging took place in front
of a live audience followed by a celebratory mixer with authentic
Spanish tapas by José Andres and a special selection of Ramón
Bilbao wines. Guests had the
opportunity to mingle with Chief Winemaker Rodolfo Bastida,
industry experts and the ten finalists.
"We truly enjoyed hosting the competition that brings the world
closer to Spanish wine in the U.S. for the first time ever in honor
of the 100th anniversary milestone for Ramón Bilbao," says Chief Winemaker of Ramón
Bilbao, Rodolfo Bastida. "Alberto revealed his expertise
and deep knowledge of Spanish wine while impressing myself, Katrin
and Jordi, who had a fantastic time deliberating during the
competition and crowning the first U.S. Spanish Wine Master."
Martinez Interiano teaches WSET
and Wine Scholar Guild courses at several wine schools in the
Pacific Northwest and runs a consultancy connecting Spanish
producers to U.S. importers. He also judges at international wine
competitions and his work has appeared in SOMMTV, The Vintner
Project, and The Italian Wine Podcast. Alberto holds the WSET
Diploma and is a certified Rioja educator, Sherry educator, and
Italian wine ambassador. He loves to travel to wine regions
worldwide and is particularly fond of classic Rioja, all Sherry
styles, and Galician wines. Learn more about his wine and travel at
vinointeriano.com and follow him on Instagram @vinointeriano.
"The Spanish Wine Master competition was an amazing experience!
It was a real privilege to have the opportunity to test my
knowledge of Spanish wine, food and culture with some of the top
experts of Spanish Wines in the U.S.," says Alberto Martinez Interiano. "I commend Ramón
Bilbao for their exceptional work
in organizing the competition and for their dedication to promoting
the rich diversity of Spanish wines."
Martinez Interiano, along with
five other winners from participating countries (UK, Spain, Colombia, Dominican
Republic, and Mexico), will
be invited to the grand finale in Haro, Rioja in October 2024 to compete for the official title of
Global Spanish Wine Master and an additional prize. In the past
winners have had the opportunity to produce their own wine at Ramón
Bilbao alongside Rodolfo and the
technical team.
Ramón Bilbao took a leadership
role in becoming the global advocate for Spanish wines by designing
the Spanish Wine Master competition and online academy to share
everything there is to know about Spanish wine. The Spanish Wine
Academy has brought together different experts and specialists who
help share a holistic vision and multidisciplinary on viticulture
in Spain through the different
D.O.s and indigenous varieties that make up the region, as well as
the traditions and winemaking methods that make Spain one of the largest and most prestigious
wine regions in the world. This year, Ramón Bilbao, founded in Haro, Rioja, in 1924, is
celebrating an impressive milestone of its 100th anniversary. The
Spanish Wine Master competition x 100 years is one of many
activities organized by Zamora Company around the globe to
recognize the evolution and success of Spanish wines.
About Spanish Wine Academy
The Spanish Wine Academy is a project created and driven by Ramón
Bilbao to bring the world closer
to Spanish wine–from wine aficionados to newcomers alike– through
training, promotions and education. The Spanish Wine Academy has
brought together different experts and specialists who help share a
holistic vision and multidisciplinary on viticulture in
Spain through the different D.O.s
and indigenous varieties that make up the region, as well as the
traditions and winemaking methods that make Spain one of the largest and most prestigious
wine regions in the world. The Spanish Wine Master is a biannual
event and competition created to educate and challenge the
knowledge professionals hold in the wines of Spain.
About Ramón Bilbao
Founded in 1924, Ramón Bilbao is
globally recognized as one of the most prestigious wineries in
Rioja and Rueda. Ramón Bilbao has
spanned a century of landscapes and vineyards, new ideas and key
milestones in the history of Spanish wine. Driven by its insatiable
curiosity and the future vision of a bold and non-conformist
project, it continues to explore, innovate and break new ground
after 100 years of history. Ramón Bilbao has managed to update tradition and
highlight the value of origin and territory, looking to the future
with wines of greater purity, and sense of place, with the utmost
respect for the land. Ramón Bilbao
looks to the future with an open, innovative and, above all,
curious spirit to offer an even more complete and enriching wine
experience, surpassing itself in a unique journey of search for
excellence and discovery through wine.
About Zamora Company
A family business passionate about what they do and proud of how
they do it. Owners of our destiny and responsible for our decisions
and results. Creators and distributors of premium wines and
spirits. From its Spanish origin, it is today one of the worldwide
leading companies in the sector, with a portfolio of more than 15
brands operating in more than 80 countries.
Media Contact
Alejandra Pinedo, Colangelo &
Partners, (646) 624-2885, apinedo@colangelopr.com
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SOURCE Spanish Wine Academy