The 1st Annual StarChefs.com Somm Slam

The 1st annual StarChefs.com Somm Slam will give sommeliers, so very polite by profession, the opportunity to grit their grape-stained teeth in a real-time pairing competition. Taking place at the StarChefs.com International Chefs Congress in the historic Park Avenue Armory, the Somm Slam is a multi-day contest putting world class sommeliers head to head to see who creates the best pairings on the fly.
With a Grand Prize trip to Italy to visit three of the vineyards of the Ruffino Estate Vineyards in Tuscany, we can imagine the competition will be fierce.
The Somm Slam begins with an online application consisting of questions about work experience, pairing philosophy, and specific wine pairings. Sommeliers will be chosen from among the applicants to come to New York to judge or compete in the competition. Participants will be selected by our committee of non-competing sommeliers and wine experts.
A different guest chef will cook three courses for each session of the Somm Slam. Sommeliers will not have advance knowledge of the dishes but will know who the chef is. In each session, the competing sommeliers will have 10 minutes to taste the dish and select a wine from the on-site wine "cellar" of pre-selected wines, which will change daily.
Each Slam will be judged by an audience of approximately 40 sommeliers and wine professionals. Every judge will receive a tasting portion of food and each sommelier's wine selection. They will then submit a ballot that includes their top pick for each course. The votes will be counted and the sommelier with the winning wine selections will move on to the next round. The two sommeliers who make it to the final round will compete to determine who will be the winner of the Somm Slam and the recipient of the Grand Prize.
WINNER
Andrew Myers
CityZen
Washington, DCWinner - Round Two Winner - Round One
William Sherer
Aureole
Las Vegas, NV
Andrew Myers
CityZen
Washington, DCCompetitors
Andrew Myers
CityZen
Washington, DCChristopher Bates
Hotel Fauchere
Milford, PA
Alexis Kahn
FCI F&B Educator
New York, NY
Brent Kroll
The Oval Room
Washington, DC
Alexander LaPratt
DB Bistro Moderne
New York, NY
Kate Moore
L’Espalier
Boston, MA
Jesse Rodriguez
Addison
San Diego, CA
William Sherer
Aureole
Las Vegas, NVStarChefs.com Somm Slam Official Terms & Conditions
The Somm Slam is open to wine professionals including sommeliers and beverage directors. StarChefs.com is accepting judging applications until September 10th. Applicants must submit a completed application in order to be considered. Selection will be determined by StarChefs.com and will be based on work experience, pairing philosophy, and examples of specific wine pairings. Those chosen to judge will receive a complimentary pass to all three days of the International Chefs Congress ($500 value). Each judge and competitor will be responsible for any and all travel and lodging expenses.The competition will take place on all three days of the Congress:
Monday, September 20 1:00 - 3:00pm
Tuesday, September 21 1:00pm-3:00pm
Wednesday, September 22 11:20am - 1:20pmCompetitors must be available all three days and will be asked to judge when not competing. Judges should be available all three days. If for any reason this is not possible, please contact Erica@starchefsinc.com.
During the event, eight competitors will be divided into groups of four to compete on day one and day two. Competitors must choose wines from the available “cellar” to pair with three composed dish. Contestant pairings will be judged by an audience of 30-50 peers who will receive a sample of each dish and wine pairing. Judges will list their feedback on a ballot provided by StarChefs and cast their vote for the most successful pairing. The top competitors from each day will advance to the final, third day of the competition.The winner of the contest will receive a trip to Italy to visit the Ruffino Estate Vineyards in Tuscany.

2011
2010
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
WINNER:
Sommelier Andrew Myers
CityZen – Washington, DC
Round 1 Winner:
Sommelier Andrew Myers
CityZen – Washington, DC
Round 2 Winner:
Sommelier William Sherer
Aureole - Las Vegas, NV
Sommelier Brent Kroll
formerly of The Oval Room - Washington, DC
Sommelier Alexander LaPratt
db Bistro Moderne – New York, NY
Chef Christopher Bates
Relais & Chateaux, Hotel Fauchere - Milford, PA
Sommelier Kate Moore
L'Espalier - Boston, MA
Sommelier Jesse Rodriguez
Addison - San Diego, CA
The Somm Slam was held at the StarChefs.com International Chefs Congress at the New York Park Avenue Armory
Monday, September 20, 2010 1:00 – 3:00pm; Tuesday, September 21 1:00pm – 3:00pm; Wednesday, September 22 11:20am – 1:20pm
Purchase ICC Passes Here or call 212-966-7575
You must be a foodservice industry professional to attend.
All ticket purchases subject to final StarChefs.com approval.
Inquiries
For all media inquiries, please complete the Media Credential Form (download) and email us.
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