Award-winning wines to be featured at area restaurants and hotels
during Best in Glass Month, March 15 – April 18
MIAMI (February 4, 2015) – On January 25 and 26, VeritageMiami held its Fifth Annual Best in Glass Wine Challenge. South Florida’s top sommeliers gathered at Johnson & Wales University School of Culinary Arts to taste through 325 wines, in search of those that represented quality as well as value – two of the most important elements they look for when choosing wines to serve by the glass at their respective establishments. After 14 hours of concentrated blind tasting over two days, they awarded 38 gold medals and 108 silver medals.
The panel of sommelier-judges from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach who sipped, slurped and spit their way through the challenge, included: W. Ian Beglau and Amanda Fraga of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink; Timothy Bubar of Adena Grill; Yorke Dalton and Jennifer Wagoner of Zuma; Don Derocher of Council Oak at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; Sean Florence of Il Mercato Café & Wine Bar; Carlos Fonseca of El Carajo; Philip Fuentes of The Dutch; Sylvie Gervais of Mizner Country Club; Kirsta Grauberger of Market 17; John Kao and Greg Rivera of The Breakers; Carol Lopez-Bethel of The Naked Bite; Luis Mejia formerly of Corsair by Scott Conant; Heath Porter of Uvaggio Wine Bar; and William Salogar of Truluck’s.
“The sommelier judges awarded gold medals to only 12 percent of the wines entered in Best in Glass, but gave silver medals to a third of the wines entered,” says James Beard Award honoree and VeritageMiami director Lyn Farmer. “Nearly half the wines entered are of medal quality, but the judges were particularly price conscious, awarding gold only to those wines that are of exceptional quality and represent great value. I look forward to a month of value-driven sipping at some of South Florida’s best restaurants as we get to try the medal winning wines with food!”
Over the next few weeks leading up to VeritageMiami, the award-winning wines will be profiled in various unique ways. From being highlighted in VeritageMiami’s public relations efforts, social media platforms and website, to being poured at VeritageMiami’s Fine Wine Tasting at Village of Merrick Park on April 16, Interactive Dinner on April 17, at the InterContinental Miami and at the Auction and Wine Dinner on the Diamond at Marlins Park on April 18. Each sommelier judge will select at least two gold medal-winning wines to feature at his or her restaurant during Best in Glass Month, March 15 – April 18, 2015. Many will choose more than two wines, including several silver medal winners, and other restaurants will join in the promotion. In addition to being featured at many restaurants, the medal-winning wines will also be poured at this year’s ZEST™ Awards hosted by Johnson & Wales University on March 18. The awards showcase and honor leaders in the culinary arts who are transforming the culinary world in South Florida.
About VeritageMiami
The annual VeritageMiami brings together wine, spirits, beer and food lovers for a four-day festival featuring, top sommeliers, notable chefs, prestigious wineries and winemakers, breweries and impressive auction lots, all to benefit the South Florida community. Celebrating its 20th year, VeritageMiami benefits United Way of Miami-Dade, supporting programs in our community that are focused on improving education, financial stability and health – the building blocks for a good life. For more information, visit www.VeritageMiami.com, www.facebook.com/VeritageMiami, www.Twitter.com/VeritageMiami and www.instagram.com/VeritageMiami.