AUSTIN, Texas [January 17, 2019] The 2019 Somms Under Fire will test competitors ability to pair award winning wine with cuisine from some of Austin’s top restaurants including Foreign & Domestic and Salt & Time. The live sommelier competition, happening on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at the Zlotnik Family Ballroom in Rowling Hall at The AT&T Hotel & Conference Center in Austin, Texas, will also include an exclusive wine tasting and in-depth education program presented by Broadbent Selections featuring the wines of South Africa for VIP ticket holders at 5:00 pm.
The Somms Under Fire competitors were chosen through a rigorous examination process. One of the original finalists is unable to compete and the first alternate, Advanced Sommelier Kathleen Thomas, training director, Hakkasan Group, Las Vegas, Nevada has been selected to round out the competitors. The finalists competing for the title of Somms Under Fire 2019 Champion are (listed alphabetically below):
- Phil Laramore, Advanced Sommelier, and owner and president of SAmandla wine Imports, Denver, Colorado
- David Reuss, Advance Sommelier and wine director at Shanahan’s Steakhouse, Denver, Colorado
- Kathleen Thomas, Advanced Sommelier and training director, Hakkasan Group, Las Vegas, Nevada
The finalists will present their wine and food pairings to an esteemed panel of judges that includes and all Master Sommeliers:
- Max Kast, Regional Sales Manager, Broadbent Selections
- David Keck, Partner, Goodnight Hospitality Group
- Melissa Monosoff, Education Director, Court of Master Sommeliers
- James Tidwell, TexSom & TexSom IWA
The competitors in Somms Under Fire have three opportunities to win:
- The panel of industry luminary judges will award the winning Sommelier a Grand Prize of a one-week Internship in Burgundy, France, compliments of Becky Wasserman & Co. In addition, TexSom Foundation will present a $2,000 Travel Grant to the winner.
- Guests attending Somms Under Fire will have an opportunity to vote for the Fan Favorite. The sommelier who wins the most votes from guests at the event and a Somms Under Fire Sommelier volunteer will receive a seven-day, six-night wine educational trip to study wines of South Africa sponsored by Broadbent Selections.
- The Finalist with the highest score on the entrance exam will awarded a Magnum of Dessai 50 Sake, presented by Genji Sake.
For additional information regarding Somms Under Fire and to purchase tickets, please visit http://keepercollection.com/somms-under-fire.
About Keeper Collection
Keeper Collection is a distinguished wine and food experience, event and travel company that operates #SommChat, Somms Under Fire, Wine Ride, Chefs Under Fire, Life Tastings Blog, and Keeper Travel. Keeper has garnered international attention for its creation of #SommChat, a weekly wine education forum on Twitter, held every Wednesday, from 12-1 PM EST. Wine and Spirits Magazine says, “#SommChat is ‘Wine in 140 characters’ and has garnered an impressive guest list.” Guests include international wine professionals and an audience comprised of active participants from around the world. Connect with Keeper Collection on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, for the Finest Blend of Taste and Technology®.
