NASHVILLE, TN (October 7, 2024) – Six sommeliers have been chosen to compete in the first annual Somm Showdown on Sunday, November 10 at the Wesley Mortgage Club in Nissan Stadium.
Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $40 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cancer research, innovative patient treatment, and caregiver/patient support. Funds are raised through unique, entertaining and educational events, and the Somm Showdown marks another exciting addition to the calendar.
“The Somm Showdown is about recognizing and supporting the community that is so vital to creating our elevated wine experiences,” Nashville Wine Auction President and CEO Loren Chumley says. “Our sommeliers volunteer and share their knowledge to help make our events a success. I am looking forward to spending an afternoon with our Somm contestants, chefs, and audience!”
During the Somm Showdown, contestants will be challenged through three rounds: a wine and food pairing contest; a Jeopardy-style wine knowledge contest; and a blind tasting. An exciting component to the competition is the audience gets to play (and taste) along in rounds one and three. Nashville Wine Auction is excited to welcome Jonathan Ross, Master Sommelier, Wine Importer,
and the current Wine Director for the Twelve-Thirty Club, and Calvin Webster, DipWSET and Wine Consultant to moderate the event.
“Nashville is a growing wine market with a lot of up-and-coming wine professionals, which makes it the perfect place for a competition like the Somm Showdown,” Webster says. “There’s nothing like some friendly competition to make everyone stronger, all while raising money for a good cause!”
Contestants for the first-ever Somm Showdown are:
LeeAnne Arnold is a CMS Certified Sommelier and currently serves as General Manager of Harvest Wine Market. During the first round of competition, Arnold will be paired with Chef Alyssa Gangeri, Pastry Chef at The Butter Milk Ranch.
Cavitt Bradley is a WSET Level 3 and currently working harvest in Willamette Valley. Most recently she served as Lead Sommelier at June/Audrey Nashville. Bradley will be paired with Chef Matt Bell, Culinary Director for Big Bad Breakfast, in the first round of competition.
Alex Burch is a CMS Advanced Sommelier and the owner of Bad Idea, which was recently named to the New York Times Best Restaurants in America list. During the first round of competition, Burch will be paired with Chef Marino Bianchi, executive chef for Joe Muer Seafood.
Daniel Fish is a CMS Certified Sommelier, WSET Level 2 and Director of Wine and Beverage for Sushi Bar Hospitality Group. Fish will be paired with Chef Deb Paquette, founder and operator of Etch, in the first round of competition.
Kaitlin Green is a CMS Certified Sommelier and Lead Somm at Halls Chophouse. During the first round of competition, Green will be paired with Chef Jason La Iacona of Miel.
Phillip Patti is a DipWSET, CMS Certified Sommelier and the owner of Southeastern Beverage Education. He is also actively involved in the Nashville Wine Auction. In round one of the competition, Patti will be paired with Chef Jason Lockman of Lockeland Table.
The winning Sommelier will take home a $2,000 cash prize and the runner-up will take home a $1,000 cash prize to fund their continuing wine education. Other participants will take home selected bottles of wine.
Limited tickets remain for Somm Showdown. Tickets can be purchased online here: https://wine.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Celebratingthe45thParallelNorthlEt%C3%A9duVin2024/Nashv illeWineAuctionSommShowdown/tabid/1499142/Default.aspx
About the Nashville Wine Auction
Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. In 2025, Nashville Wine Auction will celebrate Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend on February 20-22 and the 46th Annual l’Eté du Vin on July 24-26 at JW Marriott.
Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $40 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cutting-edge research, innovative treatment, and family/patient/caregiver support. www.NashvilleWineAuction.com
Nashville Wine Auction Beneficiaries
American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, The Heimerdinger Foundation, HopeKids, Inc., Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Nashville General Hospital Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Survivor Fitness Foundation, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
