Professional palate: a sommelier ponders his choice. (source: ČTK)
THIRTEEN sommeliers (wine waiters) from around Slovakia recently gathered in the Devín Hotel in Bratislava for the third annual competition to demonstrate the best skills in the art and nuances of serving wines and spirits on May 25. The contest for sommeliers and bartenders is called the Trophée Hubert 2010. The competition is organised by the J.E. Hubert company and the Association of Sommeliers of Slovakia.
“The level of theoretical knowledge has improved a great deal in comparison with two years ago,” said Štefan Valovič, President of the Association of Sommeliers. “Although there are still areas where the contestants could improve in comparison with European or world standards." Valovič added that all the contestants did well in the practical application of their skills.
The contest included written tests including a section where participants were required to describe the sensory attributes of various wines. There was also a practical section which involved serving wine properly. The three finalists were required to serve a celebrity couple, dancer Ivana Surovcová and opera singer Filip Túma.
The final examination consisted of several categories reflecting professional knowledge of fine wines and spirits as well as cigars. After sampling two mystery wines, the competitors were asked to recommend food that would go well with the particular wines.
The competitors were also asked to name the types of various spirits and drinks and to describe their country of origin and their sensory attributes. The winner of the competition, Gabriel Kollár, will represent Slovakia at the European Championship of Sommeliers in Strasbourg.
