DC's Top Sommeliers To Compete At 13th Annual Washington, DC International Wine & Food Festival's Inaugural Sommelier Showdown

by Sophie Pyle · January 17, 2012

    DC's top sommeliers will flex their wine smarts at Washington's International Wine & Food Festival's (IWFF) inaugural Sommelier Showdown on Thursday, February 9th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center.

    Five professional oenophiles including Guy Golan of J&G Steakhouse, Theo Rutherford of Fiola, Brent Kroll of Adour, and Eli Benchimol of Chef Geoff's will compete in a race of the taste, using deductive tasting to identify wines with hidden labels. This friendly tête-à-tête will kick off the anticipated weekend of vino, food and libations at the annual wine and food fest.

    To complement the wines presented, five of DC's most noted chefs including Todd Gray of Equinox, Xavier Deshayes of the Ronald Reagan Building and Zentan's Jamie Montes de Oca will meld the worlds of food and wine and create their own savory dishes.  Focused on only the finest ingredients and products, these chefs will be responsible for setting the standard for perfect pairings.

    A limited quantity of tickets to the Sommelier Showdown are available online for $150. For additional ticket and event information on the 13th annual Washington DC International Wine & Food Festival, please visit the website.

    2011 Washington, DC International Wine & Food Festival photo via