Prestige Tasting Munster
Prestige Tasting Alsace
Verte Vallée – February 3rd, 2014
On last February 3rd, SommelierS International gathered together for a new Prestige Tasting in the lounges of the Verte Vallée Hotel a college of tasters from the Associations of Sommeliers of Alsace and Lorraine, as well as the representatives of 130 domains proposing all in all nearly 300 cuvees.
See the video of the tasting /
Videos of others tasting available on 
The
Verte Vallée is considered as one of the most beautiful hotels in Munster, considering its modern architecture. Just steps from the bustling city centre with its shops and restaurants, it offers 108 rooms, a relaxing spa, a swimming pool and a fitness centre. The place is full of charm and the extremely competent staff shows a rare kindness. The
Verte Vallée is an alliance of sympathy, quality and flavours.
Paolo Basso, Best Sommelier of the World, honoured this day of sharing and conviviality with his caring and friendly presence. Serge Dubs, Best Sommelier of the World also and President of the Association of Sommeliers from the Alsace region, masterfully orchestrated his sommeliers' work and enlightened with his knowledge this industrious and very intense tasting morning as far as about 300 cuvees had to be analysed!
For this, he was helped by Yvon Gautier, Vice-President of the Association of Sommeliers of Alsace and Jean-Claude Lambiné, President of the Association of Sommeliers of Lorraine, who had come with some of his members. The bottles were displayed all around the room and the tasting tables aligned in the centre. All morning long the sommeliers officiated by tables of 4 people for a collegiate valuation, a single comment being written for each cuvee. Numerous quality products contributed to make of this tasting a moment particularly appreciated by the professionals, with beautiful discoveries.
By late morning, once the professional tasting completed and all the comments recorded in writing, the sommeliers were joined by the House's representatives, and greeted with a Calvados Boulard VSOP offered by Spirit France. Partner of the event, Vincent Boulard wanted to present this innovative drink, Calvados Tonic, a fresh recipe combining calvados, artisanal lemonade and ice, which will occupy a prominent place on summer tables and can compete with the iconic cocktails.
As a prelude to lunch, Paolo Basso expressed his immense satisfaction to be present, the event offering him the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of high quality products together in one place, and especially to be able to meet the people who have created them.
After a few words, Serge Dubs launched the festivities of the meal prepared by Toni Brillon and his team. The Chief had concocted a fabulous menu: Lobster Terrine, shellfish Vinaigrette and green Salad as a starter; then a sumptuous medium cooked Veal Filet Mignon, vegetables and Potato casserole, and to finish a delicious iced Kougelhopf with
Marc de Gewurztraminer. This range of flavours was in perfect accordance with the variety of those offered by the bottles previously tested by the sommeliers, and that everybody discovered with enthusiasm.
After the pleasant interlude of the meal , the sommeliers who had had the responsibility—but also the honour and the pleasure—to comment the wines during the morning tasting, could share their feeling with the producers, often joined by their cellar master, during an afternoon of exchange and conviviality. The atmosphere was relaxed, everyone could freely taste the wines displayed all around the room, go from a group to another or take part in an interview.
SommelierS International deeply thanks all the sommeliers and producers who participated in this event, as well as the team of the Verte Vallée for its dedication and extraordinary professionalism. All our gratitude also to the Cave de Turckheim, repository of the ancestral know-how of its 216 producers for more than 50 years, to have kindly supplied us at short notice, the day before the event, with more than 300 glasses for the afternoon meeting, ours not having reached destination.
Charlynne Zirah
Photos: Michel Jolyot
Video: Michel Akrich – Les Productions de l’Ange
THE COLLEGE OF SOMMELIERS
Paolo BASSO, Best Sommelier of the World 2013
Association des Sommeliers d’Alsace
Serge DUBS, President,
Best Sommelier of the World
Martine BECKER
Claire BEYRATH
Massimo CATALDI
Cyril CLAIR
Jean-Marie DIRWIMMER
Louis DRUNTZER
Antoine ELWART
Martin FACHE
Hervé FLEURIEL
Thierry FRITSCH
Yvon GAUTIER
Pascal GESSER
Jean-Philippe GUGGENBUHL
M. HAEFFELIN Jean-Victor KALT
Pascal LEONETTI
Audrey MEYER
Mme MORAINE
Emmanuel NASTI
Rémi NOLLEZ
Valérie ROUSSEL
Hervé SCHMITT
Michel SEIDEL
Jean-Marie STOECKEL
Audrey TROMMENSCHLAGER
M. VALERE
Frédéric VONE
Martin WAURICH
Bertrand WELTE
François WILHEM
Antoine WOERLE
Jérémie WOLF
Association des Sommeliers de Lorraine
Jean-Claude LAMBINÉ, Président
Tiffany ABA PEREA
Alexis ANTOINE
Laura BERTONI
Maxime HUBERT
Emilie JOST
Martine JOURNET
Yannick JOURNET
Danièle LAMBINÉ
Claire MARCHAL
Jean-Marc MARTIN
Catherine MARTIN
Yohan N'GUYEN
Audrey ORLIK
Thomas SCHWARTZ
Jérémie SOUCHU
Thomas VIMBERT
Autres
Marie-Caroline BOURRELLIS, Journaliste du vin
Florian BERGAUD, Sommelier du restaurant Lapérouse, Paris
Marie-Noëlle DIOSCA, Sommelier-Caviste
Clara TRISTANI, Sommelier, Paris
Les cavistes
Vincent NANNI Cave de L’Ill, Brunstatt
Éric GHIRINGHELLI Cave de L’Ill, Brunstatt
Patricia ALTER Cave Le Bacchus, Colmar
Michel ALTER Cave Le Bacchus, Colmar
Sébastien FELS Cave Nicolas, Colmar
Photos of the tasting
