Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/913027
76 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017/2018 Guild of Sommeliers' Top New Somm in 2016 and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs' Best Young Sommelier in America in 2017—had to make their selections based solely on the menu, provided in advance, without having tasted the food. Master Sommelier and San Francisco Wine School Founder David Glancy had told the school's excellent staff chef to make dishes that were "really hard" to pair. Alder Yarrow, America's first wine blog - ger and a respected columnist for Jancis Robinson, served as emcee and judge. He's a well-known pairing skeptic, making the contest even tougher. The two somms took different approaches. Renteria opted for delicious, harmonizing wines that cuddled with both the food and diners' tastebuds. Morrow chose focused wines with distinct points of view, daring the food to blow them up. The contrast was edu - cational and engaged both mind and palate, but ultimately Morrow's uncompromising glasses got the top score from both Yarrow and a majority of the audience. More battles followed. Signorello Estate sommelier and San Francisco Wine School graduate Ronald Plunkett beat the master, Glancy himself, in a three-bottle Champagne-sabering race. I bested Morrow in a decanter-service race featuring Riedel's exotic, serpentine vessels. Morrow in turn defeated Advanced Sommelier Gordana Josovic in a Champagne-service scramble. A stunning auction crowned the festivities. One winner will become a sommelier for a day with Renteria at La Folie, participating in vendor tastings, cellar work, family meal, and floor service at dinner. Four others will enjoy a private tour, tasting, and dinner prepared by famed chef Arnaud Lallement at Maison Krug in Champagne, all person - ally hosted by Krug president Margareth Henriquez. One couple will be pampered on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the new Azamara Pursuit, where they'll have a stateroom with an ocean view. Still other lots included all-access passes for the World of Pinot Noir festival, private tastings with acclaimed sommeliers, and an epic, all-day Napa Valley tour. The event raised $40,000 and donations can still be made at sanfrancis - cowineschool.com/pages/scholarships. The combined talents of Rob Renteria, Vincent Morrow, David Glancy, MS, and Alder Yarrow made for an exciting wine-pairing contest. Vincent Morrow tops up the Champagne for Jennifer Burgess and La Folie Chef Roland Passot. Course three of the competition featured seared ahi with truffle-salt crust, wild-mushroom risotto cake, and truffle beurre blanc paired with Domaine Alain Chavy 2014 Chassagne- Montrachet and López de Heredia 2007 Viña Gravonia Rioja Blanco Reserva.