The annual Eat Drink RI Festival kicked off with Rhode Island’s second annual Sommelier Punchdown at Sprout CoWorking on April 24. Co-hosted by Sommeliers Ian Magiros of MS Walker and Jonathan Feiler of Ocean House, and officiated by Magiros, Feiler and Certified Sommelier Lauren Engle, Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Chappellet, the event featured Rhode Island and surrounding area sommeliers competing against each other in a wine theory quiz, blind wine tasting and a collaboration with a local chef. Sommelier Ali Innes, Wine Consultant, Bin 312 Wine Cellar, was named the Grand Champion for the second year, also winning the People’s Choice award for the wine and cuisine pairing with Chef Ben Sukle.
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- The Sommelier Punchdown pitted regional sommeliers against each other in several challenges, including a blind tasting of four wines, theory exam and pairing collaboration.
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- Competition officials Jonathan Feiler, Sommelier and Group Wine Director, Ocean House; Ian Magiros, On-Premise Key Account Specialist/Sommelier, MS Walker; and Certified Sommelier Lauren Engle, Northeast Regional Sales Manager, Chappellet.
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- David Dadekian, President, Eat Drink RI announces Grand-prize Winner Ali Innes, Wine Consultant/Sommelier, Bin 312 Wine Cellar, her second year taking the title.
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- David Dadekian, President, Eat Drink RI announces Grand-prize Winner Ali Innes, Wine Consultant/Sommelier, Bin 312 Wine Cellar, her second year taking the title.
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- Paired wines included Nicolas Ulacia e Hijos Ulacia Txakolina, E. Pira & Figli Dolcetto d’Alba, Cecchi Chianti Classico and Lackner Tinnacher.
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- Katie Spigner, Wine Consultant for birch and Oberlin/National Sales Manager for Presqu’ile Winery; Benjamin Sukle, Owner/Chef, birch and Oberlin; Greg Redfield, Chef de Cuisine, birch; Grand-prize Winner Ali Innes, Sommelier, Bin 312 Wine Cellar; and John H, Cook, birch. The team paired a crab and potato salad with Lackner Tinnacher Morillon “Eckberg” 2017.
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- Nick Seminara of City Winery Providence and Chef Terence Feury, Forty 1˚ North paired seared tuna with E. Pira Dolcetto d’Alba 2017.
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- Joe Hageman of Cellarology and Chef Christopher Champagne, 84 Aleworks Brewing & Tavern paired spiced lamb ham on crostini with Cecchi Chianti Classico 2015.
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- Chef Ashley Vanasse, Easy Entertaining and Justin Bothur, Oyster Club CT paired smoked littleneck clam with Ulacia Txakoli 2017.
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- Grand-prize Winner Ali Innes, Bin 312 Wine Cellar Consultant/Sommelier and Ian Magiros, On-Premise Key Account Specialist, MS Walker.
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- Chef Ashley Vanasse, Easy Entertaining; Competing Sommelier Justin Bothur; David Dadekian, President, Eat Drink RI; Jonathan Feiler, Sommelier and Group Wine Director, Ocean House; Ian Magiros, On-Premise Key Account Specialist/Sommelier, MS Walker; 2019 Winner and Defending Champion Sommelier Ali Innes, Bin 312 Wine Cellar; Competing Sommelier Joe Hageman, Cellarology; Chef Terence Feury, Forty 1˚ North; Competing Sommelier Nick Seminara; Certified Sommelier Lauren Engle, Northeast Regional Sales Manager, Chappellet; Christopher Champagne, Executive Chef, 84 Aleworks Brewing & Tavern; and Owner/Chef Ben Sukle, birch and Oberlin.
Photos by Laura Widness.
