Champions of the IV Spanish Blind Tasting Tournament by teams May 2023

In May we competed in the Spanish Championship of Blind Tasting by teams held in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, in the historic Gramona winery historic Gramona winery, in Catalonia. Our team had the number 1 which announced the success of “Team Coupage” winning the the IV Campeonato de España de Cata a Ciegas por Equipos (Spanish Blind Tasting Championship). .

Our team is formed by Valeria Valdebenito (sommelier and WSET Diploma student), David Selma (wine lover), Yana Markos (wine enthusiast) and Paulius Gudinavicius (WSET Diploma) director of BlancoTinto and partner Ambia Tours).

We were the winners in an edition with a record number of participants, more than 30 teams at national level, and with an increasingly high level of demand from the participants.

The competition was a qualifier to compete in the World Tasting Championship organized by the Revue du Vin de France and therefore we are the Spanish team in the World Championship to be held in Provence (France) on 14th of October.

What is the magic of blind wine tasting?

An activity in which wines are tasted without knowing the label, grape variety, region of origin or any other information that may influence the perception of the wine. This technique is used in wine tasting to objectively evaluate the characteristics of the wine and to train the senses, especially the sense of taste and smell. It is an exercise that everyone can do if trained with perseverance and the more you practice it the more you realize the ocean of knowledge that remains to be explored, just the moment you get a wine right is pure magic!

How do we train?

Every week we make a selection of wines of different varieties and regions, hiding the labels in clean glasses, spaces without strong smells and without perfumes. Each bottle is numbered and we evaluate the colour (the clarity and viscosity of the wine), the smell (aromas we perceive, such as fruits, flowers, spices or wood) and the taste of the wine (flavour, balance, acidity, tannins and persistence on the palate).

Afterwards, we share our impressions of each wine, trying to guess its variety, region, country, producer and vintage. And finally, the identity of each wine is revealed, and we compare it with the written notes to see how close or not we have come to the profile of the wine tasted.

The task of blind wine tasting is an excellent way to develop our tasting skills and learn to appreciate wines in a more objective, uninfluenced and humble way. Without a doubt, it can be a fun activity to do with friends, a company or in groups, as it encourages discussion and sensory exploration.

If you would like us to prepare a selection of wines wines to test your skills with different styles of wines, or a themed wine tasting or a personalized service with a wine expert do not hesitate to contact us.