Sommelier of the Dubrovnik restaurant Proto and judge of the Decanter World Awards Siniša Lasan, is the new sommelier champion of Croatia. At the 21st national championship Lasan defeated in the finals last year’s champion Filip Savić, sommelier of the Rovinj restaurant Monte Mulini, as well as Marko Šram, sommelier of the Dubrovnik restaurant Nautika, who took second place in this year’s Dalmatian sommelier championship.
A total of 24 candidates took part in the national championship, organised by the Croatian Sommelier Club in the Opatija hotel Ambassador. The quarterfinal competition included a written 60-minute test with questions on vine growing history, winemaking, legislation (definition of wine, protection, regionalisation etc.), questions on the goals of sommeliers, basic tools, serving wine and decanting and a half-hour practical part in which candidates had to pass a blind tasting and describe in writing one white and one red wine’s origin, producer, harvest, durability and pairing.
The second part of the practical exam included recognising four distillates and correcting a wine list. 12 candidates with the most points went on to the semi-finals. The three finalists who scored most points in the semi-finals were asked to demonstrate their presentation skills and opening of a sparkling wine, serving and decanting a red wine, recognising wine and strong liqueurs, correcting a wine list, pairing, guest manners and pouring of a magnum.
The winner of this year’ championship won a study trip to the Champagne region organised by the MIVA company from Zagreb and will represent Croatia in the coming year at all international competitions, including the Sommelier World Championships.
Translated from Plava Kamenica.
