Casablanca El Taller wins Copa de Jerez

Murcian chef and sommelier team from Casablanca El Taller walked away with the Copa de Jerez this week.

The competition, now in its seventh year, is designed to find the best matching of food with Sherry and this year the competition was stiff.

Chef and sommeliers from the US, Denmark, Holland, Germany and Belgium competed at the international finals in Jerez to win the coveted trophy.

A heated cook-off was witnessed and judges by an impressive line-up including Jancis Robinson MW, Pontus Elofsson, head sommelier at Nomu Copnehagen and president of the jury, Juli Soler, Ferran Adria’s partner at El Bulli.

Chef Caytano Gomez and his sommelier partner Juan Luis Garcia, the Spanish victors, matched grilled picked oyster with amontillado and shoulder of baby lamb with a toasted almond cream with a VOS Sweet Oloroso.

The first course was especially commented on by the judges, who were unanimous in their decision that the Spanish team had done the best job marrying the flavours of their chosen wines with the components of each of their dishes.

Graham Hines, director of The Sherry Institute of Spain in the UK, commented: “The standard was very high this year and diversity of food and Sherry matching combinations were more diverse than ever.

“The Consejo in Jerez were delighted to have such and international feel to the competition and feels that this event not only appeals to a new generation of Sherry fans but also helps spread the word about the versatility of Sherry.”