A SIGHTING, a sniff and shortly afterwards a spit the strange world of blind wine tasting brought sommeliers from all over the country to Dublin yesterday.
They were vying for a place in the national final of the Grand Prix SOPEXA du Sommelier 1997 which takes place in September.
Yesterday morning 23 people sat in an upstairs room at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud faced with decanters of red and white wine. Their task was to define grape variety, region, appellation and vintage.
Ms Jacinta Delahaye, a wine consultant and a competition judge said they had to go as far as they could in guessing what the product was. "They look at the colour and see what the aroma is all about. The palate confirms what the aroma has told them, whether it is fermented in stainless steel or has an oak influence.
"On the palate they check weight and texture, persistence, taste and quality, whether it is fresh or perhaps dry and flabby. Essentially they look, sniff and taste," she explained.
The winner of September's final will represent Ireland at the international competition to be held in Paris in June next year. The national competition in Ireland is organised by SOPEXA Food & Wine from France, the marketing and promotional arm of the French embassy.
The finalists chosen yesterday were Mr Nicholas Hughes, Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin Mr Simon Keegan, Kildare Hotel and Country Club Ms Fionnuala Flanagan, Lacken House, Kilkenny Mr Alain Bras, Adare Manor, Co Limerick Ms Samantha Rocco, Roscoff, Belfast and Mr Michael Andrews, The Commons Restaurant, Dublin.