At the opening of the day it was read by the national competition commissioner AIS Italia, Antonio Riontinothe message sent by the president of AIS Italia, Sandro Camilli: “””Greetings and thanks to the teachers of the hotel schools, to all of AIS Puglia, to all the participants and to all those present at the competition tests. I too would have loved to be present but unfortunately overlapping commitments prevented me from doing so. For all the participants in the competition, these occasions are very important because they allow the competitors to deepen their knowledge of the territories through an extraordinary symbol of promotion of the same which is wine. Then to compare with each other, to grow, to acquire awareness and self-esteem, very important, if not decisive, elements for sommeliers, now true communicators, who have the task, in whatever field they find themselves, of increasingly elevating the culture of wine, promoting and enhancing it, because this extraordinary product, in addition to being a great protagonist of our table, is also a backbone of the agri-food sector, as well as of our economy. A virtual hug to everyone and we hope to see you next time.”””
The Best Junior Sommelier Competition of Puglia 2024 was divided into two sessions: the morning one, which saw participants answer the questionnaire regarding national viticulture, oenology and enography, knowledge of the region’s wines and, in general, of Italian wines; while in the second, the afternoon one, the Sommelier’s service techniques (uncorking a bottle of wine, decanting), presentation of official IBA cocktails, spirits and special wines, tasting (organoleptic analysis according to the AIS method) and food-wine pairing . The Jury has the competence to evaluate The written, oral and practical tests were evaluated by a jury composed of: Vito Sante Cecere President Emeritus of AIS Puglia; Antonio Riontinonational commissioner of AIS Italia competitions; Carmine Galasso, best sommelier in Puglia; Giusy Gissibest Junior sommelier Puglia 2022.
At the end of the sessions she was proclaimed the winner Grazia Cilli in her fifth year at the Hotel Institute of Molfetta, of the Hall Services and Sales department who dedicated the victory to her entire school, from the director Antonio Natalicchio, to the teachers and in particular to Professor Pepe Gerardo who accompanied her to Canosa. On the podium two other women Samuele Carla and Eulisse Giusy in the fourth year of the Hall Services and Sales course at L’IISS “L. Einaudi” of Canosa di Puglia. The awards ceremony and the usual photos concluded the competition promoted by AIS Puglia committed for years to enhancing the identity traits and vocations of the territories of the regional agri-food sector. L’Italian Sommelier Association of Puglia with its training and the many events organized in detail in the regional territories, it contributes with great incisiveness to the national and foreign markets, to raise awareness of the quality of the products, telling the history and identity of the territories of Puglia. The The aim of the Best Junior Sommelier Competition in Puglia is among other things that of contributing to valorising the sommelier profession in the regional context and increasing knowledge and dissemination of the wine-growing realities of the area.
