SOMM2025

This new AAS project, designed to encourage new generations of sommeliers, was launched in late 2018 and the first edition took place in early 2019. The initiative strives to promote this ever-developing profession, one that positions the sommelier as the central figure in how we currently communicate wine.

As one of the leaders in the field of wine and sommellerie at the regional level, the AAS recognised that the programme would be an excellent tool to facilitate training local young sommeliers.

Participants in this project presented written essays on Argentine wine, which were judged by a committee comprising representatives from sommelier schools and the AAS board of directors. The four semi-finalists who were chosen then gave oral presentations of their work.

Training sommeliers, getting them to discover winery releases through exclusive tastings, encouraging their participation at wine fairs, supporting those wishing to face the unique experience of competition, and organising venues and conferences for seminars on specialised content are some of the activities the AAS has energetically developed recently. SOMM2025 is part of this professional development and training strategy focusing on students.

The winner of the first SOMM2025 competition was Martina Mielnikowicz with her essay The New Paradigms Facing Argentine Wine and the Role of the Sommelier in Strategic Communication, and she won a visit to Bodega La Luz del Duero in Peñafiel, a small town in the province of Valladolid, within the Ribera del Duero wine region, in the autonomous community of Castile and León.

According to Mielnikowicz: "I think it’s very important that the Argentine Association of Sommeliers encourages new professionals to think, develop projects and be able to communicate them to others in order to grow soundly and strongly as an industry."

Students from the profession presented their works of varying and interesting themes, each demonstrating their commitment and dedication. Second place was awarded to Mariana Gianella, with her essay Languages of Wine, Communication and Identity. Estefanía Picarelli placed third with Tomá Vino (Drink Wine), and Sabrina Fernandes Capcha finished fourth with A Wine for Every Millennial.

In addition to the trip to Ribera del Duero, the winner completed her fascinating experience by giving a talk coinciding with the celebration of Malbec World Day about Argentine wine at the Spanish Union of Catadores (wine-tasters) of Madrid, before an audience of trade representatives and specialised press, organised in conjunction with the Argentine Embassy in Madrid. “The focus was mainly on the diversity of Argentina’s terroirs, from north to south, and how our emblematic varietal is expressed in each of them. I gave a brief review of Argentina's place in the global wine market, then we looked at each wine region and finally did a tasting of seven Malbecs from different areas to discern how our emblematic grape is expressed in each of those terroirs,” Martina explained.

Experiences like these lend depth to professional sommeliers because they chart a path that not everyone sees, that includes exploration, searching and interest. Going through this complements their training.

The second edition of SOMM2025 is scheduled for 2020 and will be announced later this year.