A graphic with a black background displaying the text 'SOMMELYMPICS 2027' in white, with red circular rings and pinkish-red splashes resembling paint or ink.

January 10th at Hotel Phoenix

compete in Sommlympics 2027

Team Registration Now Open

How Sommlympics Works

12 teams. 3 events. 1 team named Sommlympics champions.

Sommlympics is a high-energy, one-day competition where teams of three wine professionals face off across three core events: Blind Tasting, Theory, and Service. But here’s the twist—only one team member competes in each event.

Strategy counts just as much as skill.

The Gameplay

Three Events:
Each team sends one representative into each event. Once assigned, roles can’t be switched—so choose your strongest player for each challenge.

  • Blind Tasting – One teammate evaluates a number of wines blind in a timed setting, calling variety, region, vintage, and more. Scored on accuracy and logical structure that covers both CMS and WSET approaches.

  • Theory – Another teammate steps up for a Jeopardy-style battle, with questions pitched at CMS Advanced/Master and WSET Diploma/MW depth—from obscure grape varieties to global wine law. High risk, high reward.

  • Service – The third teammate handles a live service scenario held to CMS service standards. The format changes every year (and we're keeping it secret for now), but expect elegance, pressure, and surprises.

A woman in a pink blazer pours water into glasses on a table during a social gathering, with multiple guests seated around, some watching and others engaged, in a room decorated with a Christmas tree and holiday decorations.

Scoring & Strategy

  • Each event is scored independently by a panel of judges. Each event is weighted equally upon finishing placement.

  • Teams earn cumulative points based on individual performances across all three events.

  • Bonus points may be awarded for handling our notorious curveballs with finesse.

How Winners Are Determined

When the events wrap, all points are tallied. The team with the highest combined score is crowned the Sommlympics Champions.

Additional awards may include:

  • 2nd & 3rd Place Teams

  • Gold Medalists in each event

  • “Star du Spectacle”

A New Rule to 2027

To keep opportunities open for new competitors, we're introducing a rule for returning champions in our 4th “vintage”. If you've won Gold, you're welcome to defend your title in that same event for one year. After your defense year, we ask that you either take on a new discipline or join us on the judging panel as to pass the torch while staying part of the action and community.

Three people dressed in formal attire are on a stage, with a table in front of them holding a large trophy, a wine glass, and a box. One man, in the center, is raising a wine bottle in one hand and a pen in the other. The woman on the right is smiling and holding a microphone and a glass of wine. The man on the left appears to be clapping or about to clap.

2027 Team Registration

Now Open

2026 Winners

  • Group of four people at an award ceremony, two women and two men, smiling and holding awards and medals. They are in a room with framed maps and hanging lights.

    2026 Sommlympics Champions "Terroir Titans"

  • Three people wearing black T-shirts and dark jackets at an indoor event with medals around their necks, posing with smiles. The person on the right is raising two fingers in a victory sign.

    2026 2nd Place Team "Liebfraumilkshakes"

  • Three women at an award ceremony standing near a bar, with one woman holding a bottle of wine and a certificate, smiling, while the other two women look on.

    2026 Gold Meadlists: Jacob Brown, Jienna Basaldu, & Mark Guillaudeu

  • Three people smiling and talking at a social event, with one woman holding a glass of white wine.

    2026 Star du Spectacle - Avery Andrews

2026 Prizes

    • Sommlympics Gold Medal

    • Magnum of wine presented by UVA Imports

    • 1-Year Membership to Wine Scholar Guild

    • Chance to compete for an all-inclusive trip to Argentina presented by Wines of Argentina

      • Trip includes an educational 5 days spanning multiple wine regions, airfare & transfers, accomodations, ground transportation, and meals

      • Must be used in 2026

    • Sommlympics Gold Medal

    • Magnum of wine presented by UVA Imports

    • 1-Year Membership to Wine Scholar Guild

    • Chance to compete for an all-inclusive trip to Argentina presented by Wines of Argentina

      • Trip includes 5 days spanning multiple wine regions, airfare & transfers, lodging, ground transportation, and meals

      • Must be used in 2026

    • Sommlympics Gold Medal

    • Magnum of wine presented by UVA Imports

    • 1-Year Membership to Wine Scholar Guild

    • Chance to compete for an all-inclusive trip to Argentina presented by Wines of Argentina

      • Trip includes 5 days spanning multiple wine regions, airfare & transfers, lodging, ground transportation, and meals

      • Must be used in 2026

    • A 5-day trip to visit TWO regions in Portugal!

      • Start with an exploration of Porto and the Douro Valley presented by Kopke – the world’s oldest Port wine house still in operation

        • Arrival in Porto – Vila Nova de Gaia

          • Visit to the Kopke Cellars with a special tasting 

          • Dinner at 1638 by Nacho Manzano

          • Accommodation at 5-star Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia Hotel (including breakfast)

        • Travel to the Douro Valley

          • Visit to Quinta de São Luíz in Tabuaço

          • Picnic in the vineyard

          • Accommodation at The Vine House (including breakfast)

      • Then get picked up by Cultivamos and drive to Esporão in the Alentejo region

        • Arrive at the hotel and head to lunch at a wine bar

        • Walking tour followed by a wine tasting

        • Then a day of tasting olive oil, other activities in the winery, and dinner that night

        • Drive back to Lisbon

    • 3 round trip main class airfare tickets sponsored by Monogram Styling

    • 1-Year Membership to Wine Scholar Guild

    • Sommlympics 2026 Champion Trophy

  • The Star du Spectacle award honors the competitor who most fully embodies the spirit of Sommlympics. More than technical skill, this recognition celebrates hospitality, grace under pressure, generosity of spirit, and the ability to uplift those around them.

    Finalists are chosen by a secret committee, with the ultimate winner selected by a vote of their peers, judges, and referees.

    The Star du Spectacle will be awarded:

    • Champagne Master Level Scholarship from Wine Scholar Guild

    • All-inclusive trip to Champagne presented by Bureau du Champagne, USA

      • Trip includes an educational 4 days / 5 nights in Champagne. Airfare, ground transportation, and accomadations are included.

2024 Winners

  • Group of four people at an award ceremony, two women and two men, smiling and holding awards and medals. They are in a room with framed maps and hanging lights.

    2024 Sommlympics Champions "Fernet About It"

  • Three people wearing black T-shirts and dark jackets at an indoor event with medals around their necks, posing with smiles. The person on the right is raising two fingers in a victory sign.

    2024 2nd Place Team "Terroir Titans"

  • Three smiling people celebrating with drinks at a party, two women in red blazers and a man in black with a gold chain, in front of a bar with alcohol bottles and maps on the wall.

    2024 3rd Place Team "Run DRC"

  • Three women at an award ceremony standing near a bar, with one woman holding a bottle of wine and a certificate, smiling, while the other two women look on.

    2024 Best in Blinds - Janeen Jason

  • Three women and a man dressed in a giraffe costume holding a bottle of champagne and a certificate at an awards event.

    2024 Best in Service - Eric Palmer

  • A man with glasses wearing a baseball jersey with 'Fernet Branca' and a medal around his neck is holding a bottle and a certificate, standing between two women, all smiling at a celebration or award event.

    2024 Best in Theory - Max Goldberg

  • Three people smiling and talking at a social event, with one woman holding a glass of white wine.

    2024 Star du Spectacle - Marvella Castaneda