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MANZANARES (CIUDAD REAL), 17 (EUROPA PRESS)
Juan Enrique Gil, from the Don Gil restaurant in Albacete, has won the title of Best Sommelier of Castilla-La Mancha for the third consecutive year in the tenth edition of the competition organized by the regional Association of Sommeliers and Friends of Wine.
It was in the final of this competition, held at Vinícola Castilla-La Mancha, where Gil won this award ahead of Raúl Valencia, who received the third prize, and Diego Ortega, who came in second. The three will represent the Autonomous Community in the national sommelier competition.
Gil, in statements to the media after receiving this award, expressed his «tremendous gratitude» for this prize, especially for the «treatment» provided by the Sommelier Association of Castilla-La Mancha and Vinícola de Castilla.
He confessed that «the trick» is to continue learning continuously, and dedicated this award to the staff of his restaurant where he is also the Head of Service. «I was born directly in a restaurant, so wines were already in my DNA,» he added.
He also mentioned that it is «an honor» for him to represent Castilla-La Mancha in the National Sommelier Championship once again, taking a moment to remember his family and employees, especially those who could not witness his success because «sadly they have passed away.»
Despite winning for the third year, when asked by the media, Gil mentioned that there are always «a few nerves» due to the tension experienced during the competition. «You have to be attentive and in the end, you have to balance between moments of more nerves so that the average turns out well,» he said.
A «VERY PROFESSIONAL» COMPETITION
The president of the Association of Sommeliers of Castilla-La Mancha, Ramón Sánchez, also spoke to the media, stating that the level of the final was «high» with a «very professional» activity and some nervousness among the contestants when opening and closing bottles, some of them from 1983.
On the other hand, the deputy of the City Council, Sebastián Mora, pointed out that Ciudad Real cannot be understood without wine, which he described as «the heart» of the economy, «the guardian» of traditions, and «the best ambassador» the province has, highlighting the «magnificent event» organized by the Sommelier Association.
The delegate of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development in Ciudad Real, Amparo Bremad, showed the support of the Department to the wine sector, highlighting the «fundamental» work of sommeliers as the experts who most connect consumers with wine.
On his part, the mayor of Manzanares, Julián Nieva, emphasized that wine should not only be admired and loved but is also «culture, tradition, and economy,» for which, in addition to loving it, it should be consumed moderately. «In that sense, sommeliers are very important for us to increasingly know what we are going to consume and, at the same time, be able to value it,» he added.
Finally, the CEO of Bodegas Bellido, Sonia Bellido, stated that Bellidos Vineyards and Wineries have been working for years to elevate the quality of their wines, emphasizing that the sommelier is «a fundamental figure» because they have to convey «all the message behind the wine to the end consumer.»
