Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1037369
{ SOMMjournal.com } 115 A s millions of ardent fans already know, "More wine!" is a command routinely uttered by Lord Tyrion Lannister in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. But despite his brilliantly scheming mind and penchant for gulping goblets with nary a breath, Tyrion would be no match for the army of talented industry professionals who recently gath - ered in the courts of SommCon Washington, D.C. for the Game of Wines event, sponsored by The SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel. Their mission? To blind-taste ten wines in 15 minutes and jostle with the challenging nuances of aroma, avor, texture, and aftertaste. Victory—and, of course, spoils in the form of cash prizes—would be claimed by the three contestants who most correctly identied the wines, the grape varieties from which they were produced, and their places of origin. The ten wines were an eclectic mix of bottlings from lo - cations near and far : some familiar, some more unexpected. "I know we presented some ringers," said event moderator and SOMM Journal Publisher/Editorial Director Meridith May. "But a few of you hit the mark, and we have a winner!" Taking the Game of Wines title "by a nose" was Ariana Tsuchiya, who works as a sommelier at Alan Wong's in Ho - nolulu, Hawaii. Tsuchiya credited her win to spending time with Masters of Wine at SommCon to learn more about tasting methodologies. "SommCon and Game of Wines were such great experiences because they merge wine enjoyment with edication," she told The SOMM Journal. "It allowed me to think about each wine in a vacuum, nding the nuances in each variety. Friendly competitions like this provide an opportunity to venture out of our comfort zones, challenge ourselves, and discover something new." The participating winery representatives expressed similar sentiments. "SommCon was a great opportunity to share our stories and wines with professionals and enthusi - asts," said Jerry Humphrey, who presented for California's J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. "Wine should be about gather- ing together, sharing experiences, and having fun. Game of Wines succeeded in all of these areas." Megan Cline of Cline Family Cellars concurred, adding that she especially enjoyed the inclusion of releases outside of the mainstream. "There is so much beauty in wines from obscure places or wines made in varietally variable styles," she said. "They make you pause, think, and analyze more deeply. My favorites were the wines I could never guess blind!" With that, here is a rundown of the challengers. Let the Games begin! Ioana Benga of Jidvei Winery reveals her wine: a Riesling from Transylvania. Ariana Tsuchiya of Alan Wong's in Honolulu, HI, won first place in the Game of Wines tasting. Cassandra Felix of The Breakers in Miami and Hal Christensen of Harry's Continental Kitchen in Longboat Key, FL, tied for second place. BY CLIFF RAMES / PHOTOS BY NICK KLEIN