Vila Viniteca's Tast per Parelles returns with a 19th edition in Madrid

The Tast per Parelles by Vila Viniteca is one of the most important and famous competitions in the global wine sector. Every year, it hosts a large number of high-level sommelier and taster couples and makes them compete against each other for a succulent prize. Beyond the obvious economic remuneration, this competition has become an emblem, and winning it grants a prestige that few have had the pleasure of achieving. Despite being a competition by the Catalan wine distributor, Vila Viniteca, the prize alternates the competition venue between Barcelona and Madrid. This 19th edition will take place on Sunday, February 21, at the Casino de Madrid.

Quim Vila and Siscu Martí, partners of Vila Viniteca were the creators of this prize, and for almost twenty editions, they have become key in the wine sector. Great professionals aspire to conquer this competition, and few succeed. In fact, one of the winners of the last edition was Àlvaro Ribalta, one of the few national Masters of Wine (the highest international recognition in the world of tasters). Together with his teammate Thomas Luke Parker, they won the first prize of 35,000 euros. The second-place winners took home 10,000 euros, and 5,000 for the third. Thus, a prize that year after year totals 50,000 euros, which is given to the three classified couples out of the 125 who participate. Such is the expectation for this competition that in the previous edition, at the Casa de la Llotja de Mar in Barcelona, registrations sold out in 2.54 minutes, a record for the event.

In the previous edition, at the Casa de la Llotja de Mar in Barcelona, registrations sold out in 2.54 minutes

This year, the prize will feature tasters —approximately from 10 different countries, as in the last edition— who prepare for months to aspire to win this competition. The Tast per Parelles is considered one of the most difficult prizes due to the extremely high level of blind tasting and the exceptional quality of the wines presented. For each wine, the tasting couples must discover the country (1 point), the area of origin (1 point), the Denomination of Origin (2 points), the grape varieties (3 points), the vintage (3 points), the producer (3 points), and the brand (2 points). The tasting comment is valued in case of a tie. In addition, the couples must agree on their scores and decide together, which makes the choice more complicated.

A personalized poster

This Tuesday, September 29, the poster illustrating the new edition of the competition was presented at the El Hombre Bala winery, in the Sierra de Gredos (Castilla y León). It is the home of the wines produced by Ramon Esteve, head of viticulture and enology of the winery with great respect for nature and the personality of each vineyard plot he owns. The poster is designed by Joan Josep Bertran, graphic designer and director of the JJ Bertran studio, a studio specialized, for more than 20 years, in creating identities for wine brands. He has worked for some of the most prestigious producers and his work has been recognized with numerous national and international awards.

According to the statement sent by Vila Viniteca, his proposal for the poster of the 19th Tast per Parelles award is built on three main ideas. The first is the dual game, represented by two glasses that dance and establish a dialogue between them. The second is the aromatic, gustatory and visual expression of wine, which is translated into the language of color, a key element in its identification and recognition, and which connects directly with the essence of the tasting competition. Finally, it seeks to suggest a play of reflections and transparencies between the headline and the illustration, where shapes and elements relate and overlap, inviting a second reading that refers to the fluid nature of wine. A way to highlight the complexity of the world of wine and the tasting discipline itself.