Preliminary Habanosommelier Contest
The preliminary to the 3rd International Habanosommelier Contest began with a theoretical test. This event is greatly accepted by those amateurs requiring good advisory when choosing an Habano.
Simon Chase, President of the English company Hunters and Frankau, led the jury composed of Helmut Rome from Cigar Cult Journal; José Hilario (Epicur Magazine); Edris Naranjo (Cuban Sommeliers Club); Natalia Rizhkova, a Russian journalist; and Yves Belaubre, a journalist from Le Club Cigarre.
Nine participants joined in the contest: Leonel Marcelo and Joel Begué from Cuba, Matthias Martens, from Germany;Pierre Naal from France, Pedro Vázquez Espiñeira from Spain, Ekaterina Ponomareva from Russia, Ivo Dvorak from the Czech Republic, Ruimar De Oliveira Junior from Brazil, and Anthony Browning from the United Kingdom. Later, they passed a practical Habano-cutting-and-lighting-up test, as well as descriptive tasting and brotherhood with several drinks.
In this event participate the sommeliers who have won the national competitions organised in each country.