FAQs

The Spanish Wine Master is a global competition centered around knowledge of Spanish wine, organized by the Spanish Wine Academy from Bodegas Ramón Bilbao. A contest to demonstrate your knowledge and tasting skills.

With the slogan “How much do you know about Spanish wine?” Spanish Wine Master launches a challenge to the entire wine community. The Spanish Wine Master is a demanding competition whose mission is to find the true expert of the wines of Spain.

Spanish Wine Master consists of three successive stages that include tests of technical knowledge and wine culture as well as practical tastings. The first stage is universally accessible and takes place online. he second stage, or Semifinal, will take place in a hybrid format with a live streaming that contestants can connect to from their homes. Lastly, the Grand Finale will be held in person.

Spanish Wine Master is open to anyone of legal age with an interest in Spanish wine. Although all profiles are welcome, especially the professional segments, from sommeliers even journalists and critics; from hospitality professionals to distributors, importers and wine merchants. We also invite advanced amateurs who feel a true passion for knowledge and enjoyment of Spanish wine.

There are four countries in which the competition has already taken place: Spain, United Kingdom, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. In 2024, it is taking place in USA and Mexico. Each country has a Ramón Bilbao team that organizes its own national competition, with its own contestants and its own final prizes. 

The Spanish Wine Master jury is made up of our winemakers at Bodegas Ramon Bilbao, Chief Winemaker Rodolfo Bastida and Head of R&D as well as Lalomba, Rosana Lisa. Additionally the jury includes two internationally renowned experts: Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pedro Ballesteros MW.

In the remaining national chapters, those in charge of the Final in each country will decide the definitive configuration of their local jury.

In each of the phases of the competition we have devised highly demanding content, designed to contribute to the knowledge and prestige of the Spanish wine culture. We have been inspired by the contents and educational programs generated by a world reference organization such as Wine & Spirits Education Trust. The content and degree of difficulty of all the tests will be the same in each of the countries, with the exception of the Grand Finale, which can vary by country depending on the local organizing team of Ramón Bilbao.

It’s as easy as going to spanishwinemaster.com and filling out the registration form. From the 15th of January 2024 until the 15th of March 2024, any registered person will be able to take the online test of the first stage. Remember that you will only have one opportunity once the 1st phase of the contest has begun and you will not be able to go back or repeat it at another time.

FIRST STAGE/REGISTRATION PERIOD: Registration and general test. From January 15th to March 15th.

• This initial stage of the competition will be active from January 15th to March 15th at 23:59.
• After registering, each contestant will be able to access the first test: an online test of 50 questions. Once it has started, the contestant has 30 minutes to take the test, and will not be able to go back or start over, so it is important to use a laptop and choose a good time and place with secure internet connection to complete it.
• The number of correct answers and, to a lesser degree, the time spent answering the test will be valued.
• 30 semifinalists will emerge from this stage.

SECOND STAGE. Semifinal. April 15th

• The second phase brings together the top 30 participants from the first stage. A few days before the event, each semifinalist will have received a box with five unlabeled samples of wine. On the day of the Semifinal at a previously arranged time they must connect via internet to the Spanish Wine Master platform to start the test. First, a guided tasting from the set and another test of visual dexterity in order to test knowledge about Spanish wine.
• The presentation of the Semifinal, the supervision of the tasting, and the visual test will be led by Elisa Errea from a set designed for that purpose.
• The format and date of this Semifinal is common to all participating countries (although each country will hold its Semifinal at a different time, within the same April 15th).
• From this Phase 2, 10 finalists will emerge.

THIRD PHASE. The Grand Finale. (Date varies by country)

• The last phase, the National Final, will be face-to-face in each participating country. Each country will inform the finalists of the place and time where the event will be held. It will consist of a tasting test as well as other tests, among which the contestant will have to present before the full jury. This last phase will last a maximum of 90 minutes.
• The Final will result in a single winner of the Spanish Wine Master.

Spanish wines of all styles, always high quality. The wines that are tasted may or may not include Bodegas Ramón Bilbao or other brands from Zamora Company- Bodegas Mar de Frades and Cruz de Alba. The wines may be white, rosés, reds, sparkling or fortified wines.

Each national chapter sets its own awards in relation to its circumstances and context. In the US the winner of the Spanish Wine Master receives $5,000.

Read and taste, there is no other way. Specifically, we recommend assessing and reviewing the contents of the Spanish Wine Academy.