Sommelier Smackdown | A Unique 5-Course Wine Dinner Event

Hotel Vin presents the Third Annual Somm Smackdown, where world-class wine and culinary artistry converge. Reigning champion Master Sommelier Jack Mason returns to defend his title against the distinguished Master Sommelier Julie Dalton in a head-to-head pairing competition.

Over the course of the evening, guests will enjoy a five-course chef-driven menu. With each course, two wines are presented, one selected by Jack Mason, the other by Julie Dalton, showcasing their individual styles, philosophies, and strategies. Guests taste the wines side by side with the dish, experiencing firsthand how different pairings can transform flavors on the plate.

At the end of each round, guests cast their votes for the pairing they felt elevated the course best. The energy builds with every dish as the crowd’s choices determine which Master Sommelier takes the lead. By the final course, anticipation peaks, and the evening concludes with one sommelier crowned champion of the Somm Smackdown.

Part dinner, part competition, all fun. Taste, compare, and cast your vote to help crown the champion.

Somm Smackdown Dinner Menu

ROUND 1. beef tartare, potato pavé, horseradish espuma, smoked yolk

ROUND 2. hamachi & tuna mosaic, honeynut squash, citrus-chili broth, pickled pear, pepita tuile

ROUND 3. fall beet & goat cheese salad, superseed granola, cranberry, pomegranate

ROUND 4. torchon of chicken thigh, maple miso, honeynut squash, charred radicchio, brown butter

FINAL ROUND. byuzu cheesecake bar, black-sesame shortbread, hibiscus granita, candied kumquat, sesame-pepper dust

*The event begins at 6:30 pm in the 4th-floor foyer for a reception with wine & passed hors d’oeuvres. The Smackdown will begin promptly at 7 pm.

*Enjoy complimentary parking in the Grapevine Main Parking Tower for 90 minutes then $1/hr after.

Host or Publisher Hotel Vin