MEININGER'S SOMMELIER SUMMIT

PRODECA, together with the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia in Germany, is organising the participation of Catalan wines at the MEININGER'S SOMMELIER SUMMIT with a high-level tasting.

Meininger's Sommelier Summit is a prestigious summit that brings together the leading figures of the German-speaking sommelier scene. The most prestigious sommeliers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) gather to discuss current issues and taste present and future trends, making it a privileged platform for promoting high-quality wines.

The main aim of this activity is to position and give visibility to Catalan wines before a highly qualified professional audience from the DACH region, strengthening recognition of Catalonia as a quality wine origin and helping to generate new commercial opportunities.

More information and details about the event

ORGANISATION OF THE ACTIVITY

The Sommelier Summit consists of a programme of masterclasses on different topics. Catalonia takes part as a region with a CATALAN WINES MASTERCLASS which is second on the programme.

The activity will include a tasting of 13 Catalan wine references from different wineries, led by Meiningers' organisers and sommeliers, Sascha Speicher and Christoph Nicklas.

The session will be accompanied by information materials and promoted both beforehand and afterwards through professional channels and trade magazines such as Meiningers Sommelier.

• Date: Monday, 23 November 2026
• Venue: Kaisergarten Hotel Deidesheim (Pfalz)
• Expected attendance: 70 
• Attendee profile: leading sommeliers from the DACH region
• Winery presence: wineries are not expected to be represented in person

DESCRIPTION OF THE MASTERCLASS

As part of the participation of Catalan wines at the MEININGER'S SOMMELIER SUMMIT, the wines submitted by wineries will be assessed by the event organisers through a pre-selection tasting. This process will determine which wines form part of the professional masterclass held during the summit.

Candidate wines must fall within one of the three categories proposed by Meininger's according to market interests:

Flight I

The sparkling side of Catalonia: Cava de Guarda Superior, Clàssic Penedès, Corpinnat

We are looking for sparkling wines that represent the excellence and diversity of Catalonia's main sparkling wine categories.

Requirements:

• Organic and sustainable production.
• Minimum 18 months' ageing on the lees.
• Low dosage (maximum 6 g/l residual sugar).
• Wines covered by Cava de Guarda Superior, Clàssic Penedès or Corpinnat may take part

Flight II

Expressions of Xarel.lo - Catalonia´s emblematic white grape

Particular consideration will be given to single-varietal xarel·lo wines that express their origin and distinctiveness, from any Catalan designation of origin.

Requirements:

• Organic and sustainable production.
• Dry wine.
• Made exclusively from the xarel·lo variety.
• Full or partial fermentation or ageing in oak (barrique, tonneau or foudre), concrete/cement or amphora.
• Wines made exclusively in stainless steel tanks will not be accepted.

Flight III

Colourful Catalonia - white, orange & rosado with different signatures

This category aims to showcase the diversity and innovation of Catalan wines. Entries may include white, skin-contact (orange) wines, rosés and clarets, as well as free-style, minimal-intervention wines or those made with international varieties.

Requirements:

• Organic and sustainable production.
• Dry wine.

Flight IV

From classics to new wave: spotlight on reds from Priorat & Montsant

This category focuses on the Priorat and Montsant designations of origin, two emblematic Catalan wine regions for red wine production. To ensure balanced, neutral representation, two wines from each designation will be selected for this tasting, making four wines in total.

Requirements:

• Organic and sustainable production.
• Red wines only.
• They may be blends or single-varietal garnatxa or carinyena.

PARTICIPATION AND WINE SELECTION CRITERIA

First stage:

Wineries must state which flight they are entering and send the product's technical data sheet. On the basis of this information, an initial pre-selection will be made of candidate wines that meet the requirements set out above.

Second stage:

The pre-selected wines will be tasted by Meiningers' sommelier team. At this stage each winery must send two bottles per reference submitted; selected wineries will receive further details.

Third stage:

The wines finally selected in the second stage will form part of the masterclass at the Sommelier Summit, before an audience of leading sommeliers from the German, Austrian and Swiss (DACH) markets. If selected, the winery must supply four additional bottles for its final participation.
 

• Participating wines are recommended to have distribution in the sommelier audience's home markets — Germany, Austria and Switzerland — to make the most of the activity and maximise its return.

COST OF PARTICIPATION

• Participating companies (pre-selection and final selection) must cover the cost of the selected products and their shipment to the stated destination. Prodeca, for its part, covers the costs of taking part in the event.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

• Closing date for applications: 15 June 2026

When registering, you must state which tasting you wish to take part in and send the product's technical data sheet to the following email address: cciurana@gencat.cat

REGISTRATION OPEN