Sommelier Showdown: Ottawa
Celebrate the art of food & wine pairing, through the lens of some of the industries finest wine professionals.
THE EVENT: Two leading Sommeliers compete to pair the perfect wine with each course at a decadent 4-course dinner. You vote to pick the winner, who proceeds to the final showdown.
WHERE: Raphael Peruvian Cuisine, 200 Elgin St. Ottawa
THE DINNER: Reception with canapés,4-course dinner, and 9 beautiful wines.
WHEN: Round 1 – May 13, Round 2 – May 21, The Final Showdown – May 27, 2026
$250 per person plus tax and gratuity
THE SHOWDOWN
The sommelier’s mission is to pair the perfect wine with each of the 4 courses designed by Rapheals Culinary Director and Owner Lizardo Becerra. Your mission is to be the judge. Using your smartphone you will vote for whichever wine you felt paired best with the dish. The votes will be tallied, culminating in a winner. The winning Sommelier from each of the first two dinners will proceed to the showdown on May 27, 2026, where the final winner will be crowned.
THE DINNER
At 6 pm we begin with a reception of bubbly and canapés. The 4-course dinner will begin at 6.30 p.m. with introductions to each Sommelier and the Chef. Rapheal Peruvian is a rising culinary star in Ottawa, already featured in numerous publications and recognized as one of the city’s finest restaurants. Come and meet other food and wine lovers at this exceptional celebration of food and wine.
YOU VOTE
Bring your smartphone so you can vote for the best paired wine with each course. Votes are tallied electronically and the results revealed after each course, culminating in a winner.
Ottawa Dates
ABOUT SOMMELIER SHOWDOWN
The Venue
Raphael Peruvian Cuisine
Located right in the heart of Ottawa, Raphael Peruvian Cuisine is one of the top addresses in Canada for South American Flavors. It is located at 200 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1L5, Canada.
The Food
The night begins with a pre-dinner reception, with sparkling wine and amuse bouche. A 4-course dinner is then served showcasing the Chef’s talents. We cannot accommodate allergies because everyone needs to taste the exact same food and wine for the votes to be fair.
The Wine
You will enjoy 9 different wines during the evening. There are two different wines served blind with each course, wine A and B. You pick and vote for your favourite. The wines are revealed after each course and the Sommelier who picked the winning wine explains their choice.
The Format
Doors open at 6 p.m. for a reception. Enjoy some canapés and bubbly while you mingle with other guests. At 6.30 pm you will be seated and introduced to the event and the two competing Sommeliers. With each course two wines are served blind. Simply pick the wine that paired best with the dish and vote. Then all will be revealed!
The Finale
At the final event on May 27, 2026, the winners of the first two events will compete for the crown in the grand finale of the Sommelier Showdown Ottawa.
All sales are final and non-refundable but you can transfer your booking to someone else for free. Just give us the new names for our reservation list. We cannot accommodate allergies as everyone needs to taste the exact same food and wine for the votes to be fair.
Meet your sommeliers
Our Sommelier Showdowns feature some of the top sommeliers in Ottawa. The sommeliers will be announced soon.
