Cheers! 🥂

Quarterly Newsletter - September 2025

A Note from Somm Showdown Winner Alex Burch

It’s almost time for the second annual Somm Showdown, and I’m excited to see the return of this event! Last year, I loved being part of a competition that shined a spotlight on Nashville’s growing wine community, bringing us together to connect, learn, and celebrate. It was fantastic to take home the win, but even greater sharing the stage with so many talented professionals and showing just how strong our community has become.

Alex Burch is the Owner and Wine Director of Bad Idea and the first winner of Nashville Wine Auction's Somm Showdown.

The room was buzzing with energy, glasses clinked, and guests leaned forward in their seats. Last year’s inaugural Somm Showdown was nothing short of exciting — an event where knowledge, skill, and passion collided onstage.

Six of Nashville’s finest sommeliers took their places under the spotlight, navigating blind tastings, rounds of trivia, and food pairings with precision and grace. The audience leaned in with every pour, every guess, and every answer, while the judges weighed each move with anticipation.

In the end, one sommelier, Alex Burch, claimed victory, but all proved that Nashville is home to a vibrant and deeply talented wine community.

Now, the stage is set once again. Somm Showdown 2025 is here, and the competition promises to be even more exciting. Learn more about this year's contestants below!

Still need to purchase your ticket? That's okay! A limited number of tickets are available. Come join the contestants and test your wine knowledge alongside them!

November 16, 2025 | 11:30 am | Geodis Park

Thank you for showing up, raising your paddles, and helping us fund the fight against cancer. We raised over $2.6 million for the cause!

Cheers to every donor, bidder, vintner, sponsor, and volunteer who made this milestone possible. Your generosity is continuing to fund the fight against cancer!

Almost 50 years ago, one wine tasting changed the world of wine forever.

British wine merchant Steven Spurrier hosted a blind tasting on May 24, 1976, in Paris. In a stunning upset, American wines — then largely dismissed by the European establishment — triumphantly bested France’s finest. That single event, forever known as the Judgment of Paris, redefined the global wine landscape.

Now, exactly 50 years later, you have the rare opportunity to get a taste of what this iconic day may have been like… Not as a spectator, but as a judge. On April 11, 2026, 42 fortunate guests will gather at Nashville’s historic Union Station Hotel to participate in a re-enactment of the Judgment of Paris. While each wine vintage presents the characteristic of the year, the tasting will faithfully honor the original vintners and rules of the contest with vintages 50 years from the original tasting.

“Looking ahead to the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris next year, it feels less like a celebration of the past and more like a turning point toward the future. That milestone set the standard we’ve carried for five decades, and it continues to guide us as we lay the foundation for the next fifty years and beyond,” Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Winemaker Marcus Notaro says. “The Judgment of Paris proved that Napa Valley could create world-class wines, and our responsibility now is to carry that legacy forward in a way that honors the land and reflects each vintage.”

Not familiar with this fateful day? Read more about The Judgment of Paris and how you can experience it for yourself below.

Emerging Leaders Board presents Boots & Bottles Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 6pm

The Emerging Leaders Board invites young professionals under 40 to join them at Green Door Gourmet for their fall event, Boots & Bottles. Enjoy a fabulous evening of wine and bourbon tastings, dancing in the barn with live instruction by Jenny Cain Productions, live music, and small bites!

Save the dates for our signature events next year!

Pairings: Nashville's Ultimate Wine & Food Weekend February 26, 27 & 28, 2026

47th Annual l'Eté du Vin
Featuring Champagne Louis Roederer, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, and more! July 30, 31 & August 1, 2026

2026 Patron Ticket Packages drop next month! All-access. VIP perks. Unforgettable events with top chefs & winemakers. Be part of it all — like a true Patron. Want to learn more? Contact Katie@nashvillewineauction.com.

The Emerging Leaders Board (ELB) of the Nashville Wine Auction is a passionate group of young professionals (25 to 40-year-olds) dedicated to supporting the Auction’s mission of funding the fight against cancer — one glass at a time.

We’re looking for passionate young professionals to unite the wine community and help fund the fight against cancer. As an ELB member, you’ll:

• Volunteer at Nashville Wine Auction events
• Plan and host your own fundraisers
• Build connections & make an impact
• Have a lot of fun doing it!

Titan CEO and headline sponsor RMG Erectors and Constructors, LLC is pleased to announce Loren Chumley, President & CEO of Nashville Wine Auction, as an Inaugural 2025 Nashville Titan 100.

The Titan 100 program recognizes Nashville’s Top 100 CEOs & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry. Read more here.