The 5th Annual International Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs (OMGD) event took place from September 25-29 in Alcalá de Henares near Madrid, Spain. It was attended by 220 participants from 36 countries and five continents.

This year’s OMGD Grand Chapitre was designed to feature four wine regions around Spain, namely Rioja, Castella-La Mancha, Ribera del Duero, and Madrid. The programme kicked off on Wednesday, September 25th with a Rioja masterclass at the event hotel at which four producers presented three of their best wines. A welcome dinner followed paired with a Rioja wine at Chaîne member’s “Pez Fuego Restaurant” in Madrid.

Thursday, September 26th was devoted to the wines of Castella-la Mancha. We visited four producers namely Bodegas Brujidero, Bodegas Alcardet, breaking for lunch at Las Musas Restaurant. We then visited Bodegas Castiblanque and ended the day with a wine masterclass and a winemaker dinner at Bodegas y Viñedos Casa del Valle.

Friday, September 27th was another full day excursion dedicated to the rising star of Spanish Wines, the Ribera del Duero region. We started by visiting one of the largest producers Bodegas Emilio Moro. Then followed a visit to Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro with a six-course lunch at their Michelin 1-star restaurant, “El Taller de Arzuaga”. All six dishes were paired with their own superb wines.

Friday continued with a visit to the Castle of Peñafiel and the Ribera del Duero Wine Museum. We met their wine Confrérie, the “Cofradia del Vino de la Ribera del Duero”. It was also attended by the region’s Mayor. An Induction Ceremony was held with seven of our participants inducted as members of their Confrérie. In return the President of the Confrérie and six of his Board members were inducted as members of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and the OMGD. The ceremony concluded on the castle’s roof top with a wine tasting. We ended the day with a visit to Bodegas Pago de Carraovejas and enjoyed a wine tasting paired with tapas.

On the morning of Saturday, September 28th we visited the Ampelographic Museum of IMIDRA. Here we had a Madrid wines masterclass and an outdoor brunch. The evening festivities began at 7pm at Hotel Parador with the official Induction Ceremony. We enjoyed cocktails al fresco followed by the Grand Gala Dinner.

The Grand Chapitre concluded on Sunday, September 29th with a guided walking tour of the historic city centre of Alcalá de Henares and a farewell lunch at Hosteria del Estudiante Restaurant.

It was indeed a memorable International OMGD Grand Chapitre. Participants enjoyed meeting old friends and making new acquaintances, thanks to our Spanish hosts, namely Bailli Délégué Rosa Román, who is a Member of the Conseil Magistral, and her team.

Mohamed Hammam
Grand Échanson International
Chair, OMGD