I Fabbri Winemaker Dinner with Susanna Grassi at Popina
A Popina winemaker dinner in Brooklyn with food and wine pairings featuring Susanna Grassi of I Fabbri.
Event
Sommelier Showdown Dinner v.2 at Popina
A blind wine pairing dinner in New York City where sommeliers James and Will compete with pairings that guests vote on.
About the event
A blind pairing contest
This dinner is built around blind wine pairings rather than a standard tasting format. Each pairing is part of a head-to-head contest, with the wines competing for guest votes. The central idea is the matchup: guests evaluate pairings without the event framing them as a named bottle list or producer showcase.
The voting element is part of the format, not a side activity. Pairings are presented as entries in the showdown, and guest votes determine how those pairings perform against one another. That makes the dinner’s structure more competitive than a typical hosted wine dinner, while still keeping the focus on wine paired with dinner.
James versus Will
The competition centers on sommeliers James and Will. James O'Brien is identified as a sommelier at Popina, while Will is identified as a sommelier. Their roles matter because the event is described as a direct contest between their blind wine pairings, with each pairing vying for votes from guests at the dinner.
The named program subjects are the two sommeliers and the blind pairings they put forward. The dinner does not need a separate speaker lineup or tasting panel to explain its premise: the pairing choices are the competition, and the guests’ votes are the deciding mechanism within that format.
Popina setting
The dinner is held at Popina, a restaurant in New York City. The venue address is 127 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231. The restaurant setting is relevant to the format because the event is specifically described as a wine pairing dinner, not only a tasting or reception.
The event is scheduled for an evening service window, with a listed start and end time. Exact timing can be checked in the event details, but the program itself is clear: a blind wine pairing dinner at Popina, organized around James and Will competing for guest votes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sommelier Showdown Dinner v.2?
It is a blind wine pairing dinner where pairings compete for guest votes.
Who is competing in the showdown?
Sommeliers James and Will compete head-to-head through blind wine pairings. James O'Brien is identified as a sommelier at Popina, and Will is identified as a sommelier.
How does the voting fit into the dinner?
Each pairing is part of the competition and vies for guest votes, making voting a core part of the dinner format.
Where is the dinner held?
The dinner is held at Popina, a restaurant at 127 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, in New York City.
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