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The harmony of wine and dessert
"Wine + Dessert" – the Wine and Dessert Pairing Contest, is the only competition of its kind worldwide, taking place in three Baltic countries. Leading pastry chefs and sommeliers in each country unite to present specially created desserts, each perfectly paired with wine.
This unique championship, launched in Lithuania in 2010, has revitalised interest in desserts, boosted sales of sweet wines, and become a benchmark for gastronomic innovation. Initially conceived to address the decline in sweet wine sales, the competition has yielded further significant benefits. It has acted as a catalyst for the creation of original desserts and provided a platform for the exchange of ideas concerning national desserts, attracting all major players within the restaurant industry.
In 2025, the competition will expand beyond Lithuania to include Latvia and Estonia. In the coming years, it will extend further into Europe, identifying the continent's premier destinations for dessert.
The action
Teams comprising chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers, and wine experts participate in the competition. Each team prepares ten portions of a single dessert and ten glasses of perfectly paired wine, which are presented on stage and served to the jury for evaluation. Awards are given for the best pairings, as well as special categories such as "Best National Dessert", "Lightest Pairing", and "Best Wine of the Show".
The competition is organised by Wine + Dessert International, in cooperation with national and international partners, including the Lithuanian and Latvian Sommelier Associations, the Lithuanian School of Sommelier, Vyno klubas, Pavāru Klubs, Vyno Žurnalas, and Falstaff Nordic.