Philadelphia, PA, May 8th –  A food & wine battle royale in Philadelphia? The city's greatest sommeliers are gathering this summer to compete against the wine mavens at the Wine School of Philadelphia in the country's first ever Sommelier Smackdown.

The first round of contestants in the Sommelier Smackdown include Christophe Guillot (Brasserie Perrier) Christophe Tassan (Le Bec-Fin), Ryan Davis (Rae),
Mark Hoyt (Patou) and Steve Harris (Fleming's Steak House).  They will be competing against Keith Wallace and Brian Freedman of the Wine School of Philadelphia.

In each round, the contestants will have to create the perfect food & wine pairing, using only wines obtained through a local PLCB wine shop. The winner is declared by the guests, who have had the pleasure of tasting each of the food & wine pairings.

The first session of the Smackdown will be held on  Wednesday, June 13th at the Wine School of Philadelphia. Ryan Davis of Rae Restaurant will be competing against Brian Freedman of the Wine School. Doors open at 7pm. On Wednesday, June 27th, Mark Hoyt of Patou Restaurant will face off against Wine School founder Keith Wallace.

Seats for the Smackdown cost $55 per person and include food & wine pairings in the school's freshly renovated and swanky “Classroom 101” at 2006 Fairmount Avenue. Reservations are essential, and can be made via the school's secure website at www.winelust.com

For additional information on the Sommelier, contact Keith Wallace or visit www.winelust.com