Dear friends, this year we continue to organize the competition for the best cutter of the year. The 14th Slovak championship in cutting sparkling wines will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Donovaly in front of the Aprés Ski Bar in Záhradiště. The product partner of the competition is ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA a.s., the exclusive importer and distributor of VILLA SANDI prosecco. The partners of the competition are AUTOSPORT SZILÁGYI and PARK SNOW DONOVALY. The organizers of the competition HOTEL GALILEO****, RESIDENCE HOTEL****, ŠPORT HOTEL*** and EnoVia s.r.o. are also preparing a competition this year with a program full of fun, learning and experiences, which participants can enjoy in the company of bubbles from the renowned prosecco producer, the VILLA SANDI winery.
The aim of the competition is:
1. To compare the level of service provision in the wine tasting by sommeliers, which they can offer to their guests or represent their business or brand at various events.
2. To improve the techniques of safe wine tasting.
3. To gain broader knowledge about the products and the VILLA SANDI brand in the distribution of the ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA company, whose prosecco is among the most popular.
4. To attract young, amateur fans of sparkling wine and prosecco to learn about its history, production and quality and to be able to better navigate the offer.
5. To experience a great competition day with professionals and the public audience at the peak of the winter season in Donovaly.
We will compete in two chopping techniques:
SEMIFINALS (for all categories)
Theoretical part:
Presentation of knowledge about the VILLA SANDI brand (history, present, production range, sparkling wine gastronomy, sparkling wine service) in the form of questions from the expert jury.
Practical part:
Competitors will demonstrate the classic technique of sabrage prosecco with the official sommelier's sabre.
FINALS (for the categories of professional women and professional men)
The second technique is mandatory for the three best semi-finalists from the professional category, who will be selected by an anonymous point evaluation by the expert jury. The finalists will use their own original object brought for chopping for sabrage. Each finalist can use thematic clothing or choreography for this technique during the presentation, adapted to the subject (theme) of sabrage. The jury will also evaluate the originality of the object used for the sabrage, the clothing and the arrangement of the competitors in the final of the championship during the presentation.
Choice of any object for sabrage in the final:
Professional sabrage artists use various objects for sabrage, such as wallachians, shakers, wine coolers, saucers, wine glasses, horseshoes, picture frames, golf clubs, and for the more daring, dumpling colanders, pans, spoons, skis, snowboards, women's shoes with metal heels, and the like.
Official product partner of the competition:
VILLA SANDI, a leading producer of sparkling and still wines in the Prosecco region of Italy. The official product partner will provide Villa Sandi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG Extra Dry for the competition.
Competitor registration:
Professionals by the competition opening date to the email: enovia@enovia.sk
In the application, the competitor will state:
First and Last Name
Mobile phone number
Current job position
Name of the company he/she represents at the competition
Registration fee for competitors: 20 Eur / 1 competitor
Categories for competitors:
Female professionals / Male professionals / Amateurs
Date and place of the competition:
The competition will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Donovaly in front of the Aprés Ski Bar in Záhradiště.
The expert jury will be composed of leading experts in the field of sommeliership, gastronomy, hoteliers and representatives of the official importer and distributor of the VILLA SANDI brand in Slovakia, which is the company ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA, a.s. The chairman of the expert jury is Vladimír Hronský, an oenologist and professional sommelier.
Competition program 14. 2. 2026:
The aim of the competition is:
1. To compare the level of service provision in the wine tasting by sommeliers, which they can offer to their guests or represent their business or brand at various events.
2. To improve the techniques of safe wine tasting.
3. To gain broader knowledge about the products and the VILLA SANDI brand in the distribution of the ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA company, whose prosecco is among the most popular.
4. To attract young, amateur fans of sparkling wine and prosecco to learn about its history, production and quality and to be able to better navigate the offer.
5. To experience a great competition day with professionals and the public audience at the peak of the winter season in Donovaly.
We will compete in two chopping techniques:
SEMIFINALS (for all categories)
Theoretical part:
Presentation of knowledge about the VILLA SANDI brand (history, present, production range, sparkling wine gastronomy, sparkling wine service) in the form of questions from the expert jury.
Practical part:
Competitors will demonstrate the classic technique of sabrage prosecco with the official sommelier's sabre.
FINALS (for the categories of professional women and professional men)
The second technique is mandatory for the three best semi-finalists from the professional category, who will be selected by an anonymous point evaluation by the expert jury. The finalists will use their own original object brought for chopping for sabrage. Each finalist can use thematic clothing or choreography for this technique during the presentation, adapted to the subject (theme) of sabrage. The jury will also evaluate the originality of the object used for the sabrage, the clothing and the arrangement of the competitors in the final of the championship during the presentation.
Choice of any object for sabrage in the final:
Professional sabrage artists use various objects for sabrage, such as wallachians, shakers, wine coolers, saucers, wine glasses, horseshoes, picture frames, golf clubs, and for the more daring, dumpling colanders, pans, spoons, skis, snowboards, women's shoes with metal heels, and the like.
Official product partner of the competition:
VILLA SANDI, a leading producer of sparkling and still wines in the Prosecco region of Italy. The official product partner will provide Villa Sandi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG Extra Dry for the competition.
Competitor registration:
Professionals by the competition opening date to the email: enovia@enovia.sk
In the application, the competitor will state:
First and Last Name
Mobile phone number
Current job position
Name of the company he/she represents at the competition
Registration fee for competitors: 20 Eur / 1 competitor
Categories for competitors:
Female professionals / Male professionals / Amateurs
Date and place of the competition:
The competition will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Donovaly in front of the Aprés Ski Bar in Záhradiště.
The expert jury will be composed of leading experts in the field of sommeliership, gastronomy, hoteliers and representatives of the official importer and distributor of the VILLA SANDI brand in Slovakia, which is the company ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA, a.s. The chairman of the expert jury is Vladimír Hronský, an oenologist and professional sommelier.
Competition program 14. 2. 2026:
10.00 – 10.30 Aprés Ski Bar Záhradište, registration of competitors, invited guests, welcome drink, drawing of the competitors’ ranking.
10:30 – 11.00 Opening of the competition with a short speech by the organizers and product partner, joint photo of the competitors with the committee.
11.00 – 12.45 Semi-finals of the competition for all categories of competitors.
12.45 – 13.00 Announcement of the three best skiers in the professional categories who will advance to the finals, joint photo.
12.45 – 13.00 Announcement of the three best skiers in the professional categories who will advance to the finals, joint photo.
13.00 – 13.30 Finals of the Chopping Championship with any object (professionals)
13.30 – 14.00 Announcement of the official results of the championship, presentation of the Chopping Man/Wife of the Year 2026, ceremonial awarding of prizes to the partner and organizers of the competition. Conclusion of the official competition program.
We look forward to seeing you!
Competition organizing team:
HOTEL GALILEO**** Peter Straka, director and sommelier
RESIDENCE HOTEL**** Veronika Šiklová, general manager
ŠPORT HOTEL*** Marek Daňo, general manager
ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA, a.s. Dana Stračinová, director for strategy and development
EnoVia s.r.o. Vladimír Hronský, oenologist and sommelier
13.30 – 14.00 Announcement of the official results of the championship, presentation of the Chopping Man/Wife of the Year 2026, ceremonial awarding of prizes to the partner and organizers of the competition. Conclusion of the official competition program.
We look forward to seeing you!
Competition organizing team:
HOTEL GALILEO**** Peter Straka, director and sommelier
RESIDENCE HOTEL**** Veronika Šiklová, general manager
ŠPORT HOTEL*** Marek Daňo, general manager
ITALMARKET SLOVAKIA, a.s. Dana Stračinová, director for strategy and development
EnoVia s.r.o. Vladimír Hronský, oenologist and sommelier
15.01.2026
Upozornenie / Warning