Canarian talent is once again at the top of the national gastronomic scene. The Gran Canarian sommelier Diego Tornel, from the Bevir restaurant (Gran Canaria) and member of the Association of Sommeliers of the Canary Islands, has been proclaimed Best Sommelier of Spain at the 31st Tierra de Sabor Spanish Sommelier Championship, held as part of the prestigious Salón Gourmets.
This competition, one of the most demanding in the sector, brings together every year the best professionals in the country in a competition that evaluates technical knowledge, tasting skills, room service and communication skills. Tornel’s victory confirms not only his excellent level, but also the growing importance of the Canary Islands in the national sommelier scene.
Recognition does not come by chance. Diego Tornel has a solid and constantly evolving career, marked by continuous training and international experience. Currently linked to the Bevir restaurant, he has developed part of his career in gastronomic projects in Spain and abroad, which has allowed him to acquire a global vision of wine and service.
His name was already among the most prominent in the archipelago since he was voted Best Sommelier of the Canary Islands in 2016, a milestone that marked the beginning of his professional projection. Since then, he has consolidated a profile that combines technical knowledge, sensitivity in the dining room and a communicative capacity aligned with the new trends in the sector.
As winner of the national championship, Tornel will now have the honour of representing Spain at the World Sommelier Championship organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), one of the most important global events. This new challenge will place him in front of the best sommeliers in the world and will be a unique opportunity to continue projecting Spanish – and Canarian – talent on the international stage.
Beyond the title, his triumph reflects an increasingly evident reality: Spanish sommeliers are living a moment of high level, with professionals capable of competing at the highest level worldwide. In this context, figures such as Diego Tornel represent a new generation that is committed to a sommelier who is closer, didactic and connected with the client, without renouncing rigour and excellence.
With this recognition, the Canary Islands not only adds a new success, but also reaffirms its role as a breeding ground for great wine professionals. And Diego Tornel, from Gran Canaria, has become one of its best ambassadors.
