Juan Luis García Ruiz

Sommelier at the Casa Marcial** restaurant (Arriondas, Asturias, Spain)

Juan Luis García Ruiz is a self-declared Asturias cider enthusiast. The product of his passion is a comprehensive combination of ciders from around the world, beginning and ending in Asturias, as back-up to this season's menu at Casa Marcial.

Passionate about wine and a curious soul in constant training, Juan Luis spent many years in the catering sector, with a special focus on the world of wine, which he was introduced to by his mentors Blas Cerón and Salvador López, before working as sommelier at Asturias restaurant Casa Marcial**. He operated his own business until he began work in 2012 with chef Nacho Manzano and his crew in Arriondas. He combined both these functions in the following years with stints at leading restaurants such as Quique Dacosta*** and El Celler de Can Roca***.

Since then he has worked in the catering company run by chefs Nacho and Esther Manzano, not only as sommelier in Casa Marcial, but also in charge of the wine lists and instruction of floor staff at the group's other restaurants. He previously worked as maître-sommelier at the acclaimed restaurant Casablanca-El Taller, which took the Murcia Region's award for Best Wine List in 2004.

World Champion in the 4th Copa Jerez Awards in 2011, Juli Soler Prize for Best Sommelier in the 7th Copa Jerez Awards in 2017, Best Sommelier in the IWC Merchant Awards Spain 2019 and Best Sommelier in the Verema Awards 2020, among other distinctions.