Alexander Johnsen, Chef at Restaurant Bühlmann, Scheelsminde (Aalborg), and sommelier Mathias Thorstein Breinholt from Restaurant Domestic (Aarhus), will represent Denmark at the Copa Jerez Forum & Competition, to be held in May 2027 in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain). The winning team was selected by a jury of experts from among four participating restaurants, after achieving the best menu and Sherry wine pairing presented during the national final of Copa Jerez Denmark 2026 on June 15.
This event was made possible thanks to the support and collaboration of ICEX, Fedejerez, and the Consejo Regulador de Jerez.
- On Monday, June 15, the team that will represent Denmark in the largest international gastronomic competition dedicated to pairing with Sherry wines was selected: the Copa Jerez Forum & Competition, which will take place in May 2027 in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).
- The team from Jutland, formed by Chef Alexander Johnsen and sommelier Mathias Thorstein Breinholt, claimed victory over three other teams from Copenhagen and North Zealand. The 12th national selection was held at the Michelin-starred restaurant The Samuel, in Hellerup, before around seventy guests.
- Denmark has won the Copa Jerez five times, and the last two editions consecutively, in 2023 and 2025. With the new winning team representing the national competition, the possibility opens up to achieve a historic third consecutive title if a new victory is secured.
The Best Pairing Between Cuisine and Sherry
On June 15, some of Denmark's best chefs and sommeliers competed for the right to represent their country internationally against 7 other teams at the Copa Jerez Forum & Competition 2027 in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), the only gastronomic competition in the world focused exclusively on food and Sherry wine pairings.
Each team presented a three-course menu—starter, main course, and dessert—along with three different selected Sherry wines, aiming to achieve the best pairing. Participants were evaluated on their gastronomic quality and talent, the pairing of the chosen Sherry wines, and their presentation.
After a difficult deliberation, the winning team proved to be the one formed by Alexander Johnsen from Restaurant Bühlmann, Scheelsminde, and Mathias Thorstein Breinholt from Restaurant Domestic, who will represent Denmark in Jerez in May 2027.
Their victory makes the Jutland team the Danish bet to conquer a potential and historic third consecutive triumph, following the victories achieved in 2023 and 2025.
Sea Urchin and Manzanilla Made the Difference
The jury particularly highlighted the team's ability to convey the harmony between the Sherry wines and the chosen haute cuisine to achieve an exclusive pairing—a creation that stood out above the rest.
Ole Troelsø, gastronomic editor of the newspaper Børsen, commented after the winner was announced:
"The winning team's dishes and pairings stood out for being more modern and contemporary, as well as extraordinarily flavorful. In particular, the starter—a delicate chawanmushi with sea urchin, surprising crispy cubes of Jerusalem artichoke poached in milk, and Jerusalem artichokes pickled in dry sherry—was not only exceptionally delicious, but it also paired fantastically with the manzanilla."
A Dream Come True
The winners had been training for months to achieve the perfect pairings between haute cuisine and sherry. Although both Mathias and Alexander had previously participated in the Copa Jerez, this is the first time they have achieved victory.
Mathias Thorstein Breinholt, sommelier and winner of Copa Jerez Denmark 2026:
"It is a dream to be here today and to finally be the winning team. I have had many role models who have won this competition—teachers, friends, and acquaintances—and being able to stand alongside them now is something unique. Alexander and I have been training together for months; we even spent the four-hour drive here talking about sherry and gastronomy. The Cup is, above all, about communicating and conveying the history of sherry and its region."
Alexander Johnsen, executive chef and winner of Copa Jerez Denmark 2026:
"It's an incredible feeling to be here with Mathias and compete together. Our relationship goes back a long way: I was a chef at Domestic when Mathias started his apprenticeship, and later we opened a restaurant together in Aarhus. Since then, we never meet without drinking sherry, so this is the perfect competition for us. Sherry has so much to offer and a complexity that, compared to conventional wine, can be even more interesting."
The Best Representation for Denmark
Francis Cardenau, chef and founder of Cardenau Group, stated:
"The most important thing in the Copa Jerez is that the food wins thanks to the pairing with sherry. It's not about the most correct dish, but about finding the best possible combination. This team presented the best menu of the day. Only minor adjustments are needed to be able to win in Spain. And we want to win for the third consecutive time."
Participating Teams
- Team 1
- Rasmus Kjær, executive chef, SVOVL (Østerbro)
- Anders Halskov Jensen, sommelier and sherry educator, Madhjernen
- Team 2
- Daniel Werge Jensen, sommelier, Restaurant Møntergade
- Bendix Sixhøj Laursen, executive chef, Brasserie Carl (Skodsborg)
- Team 3
- Rebecca V Purcell Siri Corbo, chef and sommelier, Cori (Hornbæk)
- Toke Fiedler Terkildsen, sommelier, Restaurant AOC
- Team 4 (Winner)
- Alexander Johnsen, executive chef, Scheelsminde (Aalborg)
- Mathias Thorstein Breinholt, sommelier, Restaurant Domestic (Aarhus)
Jury
- Jonathan Berntsen, executive chef of The Samuel and former winner of the Copa Jerez.
- Ole Troelsø, gastronomic editor of the newspaper Børsen.
- Malene Smidt Hertz, DipWSET and founder of Vinuddannelse.dk.
- Francis Cardenau, chef and founder of Cardenau Group.
- Alexander Berntsen, sommelier at Parsley Salon and former winner of the Copa Jerez.
Copa Jerez: 20 Years in the International Gastronomic Elite
The Copa Jerez is the only gastronomic competition in the world dedicated exclusively to the pairing between gastronomy and Sherry wines. It is organized by the Consejo Regulador de las Denominaciones de Origen Jerez-Xérès-Sherry y Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, along with Fedejerez and the economic and commercial offices of Spain's embassies in various countries.
In its twenty-year history, it has gathered more than 500 culinary professionals from five continents and has featured prominent figures such as Jancis Robinson MW, Josep Roca (El Celler de Can Roca), and Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck).
Denmark's History in the International Copa Jerez
- 2005 – Rasmus Kjær / Ralf Christensen – Best Starter.
- 2007 – Jacob Mielcke-Hansen / Alexander Berntsen – Best Pairing with Dry Sherry.
- 2009 – Jacob Mielcke-Hansen / Rune Elkjær – Best Creative Pairing and Best Pairing with Organic Wine.
- 2011 – Henrik Yde Andersen / Anton Eff – Best Starter.
- 2013 – Alexander and Jonathan Berntsen – Champions of the 6th Copa Jerez and Best Chef.
- 2015 – Thanyakarn Phureephatthakul / Simon Bertelsen – Best Creative Pairing.
- 2017 – Kasper Ind Hasse / Nicolai Hyllested – Best Starter.
- 2019 – Jonathan K. Berntsen / Martin G. Sørensen – Champions of the 8th Copa Jerez, Best Chef, and Best Dessert.
- 2021 – Peter Pepke / Alan Bates – Best Starter.
- 2023 – Alexander Berntsen / Allan Schultz – Champions of the 10th Copa Jerez and Best Chef.
- 2025 – Emil Rask Bahr / Andreas Kobs Laursen (Sdr. Bjert Kro) – Champions of the 11th Copa Jerez and Best Dessert.
Winning Menu
Alexander Johnsen – Chef · Scheelsminde Mathias Thorstein Breinholt – Sommelier · Restaurant Domestic
- Starter
- Sea urchin chawanmushi, Jerusalem artichoke, and mussel sauce deglazed with dry sherry.
- Sherry: Barbadillo Manzanilla En Rama Nave Trinidad.
- Main Course
- Grilled Iberian secreto with forest honey BBQ sauce, sansho pepper, nutmeg, and anise; accompanied by salted ramps, olives, artichokes, and toasted macadamia nuts. Potato rösti with lardo and truffles pickled in sherry.
- Sherry: Equipo Navazos, La Bota de Palo Cortado nº 102 "Florpower MMX".
- Dessert
- Fried fig stuffed with sherry and dark sugar fig compote, served with grilled banana ice cream with organic vanilla and oxidized pear syrup.
- Sherry: Bodegas Tradición Pedro Ximénez VOS 20 Years.
