Raúl Igual Ibáñez

Raúl (Teruel 1979) studied at the E.S.H.A (High School for Culinary Arts of Aragón) where he obtained the title of Professional Manager and specialised as a Maître. From that moment, he has combined his studies to amplify his knowledge with different professional experiences. He undertook placements at the Restaurant Zalacaín (Madrid) as Sommelier Assistant and at the Enoteca Pinchiorri (Firenze – Italia). Then, he studied Oenology at the F.E.H.R in Madrid and obtained the Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wines and Spirits, by the W.S.E.T of London with distinction. Now, he is taking the Master Sommelier Diploma. He has worked as 1st Maître at the ****Hotel La Reserva de San Leonardo (San Leonardo de Yagüe – Soria, Spain) and as 2nd Maître and Sommelier at the restaurant La Granada in Zaragoza (Spain). Finally and before starting his work at the Restaurant Yain, he worked as a sommelier at the Restaurant El Bulli. Since 2007, he has been in charge of the management of the Restaurant Yain (which means wine in Hebrew) place in Teruel's city centre. It is a restaurant with a wine cellar placed near the remains of a Jewish cellar of the 14th century, at 7 metres depth providing a constant natural temperature of 15ºC and a relative humidity of 65%. A perfect place for taking care and fussing over wines, where Raúl puts all his passion.

He combines his work at the Restaurant Yain with the Oenology and Sommelier courses that he teaches in different towns of the province of Teruel when he is asked for it and he has the time.

On 23rd November 2010. he has been awarded the First Prize at the to the Best Sommelier in Spain 2010. This award will leed him to represent Spain in the European and international contests to be held next year. This means a great tribute to the work of this humble sommelier, that from his restaurant Yain, lends us his great knowledge and passion for wine.

Web of the Restaurant Yain