Francisco Gonzalez Romero

During his decade long professional career in the alcoholic beverage industry; Francisco “Paco” Gonzalez Romero has worked especially with fermented beverages, specializing in communication & consumer service, leading sensory experiences and training.
He has been an international beer judge in more than 10 countries, and is the Mexican judge with the most international experience.

Certified Sake Sommelier and Educator with the Sake Sommelier Association; Beersommelier by Doemens Academy; Unionbirrai Beer Taster; he also has other certifications as a beer and mead judge.

He currently works as a teacher, consultant, judge and ambassador for Sake Sommelier Mexico, Beer Paradise and other groups.

Matthieu Guerpillon

Matthieu Guerpillon is Wine, Scotch & Sake Sommelier
I am French, born in Paris but I grew up in Normandy and my fathers gave me the habit of cooking, eating, and enjoying food. Mainly French food but also Italian, Thai, Chinese, African, and now Mexican cuisine. It become a daily ritual for me from my youth.
25 years ago, I studied in the Bordeaux Business school with the opportunity to have a university exchange with a Mexican school. And I decided to stay…
At first, I worked as a sommelier in different restaurants and wine bars in Mexico City. Wine wasn’t a very common drink for Mexican people 25 years ago. So, I was convinced that I could help to grow the wine consumption in México, which is the reason I decided to become a Brand Ambassador for different wines brands, from Chili, Spain, and California as well. A few years later, I become the Brand Ambassador of an important Mexican Winery in Baja California. I really enjoy being part of the Mexican wine transformation to a better quality.
In 2021, I decided to expand my horizons and keep learning about different drinks. I had heard that sake is very interesting to pair with food, especially for its capacity to enhance flavours.
Nowadays, I am working for the first Mexican sake brewery, Nami. My role is to help grow the sake category in México as a Sake Sommelier and a Sake Educator with the SSA, and demonstrate sake is the best alternative to pair with a wide variety of food.

Sake Sommelier – Mexico are the Central American representatives of the Sake Sommelier Association. Offering the SSA’s two leading courses, the Introductory Sake Professional and the Certified Sake Sommelier, to students across Central America. Sake Sommelier – Mexico are based in Mexico and often work closely with the NAMI sake brewery, also based in Mexico. Outside of Mexico, there are bases to study with in Panama and Costa Rica.