Ismael Álvarez Justo

Ismael was born into a family of winegrowers in Tarancón (Cuenca). Study cooking and, in 2006, enter the sommelier course of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce.
He started his career at the Urban Hotel in Madrid, passing through restaurants such as the Japanese Kabuki and in 2009 he joined Ramón Freixa’s team as a sommelier. In 2012 he moved to Nerua, the restaurant of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, where he was the Head Sommelier for 10 years. In 2022, Ismael returns to Madrid to be part of Chispa Bistró, a space that combines haute cuisine and with a deep respect for the product.