ws_results([{"judgeID":803,"fn":"Robert","ln":"Bath, MS","title":"Wine and Beverage Instructor, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone","location":"Napa, CA","photo":"803.jpg","bio":"A third generation Californian, Bob was one of the first twenty five Americans to pass the Master Sommelier exam in 1993.  Over the last thirty years he has worked in virtually every aspect of the hospitality and wine industries, including managing several “Wine Spectator Grand Award” Restaurants and directing National Sales for Shafer Vineyards, as well as, starting two companies; Robert Bath Imports  and The RLB Wine Group.   His consulting clients at the RLB Wine Group have included The French Laundry, Taj Hotels, Crystal Cruise Lines and over twenty five high profile California wineries.  A consummate wine educator, Bob is currently teaching at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in the Napa Valley, where he leads the Accelerated Wine and Beverage Program, the first year long, accredited beverage program of it’s kind in the US","website":"www.ciachef.edu","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":150,"fn":"Bob","ln":"Betz MW","title":"Founder/Winemaker, Betz Family Winery","location":"Woodinville, WA","photo":"150.jpg","bio":"Bob Betz is founder/winemaker at Betz Family Winery, a company he and his wife established in 1997.  The path to starting their own winery began in the early 1970s when the two spent a year in the vineyards of Western Europe.  Upon return, Bob began his career with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates where he worked for 28 years.  During those 3 decades he worked in many capacities of the promising Washington wine industry and developed close relationships with vineyards and wineries, honing his skills in both areas.  Since its first vintage Betz Family Winery has used fruit from selected vineyards in Washington’s Columbia Valley, crafting a range of red wines from Rhone and Bordeaux varieties. \r\n\r\nWhile at Ste. Michelle Bob held positions in communications, education, quality management and production, retiring as Vice President of Winemaking Research. He played a key role in developing the international reputation of the state’s burgeoning wine industry, as well as developing quality initiatives for the company, and managing two international joint ventures, Col Solare (Marchesi Antinori) and Eroica (Dr. Loosen).  His work with the joint ventures, as well as with the company’s projects in Washington and California expanded his breadth and depth of winemaking experience.\r\n\r\nBob graduated from the University of Washington’s honors program in zoology; but his more applicable degree is that of Master of Wine, awarded by the Institute of Masters of Wine in London. His graduate dissertation focused on the interaction of wine and barrels during the maturation process. He received two additional awards in successfully completing the exams: the Villa Maria Award, for the highest scores on the viticultural exam, and the Robert Mondavi Award, for the highest overall scores in all theory exams. \r\n\r\n","website":"betzfamilywinery.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":600,"fn":"John","ln":"Blazon, MS","title":"Vice-President of Sales, The Spire Collection","location":"Orlando, FL ","photo":"600.jpg","bio":"John Blazon MS is Vice President of Sales for the Spire Collection since February 2010. The Spire Collection is a luxury driven division representing the artisan brands from the Jackson Family. As its educational and sales brand ambassador, John travels the US to work with a talented team of sommeliers in key markets focusing on collector and AAA accounts to build and strengthen equity for a unique selection of handpicked brands.\r\n\r\nBlazon is the former wine director for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. During his tenure, John was responsible for the development of wine concepts and standards, including product selection, service and training for 55 restaurants, 20 lounges, 18 resorts, 3 theme parks which also included Epcot’s Food \u0026 Wine Festival.\r\n\r\nJohn received his master sommelier diploma from the International Court of Master Sommeliers, during a fall 2004 exam in London, England and became the 59th MS for the American Chapter.\r\n\r\nIn 2003, Blazon’s efforts were applauded by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), which awarded its “America’s Best Wine Lists Special Innovation” honor to Walt Disney World Resort at the Monterey Wine Festival. In addition, Santé magazine named Blazon its 2003 “Wine Professional of the Year.\r\n\r\nJohn continued to develop educational courses for Disney’s food and beverage team which included the Disney sommelier certificate program in partnership with the Court of Master Sommeliers. More than 750 cast members passed the introductory certificate level since the training began in 2000, which is a greater number than any food and beverage organization in the world. In 2006, Blazon was recognized by The STARWINE International Wine Competition as their “Sommelier of the Year.” In 2008 and 2013, John was elected to serve on the board for the  Court of Master Sommeliers and was appointed as an inaugural board member to the American Guild of Sommeliers.","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":640,"fn":"Christy","ln":"Canterbury MW","title":"Master of Wine","location":"New York, NY","photo":"640.jpg","bio":"I am a Master of Wine, journalist, speaker, judge and educator who lives between Manhattan and the vineyards of the world, primarily those of Europe. Today, I have 311 Master of Wine colleagues worldwide, of which 32 are US nationals and only 8 are US national women. Upon becoming a Master of Wine in 2011, I received the Villa Maria Award for Outstanding Performance in the Viticulture Examination.\r\n\r\nMy articles have been published in Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, Food Arts, Sommelier Journal, Snooth, Beverage Media, TimAtkin.com, Santé, TASTED and several different blogs. I am the Consulting Editor of the GOURMAND AWARD-winning  book, Rock and Vine, and the Italy Editor for the Professional Wine Reference.\r\n\r\nA frequent public speaker, my recent appearances have included VinExpo 2013, the European Wine Bloggers’ Conference in Izmir, the Hong Kong International Wine \u0026 Spirits Fair, the Women in Wine Leadership Symposium, TEXSOM and the Mediteraneo Festival in Belgrade among others. Contributing from a different angle, I am on the Advisory Board of the 2014 International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration.\r\n\r\nI judge wines at competitions around the world including International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards, Ultimate Wine Challenge, Dallas Morning News/TEXSOM Wine Competition, Vinul.ro Premiile de Excelenta, Istanbul Masters of Wine Weekend and Balkans International Wine Competition. I review wines regularly for the flash-sale site Vitis, and I enjoy teaching consumers through New York’s SideTour, Astor Center and Brooklyn Winery.\r\n\r\nEmbarking upon my vinous career after a tour of the finance world that began in Dallas and ended in New York by way of Paris, I\u0027ve enjoyed many demanding positions in the wine industry. My financial background earned me positions as the National Wine Director for Smith \u0026 Wollensky Restaurant Group and the Corporate Beverage Director for Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges, where I opened and managed the beverage components of restaurants from Istanbul and Doha to Vancouver and Bora Bora. Jim Lahey commissioned me to create the novel, screw-cap-only wine list for his Co. pizza concept, and I revamped the wine list at Gordon Ramsay at The London. At New York\u0027s Italian Wine Merchants, \r\nI worked first in business development then as a buyer introducing clients to great estates outside Italy. Not neglecting the non-profit side of the wine business, I spent a year in public relations for the grower-funded entity New Zealand Winegrowers.\r\n","website":"christycanterbury.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":660,"fn":"Kasey ","ln":"Carpenter","title":"Free Lance Writer","location":"Fort Worth, TX","photo":"660.jpg","bio":"Kasey Carpenter has spent the last decade plus in all tiers of the wine business from restaurant and retail to wholesale and being an independent broker.  He has written extensively on the subject for Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, The Chicago Sun Times, Reuters, as well as other local publications and numerous websites.  When he isn\u0027t tasting forty wines a week or convincing people to \"just give this Traminer Aromatico a chance\", he enjoys quiet hours with a book, and loud weekends with his wife and daughter.","website":"kaseycarpenter.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":152,"fn":"Rebecca","ln":"Chapa","title":"Wine Consultant, Tannin Management/Wine by the Class","location":"San Francisco, CA","photo":"152.jpg","bio":"Rebecca Chapa, is a Certified Wine Educator, Certified Sommelier and holds the Diploma Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in London.  Chapa is Chairman of the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.  Chapa is Beverage Manager for SF Chefs www.sfchefs.com and has taught wine classes for consumers with her own company, Wine by the Class since 2001.  Chapa is an adjunct instructor at the Culinary Institute of America teaching Tasting Terroir, Oregon and Washington Intensive and the Fortified and Dessert Wine Intensive.  She also teaches WSET classes.  Chapa’s blog www.rebeccachapa.com explores wine, spirits, travel and culture.  \r\nChapa launched Tannin ManagementSM in 1999, a San Francisco-based wine consulting firm whose clients include Wines of Chile, National Pork Board, Napa Valley Vintners. Previous clients have included Pacific Catch, Ribera del Duero, Constellation, Outpatient Surgery Magazine, Canyon Road Winery, Geyser Peak Winery, Heck Estates, Credit Suisse, Wines from Spain, Iluna Basque, Twenty-Four Restaurant, Cetrella, XYZ Restaurant at the W Hotel, Belon, Westin St. Francis Hotel, and Auberge Del Mar.  Rebecca has written freelance for Santé and wrote chapters on California wine regions for The Global Encyclopedia of Wine and on the California Wine Business for Greenwood Publishing\u0027s The Business of Wine.  \r\nShe hones her palate tasting as an international judge for competitions such as the Concurso Internacional de Vinhos Cidade de Porto (Portugal), the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition (formerly called the Los Angeles County Fair), San Francisco International Wine Competition, Dallas Morning News, National Women’s Wine Competition and San Diego International Wine Competition.  \r\nShe served as a member of the Board of Directors of theSociety of Wine Educators and was Co-Program Chair of their 2000 conference in San Jose.  Chapa judged Santé Magazine’s Restaurant Wine and Spirits Hospitality Awards in 2000 and 2009, and is a frequent judge for Sunset’s Wine Awards.  She has been a featured speaker for National Pork Board, Wagner College, New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, Restaurant Business\u0027 Menus 2001 Conference, Motto Kryla \u0026 Fisher\u0027s Wine Trends 2001 Luxury Seminar, World Wine Market, the Pacific Rim Wine Education Center, Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and the Wine Institute of California’s Wine by the Glass Program in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. \r\nChapa has been featured on television on View from the Bay, in a satellite media tour for Canyon Road Winery, a pilot for Wine Country Living, as a guest reporter for Latin Eyes and Epicurious.com.  (see media clips at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtk3LBG1xes) As former ambassador for Rubicon Estate she travelled the United States fostering relationships with the top sommeliers in the country and gaining sales experience.\r\n","website":"www.rebeccachapa.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":118,"fn":"Charles Thomas","ln":"Curtis MW","title":"Founder, CurtisMW","location":"New York, NY","photo":"118.jpg","bio":"Charles Curtis MW is the founder of CurtisMW, a fine wine advisory serving private, trade and institutional clients with an interest in the market for fine and rare wine.  Former Head of Wine for Christie’s in both Asia and the Americas and a Certified Member of the Appraiser\u0027s Association of America, Mr. Curtis has a wealth of experience with the world’s most luxurious wine, and deep contacts with the collectors who love them and the people who sell them.\r\n\r\nCurtis joined Christie’s in 2008 from LVMH, where he had held the post of Director of Wine and Spirit Education for Moet Hennessy USA.  He has held a variety of posts in the wine trade over the years, and his professional career began as a chef who trained at the Cordon Bleu Paris, working in restaurants around the world.\r\n\r\nCurtis earned his Diploma from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust of London, and in October 2004 became the 22nd Master of Wine in the United States.  Through the years, he has garnered a number of honors, including the prestigious “Bourse André Crispin” in 2002, presented by the Commanderie de Bordeaux aux Etats-Unis, of which he is now a member, along with the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.  He is a member of the board of the Institute of Masters of Wine (North America) and continues to work on their behalf, speaking at their annual Education Seminar and helping to organize events such as the Institute’s Annual Champagne Tasting which he founded.  Curtis has been a guest lecturer at a number of universities, and is presently a guest professor at the University of Jinan Quancheng College in Penglai, China.\r\n\r\nWriting has also long been among Curtis’ interest.  He writes a regular column for the Chinese version of La Revue du Vin de France and other magazines, and has been a contributing editor to trade and consumer works on wine.  Curtis has worked as a wine consultant, wine and spirits judge, and featured speaker at dozens of wine and food festivals over the years.  He is the creator of wine tasting website www.CurtisMW.com and a blog www.WineAlpha.com.  In his free time, he loves to travel through Asia visiting culinary hot spots, museums, and sites of historic interest and natural beauty throughout the region.\r\n","website":"curtismw.com/","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":87,"fn":"Cole ","ln":"Danehower","title":"Co-Owner \u0026 Publisher, Northwest Palate Magazine","location":"Portland, OR","photo":"87.jpg","bio":"Cole has been writing about and professionally reviewing the wines of the Pacific Northwest since 1999. In 2004 he won a James Beard Foundation Journalism Award for his publication the Oregon Wine Report (which was also a featured SAVEUR Magazine \"Favorite 100\" culinary item). Since 2005 he has been co-owner and publisher of Northwest Palate magazine covering the food, wine, and culinary travel resources of the Pacific Northwest. \r\n\r\nIn 2010 his book Essential Wines and Wineries of the Pacific Northwest, A Guide to the Wine Countries of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Idaho was published by Timber Press. Also in 2010 he was given the Industry Partner Award by the Oregon Wine Board for contributions to the Oregon wine industry. \r\n\r\nCole has twice been awarded scholarships to attend the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood. Cole is a frequent wine judge, including the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, Sunset Magazine Wine Competition, Oregon State Wine Competition, Portland Indie Wine Festival, and others. Cole’s freelance writing has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Wines \u0026 Vines Magazine, The Oregonian, Eugene Register Guard, and other print and online publications.\r\n","website":"essentialnorthwestwines.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":598,"fn":"Mark","ln":"Davidson","title":"Global Education Director,  Wine Australia USA ","location":"San Francisco, CA","photo":"598.jpg","bio":"Born in London, raised in Sydney Mark has over 30 years of experience in the hotel and restaurant and wine business, fifteen of those as a Sommelier.\r\n\r\nIn 1990 Mark was named Best French Wine and Spirit Sommelier in British Columbia and in 2001 he was name Sommelier of the Year by the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Service Association\r\n\r\nAs a Department Head and instructor with the International Sommelier Guild he was instrumental in the on going development of the curriculum and has taught classes in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.\r\n\r\nIn addition he developed a wine education and restaurant etiquette course for Simon Fraser University Global Asset and Wealth Management MBA program and is currently studying for the theory section of the Master of Wine having passed the rigorous tasting examination in 2012 Mark is currently Global Education Director for Wine Australia.\r\n","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":601,"fn":"Laura","ln":"DePasquale MS","title":"General Manager, Artisanal Fine Wine \u0026 Spirits","location":"Miami, FL","photo":"601.jpg","bio":" Former Vice President/General Manager, Stacole Fine Wine, a division of the Country Vintner. First woman in the U.S. to head a major distributor in a major market. Active educator, examiner and speaker for the Court of Master Sommeliers – Americas. Laura is also an accomplished artist whose work has appeared at galleries in Philadelphia and New York.","website":"www.southernwine.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":656,"fn":"Mike","ln":"Dunne","title":"Free Lance Writer, The Sacramento Bee, A Year In Wine and Finding Los Cabos ","location":"Sacramento, CA and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico","photo":"656.jpg","bio":"Mike Dunne, retired food editor, restaurant critic and wine columnist for The Sacramento Bee, continues to write of wine and travel from homes in Sacramento, California, and San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur. He contributes a weekly wine column to The Sacramento Bee, freelances to other publications, and tends two blogs, A Year In Wine (www.ayearinwine.com) and Finding Los Cabos (www.findingloscabos.blogspot.com). He judges at about a dozen wine competitions a year, from the large (Dallas) to the small (Fiddletown).","website":"ayearinwine.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":16,"fn":"Patrick","ln":"Farrell MW","title":"President, Inventive Technologies, Inc.","location":"Huntington Beach, CA","photo":"16.jpg","bio":"Patrick is a physician by training, board certified in ophthalmology and internal medicine. A long time member of the Society of Wine Educators, he\u0027s a certified wine educator and past conference, program and professional session chairman. A master of wine since 1998, Patrick\u0027s been involved with the Institute of Masters of Wine as a mentor and educator. He\u0027s judged wine competitions and presented educational seminars on several continents. He was a significant contributor to the Global Encyclopedia of Wine and is currently working on Dr. Farrells\u0027 Green Tea and Red Wine Diet. Patrick has recently designed a magnetic aerating wine pourer and is President of Inventive Technologies, Inc.. He\u0027s past Vice President of the Institute of Masters of Wine North America, Ltd. ","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":137,"fn":"Michael","ln":"Flynn","title":"North Texas Manager, Small Lots Division Favorite Brands LLC","location":"Dallas, TX","photo":"137.jpg","bio":"Michael Flynn joined the team at Favorite Brands in July of 2014, after over 35 years in the hospitality industry. Previously, Mr. Flynn served as Wine and Beverage Director at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas, Texas, from September of 2007.  He also served as wine director and sommelier for Kinkead’s in Washington, DC since its opening in the Fall of 1993. He was also wine director for Bob Kinkead’s Colvin Run Tavern in Vienna, Virginia, which opened in the Fall of 2001. Described as Washington’s “best known, best loved sommelier” (Washingtonian Magazine, August 1998), and “one of America’s finest sommeliers” (Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, December, 1997), Mr. Flynn has written numerous articles for, and conducted interviews with publications such as The Washington Post, The Wine Spectator, Sante Magazine, Food and Wine Magazine, the American Institute of  Wine and Food, the Wall Street Journal, Sommelier Journal, and Washingtonian Magazine. He has also functioned as a judge in some of America’s most prestigious wine competitions, including the Dallas Morning News competition, the International Wine and Spirit competition, The Lone Star International Wine Competition, and the Virginia Gold Cup competition.\r\n\r\nMr. Flynn served four years in Washington, DC on the board of directors of the American Institute of Wine and Food. DC Chapter, and another four years on the board of the Dallas Chapter, the final two years as Chapter Secretary.\r\n\r\nIn 2006, Michael became a featured contributor in Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page’s What to Drink with What you Eat (Bullfinch Press), winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Cookbook of the Year Award. In 2011, the authors enlisted his aid in contributing to The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine (Little Brown Co.).\r\n\r\nMr. Flynn has been nominated three times by the James Beard Foundation for outstanding wine service, a national award category with only five nominees nationwide annually. He earned his Advanced Diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 1996.","website":"www.favoritebrands.org","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":643,"fn":"Michael","ln":"Franz Ph.D., Editor","title":"Editor, Wine Review Online","location":"Silver Spring, MD","photo":"643.jpg","bio":"Michael Franz is a wine writer, educator, and consultant.  He is editor of Wine Review Online and a freelance contributor to many national and international wine magazines. From 1994 through 2005, he wrote as wine columnist for The Washington Post.  Franz is also a wine consultant for 14 restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as an instructor for L’Academie de Cuisine and the Capital Wine School.  He has conducted more than 1,200 site visits at wineries across Western and Eastern Europe, South America, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.  He tastes approximately 9,000 wines each year, judges wine competitions regularly around the world, and has acted as Chief Judge for international competitions in Washington, D.C., San Diego, New Zealand and China","website":"www.winereviewonline.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":17,"fn":"Doug","ln":"Frost, MS, MW","title":"Wine Writer","location":"Kansas City, MO","photo":"17.jpg","bio":"Doug is one of only three people in the world to have passed both the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine exams. Author of several books, including \"Uncorking Wine,\" \"On Wine,\" and \"Far From Ordinary: The Spanish Wine Guide,\" he is also host of Check Please!, a weekly public TV show filmed in Kansas City and the wine and spirits consultant for United Airlines worldwide. He is a founding member of the spirits and cocktail educational organization, BAR, (Beverage Alcohol Resource). Cheers magazine selected BAR and its founders as Innovators of the Year for 2007, and Frost as Beverage Innovator of the Year 2009. He runs two wine competitions, the Mid-American Wine Competition and the Jefferson Cup Invitational, now in its thirteenth year, and a spirits competition: the Washington Cup. In his spare time Doug listens to his massive weird music collection and raises two daughters.","website":"dougfrost.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":597,"fn":"Tim","ln":"Gaiser MS","title":"Director of Education, American Chapter, Court of Master Sommeliers Americas","location":"San Francisco, CA","photo":"597.jpg","bio":"Tim Gaiser is a nationally renowned wine expert and Master Sommelier. He is the former Director of Education for the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas as well as an adjunct professor for the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley.\r\n","website":"www.mastersommeliers.org","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":18,"fn":"Nick","ln":"Goldschmidt","title":"Winemaker, Goldschmidt Vineyards","location":"Healdsburg, CA","photo":"18.jpg","bio":"Nick Goldschmidt winemaker and  consultant \r\nFirst vintages and work status\r\nNew Zealand 83 - present, Australia 85 - present, Chile 89 - present, USA 89 - present, Argentina 93 - today, Italy 95 - 99 Portugal 95 - 99, Mexico 03 - 05, Spain 03 -  present\r\n\r\nEmployers\r\nSimi 1990 – 2003 (LVMH and Constellation)\r\nAllied Domecq 2003 – 2008 (AD and Jim Beam)\r\nGoldschmidt 2008 - present\r\n\r\nPast Lead winemaking roles for \r\nSimi, Blackstone, Ravenswood, Franciscan, Estancia, Clos Du Bois, Gary Farrell, Geyser Peak, Wild Horse , Atlas Peak, Callaway, Mumm Napa Valley, Buena Vista, Callaway, Spain - Ruffino, Ysios, Tarsus, Campo Viejo, Argentina - Graffigna, Balbi, Mumm Terrazas,  New Zealand - Stoneleigh, Brancott, Cloudy Bay, Mexico - Domecq Mexico, Portugal - Roses, Australia - Green point, \r\n\r\nConsults for\r\nErrazuriz, Arboleda, Sena, Chadwick, Calitera, Atlas Peak, Argento, Ehret Family, Blue Rock, GiaDomella, Don Sebastiani and sons, Columbia, Covey Run, Mission Hill, Finca Origion \r\n\r\nMore than 100 of his wines have received 90 pts and above from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Robert Parker. 20 of his wines have been included in the Wine Spectator Top 100\r\n\r\nNick Goldschmidt winemaker today\r\nGoldschmidt \r\nGoldschmidt, Forefathers, Boulder Bank, Goldschmidt daughters, \r\nFive Gold Hands\r\nRendition, Pampano, Red Bone, Embankment, Estribo\r\nGold Mark\r\nChacrus, Yardstick, Bush House Bay, Fidelity\r\nOther\r\nTrig Point, NZ One, Paua Rock, Luna Rosa, Shoreline, Farmers Market\r\n\r\nFirst vintages\r\nForefathers 1998, Goldschmidt 1999\r\n\r\nAppellations\r\nAustralia – Forefathers\r\nArgentina – Pampano, Chacras, Forefathers, Luna Rosa\r\nNew Zealand – Forefathers, Boulder Bank, Shoreline, NZ one, Farmers Market, Paua Rock, Bush House Bay\r\nUSA  \r\nAlexander Valley – Forefathers, Goldschmidt, Goldschmidt Plus, Katherine Goldschmidt, Fidelity, Embankment, Trig Point, \r\nNapa -  Goldschmidt, Plus, Hilary Goldschmidt,  Yardstick, \r\nDry Creek  - Red Bone, Chelsea Goldschmidt\r\n","website":"www.goldschmidtvineyards.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":88,"fn":"Keith","ln":"Goldston MS","title":"Master Sommelier","location":"San Geronimo, CA","photo":"88.jpg","bio":"In March 2001 Keith Goldston became America\u0027s 47th Master Sommelier. He is the proud recipient of the illustrious Krug Cup trophy, passing all three parts of the exam (theory, tasting and practical), on the first attempt. Although Keith is currently one of the world\u0027s youngest Master Sommeliers, he brings with him more than 19 years experience working for a variety of prestigious and award winning restaurants \u0026 wineries including Domaine Chandon, Masa\u0027s, Spago, and Picasso. Wine Spectator has called Keith “a wizard at matching food with interesting wines”.\r\n\r\nSince passing the Masters Exam Keith has been involved in a variety of projects, many of them with star Chef Charlie Palmer. Keith has worked at Charlie’s Las Vegas restaurants; Charlie Palmer Steak and Aureole with its “wine tower” and digital wine list featuring over 4000 different wines. Keith was also hired to open Charlie Palmer Steak Washington D.C. For Charlie Palmer Steak DC, Keith created the “all-American wine list”; offering over 800 wines all exclusively produced in the U.S.A. Keith and Charlie also teamed up to produce a series of private-label wines, where Keith was able to craft the blends with top winemakers in Sonoma. Keith loves to educate and lecture and over the last two years he has had the privilege to teach over 1500 students. Keith has been lucky enough to return to his hometown Napa and teach classes at COPIA \u0026 the Culinary Institute of America plus travel to exotic locations such as Seoul where he lectured at the Korean Wine Academy and represented the U.S.A. as a wine judge in Korea’s first international wine competition. Recently Keith packed his bags for India to help with the opening of India’s first wine bar, “The Tasting Room” in Mumbai as well as providing staff training for India’s top two hotel groups, the Taj and Oberoi. Keith is a regular fixture at the Court of Master Sommeliers Courses, teaching and testing aspiring sommeliers in the ways and standards of the Court. In the past he has been seen spreading the word of wine at UNLV, Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Keith has also formed Vino Monkey Productions, a production company with a focus on wine. \r\n\r\n","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":62,"fn":"Daryl","ln":"Groom","title":"Owner and Winemaker, Groom Wines","location":"Healdsburg, CA","photo":"62.jpg","bio":"Daryl Groom is an owner and he winemaker for Groom. He resides in the USA where he was, until recently, Vice President of Winemaking \u0026 Operations for Peak Wines International. Prior to this position, he was both Senior White Winemaker and then Senior Red Winemaker for Penfolds Wines in Australia. \r\n\r\nHis love was producing Penfolds famed red wine, Grange, which he oversaw from 1984 until his move to the USA in 1990. Daryl makes regular trips back to South Australia to oversee all winemaking operations for Groom to ensure the highest quality product.\r\n\r\nDaryl’s passion for wine sees him judging and 5 international wine shows. He has been a guest speaker on the Queen Mary 2 and Seabourne cruise lines. He has also been a repeat guest on E television in the USA.\r\n\r\nQuarterly Review of Wines – Winemaker of the Year\r\nSan Francisco Chronicle – Winemaker of the Year\r\nDallas Morning News – Publishers Award, Winemaker of the Year\r\nHouston Chronicle – Winemaker of the Year\r\nLos Angeles Times – Winemaker of the Year\r\nMead on Wine – Winemaker of the Year\r\nFood \u0026 Wine – One of 11 Visionaries to Change the World of Wine\r\nDallas – TV Munson Award for International Accomplishment\r\nIWSC – International Winemaker of the Year\r\n","website":"groomwines.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":42,"fn":"Dave","ln":"Holstrom","title":"Owner, Guy du Vin","location":"Portland, OR","photo":"42.jpg","bio":"David Holstrom has his own wine consulting business, Guy du Vin, LLC and consults for restaurants in the Pacific Northwest and across the United States, including McCormick and Schmick’s Management Group, Restaurants Unlimited, Bruce Carey Restaurants and Nel Centro. He teaches wine classes in Portland, Oregon and has also created an innovative retail program focused on value-based, often esoteric wines via an email newsletter and the internet. In December of 2002, he launched www.guyduvin.com.\r\n\r\nIn 1999, 2000 and 2001 Southpark was awarded a Santé Award for Top West Coast Restaurant Bar and Wine Spectator’s top restaurant for wine lovers. The restaurant has also received accolades from Bon Appetit, Food Arts, Restaurant Hospitality, Food and Wine, and Nation’s Restaurant News for their food \u0026 wine. In April of 2002, David was awarded America’s Best Wine List Award in the fine dining category for Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar from the Monterey Wine Festival. In 2004, he again captured the America\u0027s Best Wine List award, this time in the \"Under 50 Selections category\", for his work at Lauro Mediterranean Kitchen in Portland. He is 2010 Santé Restaurant Award winner for his work with Nel Centro in Portland Oregon.\r\n\r\n","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":537,"fn":"Lane","ln":"Hoss","title":"Director of Marketing, Anthony\u0027s Restaurants","location":"Bellevue, WA","photo":"537.jpg","bio":"Lane has been active in the food and wine industry for over thirty years.  Her interest in wine began while she worked as a Captain and Wine Steward for the Edgewater Inn in Seattle, Washington.  Her current position with Anthony’s Restaurants combines her skills in marketing as well as her knowledge of the beverage arena of the hospitality industry.   Lane heads the Liquor, Beer and Wine Committees for Anthony’s and is a member of the Menu Planning Committee.  She coordinates the company’s wine selections, costing, promotion and service training.  \r\n\r\nLane has served on numerous wine committees including the Washington Wine Commission’s World Vinifera Conferences” Steering Committee and chair of the Washington Athletic Club Wine Committee.  She has also participated as a judge for numerous wine competitions and on tasting panels for various publications.\r\n\r\nLane was awarded the 1995 Restaurateur of the Year award by the Washington Wine Commission. At the 2003 Washington Wine Restaurant Awards, Anthony’s was awarded the Washington Wine First Award and Lane was the first recipient of the Walter Clore Honorarium Award.  In 2004, Anthony’s was awarded Restaurant of the Year.  Anthony’s wine program has been recognized each year by the commission with awards including Best Events Featuring Washington Wine, Best Out of State Wine Program, Winemaker’s Choice Award and Washington Wine Grand Award.  Anthony’s wine program has also been recognized by Wine Press Northwest and the Washington Association of Grape Growers. \r\n\r\nAn active member of the Washington Restaurant Association, Lane is a past chairperson of the Board of Directors.  She was their “Host of the Year” in 2003.  She has also been recognized with the National Restaurant Association Grassroots Leadership Award.  Lane is also a member of Les Dames D’ Escoffier. \r\n\r\nAnthony’s Restaurants owns and operates twenty five Northwest seafood restaurants in twenty waterfront locations in the greater Puget Sound area as well as their own seafood company, Anthony’s Seafood.  The company is privately owned by Seattle native, Budd Gould, the Gould family and a group of senior managers.   Lane and her husband, Verne Benedict, Jr. reside in Kenmore, Washington.\r\n","website":"www.anthonys.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":124,"fn":"Paul","ln":"Lukacs","title":"Freelance author and columnist, Wine Review Online","location":"Baltimore, MD","photo":"124.jpg","bio":"Paul Lukacs is a wine writer, educator, and advisor. Currently a columnist for an on-line wine site, he also is the author of three books: Inventing Wine: A New History of One of the World’s Most Ancient Pleasures (WW Norton 2012), The Great Wines of America: The Top Forty Vintners, Vineyards, and Vintages (WW Norton, 2005) and American Vintage: The Rise of American Wine (Houghton Mifflin, 2000).  \r\nAmerican Vintage, a social history of wine in the United States, won the three major American wine “book of the year” awards in 2001—from the James Beard Foundation, Champagne Veuve Clicquot, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals. The Great Wines of America was awarded a Gourmand prize in 2006 and was featured as a selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club.  Inventing Wine, a history of wine’s changing role in Western culture, was just published in December.  It already has garnered considerable acclaim in the press, on the web, and on both radio and television.\r\n\r\n","website":" www.inventingwine.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":22,"fn":"Keith","ln":"Marton MD","title":"Owner, Marton Consulting","location":"Seattle, WA","photo":"22.jpg","bio":"Keith I. Marton, MD, is a seasoned internist and physician executive, but his friends and family know him as a wine geek. Whenever possible he has combined his love of medicine with his love of wine. In medical school his most frequent day trips were to the Napa valley wineries, where he began his education in all aspects of wine. \r\n\r\nOver the last 45 years he has done almost everything involving wine except make money. He  has been an avid winemaker and collector for 40 years, has regularly  led wine tastings  and has lectured extensively on the health effects of moderate wine consumption. He has been a leader  of several physician based  wine and health organizations and represented the US in an international organization (OIV) that develops standards for viticulture and winemaking. He has judged wine professionally for over  20 years and successfully passed the theory exam as a candidate the Master of Wine degree. ","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":149,"fn":"Sharron","ln":"McCarthy","title":"Vice President of Wine Education, Banfi Vintners","location":"Old Brookville, NY","photo":"149.jpg","bio":"Sharron McCarthy, VP of Wine Education at Banfi Vintners and Past President of the U.S. Society of Wine Educators, is a wine industry legend. Affectionately known as “America’s First Lady of Wine Ed,” Sharron has played an instrumental role in introducing Americans from all walks of life to a finer, more nuanced appreciation for the fruit of the vine.\r\n\r\nOver the past two decades, this lively, engaging, articulate woman has traveled the 50 states, sharing with others her boundless knowledge and enthusiasm for the joy of wine. From wine clubs and consumer groups, to law firms and Fortune 500 companies, to hospitality and grad students at some of America’s most prestigious centers of learning, to floor staff at wine stores and restaurants, in addition to frequent appearances on radio and TV, Sharron is in constant demand as one of the wine industry’s most popular and effective guest speakers.\r\n\r\nAt the heart of her success is a refreshingly unpretentious, progressive approach, firmly aimed at demystifying wine.\r\n\r\nBorn and raised in Long Island, NY, Sharron McCarthy’s wine business career began in 1978 when she joined the Consumer Affairs Department at Banfi Vintners, one of America’s premier names in imported fine wines. Her ability to master the intricacies of wine and communicate that knowledge to others swiftly became apparent. Within a short space of time she was promoted to Executive Director for Riunite wines, helping to create an array of innovative sales and marketing strategies that propelled Riunite into becoming America’s most popular wine.\r\n\r\nIn 1986, Sharron went on to form her own consulting agency. A partnership with the Italian Trade Commission in New York is widely credited with playing a pivotal part in advancing Italy to its current status as America’s leading source of imported wines. Sharron subsequently returned to Banfi Vintners in the mid-1990s, to pursue a new and -- in terms of the industry at the time – pioneering role focused exclusively on developing wine education.\r\n\r\nSharron served a three-year term as president of the Society of Wine Educators (SWE) from 2007-2010. With over 2,000 members, the Society is North America’s foremost source of wine education, offering workshops and seminars for industry professionals and consumers alike. SWE also confers two levels of professional credentials, the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE). Both programs entail a rigorous course of study.  Sharron was elected Director Emeritus of SWE in 2012. \r\n\r\nSharron lives in South Carolina. Though a hectic travel schedule allows for little time for extra-curricular activities, she does enjoy cooking and entertaining with friends.\r\n","website":"www.banfivintners.com/","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":647,"fn":"Andrew","ln":"McNamara MS","title":"Vice President of Wine Development, Breakthru Beverage Florida","location":"Miramar, FL","photo":"647.jpg","bio":"Vice President of Wine Development, Breakthru Beverage Group. Oversees the Premium Account Development Specialist team and Augustan Wine Imports in Florida. Chairman of the Board, Court of Master Sommeliers–Americas. Krug Cup winner. Prior to Breakthru Beverage, Andy was a member of the sommelier team at the Breakers.","website":"www.breakthrubev.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":51,"fn":"Kim","ln":"McPherson","title":"Owner and Winemaker, McPherson Cellars","location":"Lubbock, TX","photo":"51.jpg","bio":"The McPhersons have been a pioneering family in grape growing and wine making in Texas for over 50 years. The family patriarch, Dr. Clinton A. “Doc” McPherson, was one of the “Fathers” of the modern Texas wine industry. In 1976 “Doc,” a Chemistry professor and Bob Reed, a Horticulture professor at Texas Tech University founded Llano Estacado Winery in Lubbock, the first post-Prohibition Texas winery. Until his passing in January, 2014, “Doc” remained one of the state’s prime grape growers and was the first in Texas to plant Sangiovese in his Sagmor Vineyard. Kim’s mother, Clara, while a professor in Texas Tech’s Department of Food Nutrition Science, established the university’s Hotel Restaurant Management degree program. His younger brother, Jon, has been a winemaker in Temecula near San Diego, CA, for over twenty years and has twice won the prestigious “Golden Bear” award for the most medals won in a single year in CA. Kim graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in Food Nutrition Science and then completed the Enology and Viticulture program at the University of California at Davis. He worked at Trefethen in Napa Valley before returning to Lubbock as winemaker for Llano Estacado from 1979 until 1985 and for Cap*Rock Winery from 1990 until 2007 where he also made McPherson Cellars. Kim and Jon produced wines together in California under several labels including Il Fratello and Cucamonga Cellars. Kim’s Texas wines have won over 500 medals in state, national and international wine competitions including several Double Gold Medals at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition and numerous Best of Class awards.  Kim and “Doc” were inducted into the Who’s Who in Food and Wine in Texas Hall of Fame in 1999 and Kim created the McPherson Cellars label in 2000 to honor his father. He converted the historic 1930’s era Coca Cola bottling plant in downtown Lubbock into a winery and McPherson Cellars opened in the fall of 2008. It is one of the most beautiful, modern and efficient wine facilities in Texas and one of the most unique wineries in the country. In 2013 Kim was ranked # 20 on a list of the Top 100 Most Influential U.S. Winemakers and McPherson Cellars was # 87 on the Top 101 Wineries for 2014 and moved up to # 83 in 2015. He continues to play an innovative and dynamic role in the development of the Texas wine industry.\r\n\r\nKim believes in “planting to the land” so his focus is on Rhone, Italian and Spanish varietals. Under the McPherson Cellars label he produces the following wines: Viognier, Roussanne, Reserve Roussanne, Albariño, Sangiovese, Tre Colore (red Rhone blend - no oak), La Herencia (Tempranillo blend), Les Copains White (white Rhone blend), Les Copains Dry Rose (Rhone style rose), Les Copains Red (Red Rhone blend), Sparkling and two specialty wines, Chansa Solera Reserva Cream Sherry and La Diosa Sangria. \r\n","website":"mcphersoncellars.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":23,"fn":"Sally","ln":"Mohr MS","title":"Master Sommelier","location":"Boulder, CO","photo":"23.jpg","bio":"Sally Mohr earned the title of Master Sommelier in 1995 and was the second woman in the United States to achieve that distinction.\r\n\r\nShe began her wine career as an employee at The Boulder Wine Merchant in 1983 and was a co-owner of this renowned specialty retail wine shop from 1986-2010. \r\n\r\nCurrently she is enjoying semi-retirement until the next chapter of her life unfolds.\r\n\r\nIn 2009, Sally passed the Level II Sake Specialist course conducted by John Gauntner in Japan. She became a board member of the Sake Education Council, whose mission is to spread the word of the joys of sake. Kanpai!\r\n\r\nShe continues to put her palate to the test by judging in various regional and international wine competitions. \r\n\r\nBesides wine, Sally enjoys spending time with her husband and two grown children. Her travels have taken her to many wine regions around the world and her long term goal is to feel the dirt between her toes in all of them.\r\n","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":644,"fn":"Melissa","ln":"Monosoff MS","title":" Associate Examination Director, Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas","location":"Dallas, TX","photo":"644.jpg","bio":"Ms. Monosoff is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has honed her skills at the top restaurants in Philadelphia as a cook, sommelier, bartender and beverage director. These restaurants include the finest such as the Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel and The Striped Bass. Currently she is the Sommelier and Beverage Manager for Savona Restaurant in Gulph Mills, PA and is the consulting Sommelier to the Pennsylvania LCB. \r\nMonosoff earned her Master Sommelier Diploma in February of 2010, she is the first in Pennsylvania and  17th woman in the world to hold this title.  Her passion for all things wine and beer related, have earned her several accolades.  In 2009 and 2010 both Philadelphia Magazine and Main Line Magazine named her “Best Sommelier.”  Wine \u0026 Spirits Magazine recognized her as one of America’s “Best Young Sommeliers” in 2004.  In addition she was awarded the Bronze Medal in the national Jeune Sommeliers competition sponsored by the Chaine des Rotisseurs. \r\n\r\nIn addition to her wine knowledge Monosoff is becoming a recognized name in the Philadelphia beer community. From the opening of Maia in Villanova with a well received 200 bottle list and a recent award from Philadelphia Magazine for best Beer Education at Savona in their May, 2010 issue. \r\n","website":"www.mastersommeliers.org","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":801,"fn":"Kathy","ln":"Morgan MS","title":"Master Sommelier","location":"Washington, DC","photo":"801.jpg","bio":"Kathy Morgan is Washington D.C. based wine educator and consultant.  In 2010, she passed the rigorous Master Sommelier examination, becoming the 105th Master Sommelier in North America - and the 19th woman in the world to earn the distinction.  Having spent 12 years in the restaurant industry as an acclaimed sommelier and wine director, she currently teaches classes for wine professionals and consumers, and runs her own consulting firm, handling restaurant wine programs and private events.  \r\nKathy has offered her expertise and experience to many of the world’s leading wine publications as a taster, commentator, contributor and panelist.  Her credits include The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, The Washington Times, Sommelier Journal, Food and Wine Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, and Flavor Magazine.  She has also provided her expert opinion for WUSA TV and BBC America World News.\r\nOne of her favorite roles is as a mentor and an educational leader in her community.  She regularly assists others in their endeavors to pass blind tasting exams; she is an instructor at the Capital Wine School and a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier.  \r\n","website":"kathymorganms.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":607,"fn":"Larry","ln":"O\u0027Brien MS","title":"Sales Director, Micro Cru, Majestic Fine Wines division of Wirtz Beverage Nevada","location":"Las Vegas, NV","photo":"607.jpg","bio":"Larry O’Brien has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and wine businesses, including positions at two Wine Spectator Grand Award winning establishments, The Wine Merchant Restaurant in Akron, Ohio and Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida. Additionally, he served as sommelier for celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s Orlando restaurant. His career led him to Stations Casinos in Las Vegas in 2005 where he created the wine programs for Red Rock Resort and guided the makeover and modernization of the company\u0027s corporate wine program. Currently, Larry is the Brand Champion for Jackson Family Estates. In this role, he seeks to define the origins of wine quality and challenge the long held myths surrounding wine.\r\n\r\nLarry represented the United States in the prestigious international sommelier competition Meilleur Sommelier du Monde ConcoursMondial in 2000 after winning the title of Best Sommelier in America earlier that same year. In 2001 Larry became one of approximately 135 Master Sommeliers in the world and the first Master Sommelier in Florida. Early in 2008, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has served as a judge for the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs’ Jeuene Sommelier Competition at the national and regional levels. He has participated as a wine judge, with other internationally recognized experts, at the Starwine International Wine Competition held in Philadelphia in 2004, 2005 and 2006. \r\n\r\nWhen not immersed in in the world of wine, you will likely find Larry in a bowling center working towards a 200 average and his first 300 game. \r\n\r\n","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":25,"fn":"Bob","ln":"Paulinski MW","title":"Senior Vice President, Bevmo Stores ","location":"Concord, CA","photo":"25.jpg","bio":"Bob Paulinski, MW currently resides in Pleasant Hill, California. He is the Senior Vice President for Bevmo Stores which is a 150 outlets across California, Arizona and Washington. Previously, he has held a number of leadership positions across the US. Prior to accepting the Bevmo role in late 2013, he was based in Jacksonville, Florida for five years as Category Director of Wine/Spirits/Beer for Bi-Lo Holdings for 1000+ grocery stores throughout the southeastern US. Before that, he spent five years in Bentonville, Arkansas as Category Manager for Wine/Spirits/Beer for Sam’s Club US. He was an independent owner/operator of a specialty wine retail business for sixteen years in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2002, he became the ninetieth North American to pass the Master of Wine examination and in doing so, ended a four year period in which no new North American candidates had been awarded with a successful completion of the program. He remains active in the MW program, both as an instructor and as an examiner. He has also judged in several wine competitions throughout the US, Europe and South America. He has traveled extensively to the world’s wine regions, with a strong affinity to the wine regions of southern France and both Chile and Argentina. Outside of work and involvement in the MW program, Bob is an avid road cyclist, participating in race and long distance endurance events.  ","website":"","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":603,"fn":"Rhys ","ln":"Pender, MW","title":"Wine Plus+","location":"Cawston, BC. Canada","photo":"603.jpg","bio":"Rhys is a wine educator, consultant, judge and freelance writer through his company Wine Plus+. In 2010 Rhys became Canada’s youngest Master of Wine (MW). In 2008 Rhys was named as one of the “Top 40 Foodies Under 40” in Western Canada by Western Living magazine. He writes for a number of publications, judges internationally and is increasingly becoming recognised as one of Canada’s leading experts in the wine business. His career plan is to wait for Robert Parker to retire so he can finally claim back his initials RP for wine reviews.","website":"www.wineplus.ca","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":802,"fn":"Jack ","ln":"Robertiello","title":"Writer, Consultant, Wine \u0026 Spirits Judge. Drinks Ink","location":"Brooklyn, NY","photo":"","bio":"Jack Robertiello has worked with or written about wine, spirits, food and restaurants most of his adult life, and for many publications and websites, both consumer and trade. He speaks frequently at conferences and meetings, and judges at numerous competitions, including the annual Spirits of Mexico, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the Ultimate Wine Challenge. Robertiello also gives private classes and seminars on tasting wine and spirits, and has advised producers, importers, marketers and publicists about the field. He lives in Brooklyn, NY","website":"www.jackrobertiello.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":143,"fn":"Ron","ln":"Ruggless","title":"Southwest Editor, Nation\u0027s Restaurant News","location":"Dallas, TX","photo":"143.jpg","bio":"Ron Ruggless is Southwest Bureau Chief for Nation’s Restaurant News, covering the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas for the largest industry trade weekly and website, NRN.COM.\r\n\r\nHe joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor.  Before Dallas, he worked at the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. He also edited the Zagat Dining Guide for the Dallas-Fort Worth area for several years, and his work has appeared in Food \u0026 Wine and Self magazines.\r\n\r\nFollow him at twitter.com/RonRuggless\r\n","website":"www.nrn.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":648,"fn":"Jasper","ln":"Russo","title":"Wine Buyer, Sigel\u0027s Fine Wines and Great Spirits","location":"Dallas, TX","photo":"648.jpg","bio":"","website":"www.sigels.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":569,"fn":"Jeff","ln":"Siegel","title":"The Wine Curmudgeon","location":"Dallas, TX","photo":"569.jpg","bio":"Jeff Siegel writes the nationally-known Wine Curmudgeon blog and is a co-founder of DrinkLocalWine.com.","website":"winecurmudgeon.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":524,"fn":"Lance","ln":"Storer, CSW","title":"Domaine Wine Company","location":"Dallas, TX","photo":"524.jpg","bio":"Lance is coming up on two decades of passionately serving wine lovers in Dallas. A true flavor craver, he tastes and studies as much as possible throughout the year in an effort to bring insight and singular perspective to each customer interaction.\r\n\r\nAs a component to his formal wine education, Lance has traveled extensively in Europe, South America and Australia, as well as California, Oregon and Washington. This has given him first hand perspective on vineyard site typicity, viticulture practices, and winemaking trends.\r\n\r\nCertifications:\r\n\r\n    Certified Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers\r\n    Advanced Certificate with Distinction, Wine \u0026 Spirit Education Trust\r\n    Certified Specialist of Wine, Society of Wine Educators\r\n    l’Ecole du Vin, Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux\r\n    Prud’homme de Jurade de Saint-Emilion\r\n","website":"www.domainewinecompany.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":650,"fn":"Liz","ln":"Thach PhD MW","title":"Distinguished Professor of Wine \u0026 Management, Wine Business Institute, Sonoma State University","location":"Rohnert Park, CA","photo":"650.jpg","bio":"Dr. Liz Thach, MW (pronounced “tosh”) is a management and wine business professor at Sonoma State University in the Wine Business Institute where she teaches in both the undergraduate and Wine MBA programs. In addition, she has 10 years of executive and management level experience at Fortune 500 companies and has done consulting and research projects for more than 30 different wineries. Liz’s passion is wine, and she has visited most of the major wine regions of the world and more than 30 countries. In addition, she is an awarding winning author and has published over 120 articles and 8 wine books, including Wine – A Global Business and Wine Marketing \u0026 Sales. A fifth generation Californian, Liz finished her Ph.D. at Texas A\u0026M and now lives on Sonoma Mountain where she tends a small hobby vineyard and makes pinot noir wine. She also works as a wine judge in various competitions, and has served on many non-profit wine boards. Liz obtained the distinction of Master of Wine (MW) in May of 2011.","website":"www.lizthachmw.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":127,"fn":"Marguerite","ln":"Thomas","title":"Features Writer, winereviewonline.com, Columnist, Vineyard \u0026 Winery Management","location":"Baltimore, MD","photo":"127.jpg","bio":"MARGUERITE THOMAS is an award-winning photo-journalist specializing in wine, food and travel. She is a columnist at Wine Review Online, and is a columnist at Vineyard \u0026 Winery Management Magazine. Her photos and articles have appeared in scores of publications, including Gourmet, Elle, Santé, The Wine Enthusiast, Wine \u0026 Spirits, and National Geographic Traveler. She has written a cookbook, and two books about wines of the Eastern United States. She has frequently served as a judge in wine competitions in the US and Europe. Professional organizations to which she belongs include the Wine Media Guild, New York Wine Press, IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals), and Les Dames d’Escoffier, . She lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with her husband wine writer Paul Lukacs.","website":"winereviewonline.com/","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":651,"fn":"Robert","ln":"Whitley","title":"Wine Writer, Publisher, Wine, Competition Director","location":"San Diego, CA","photo":"651.jpg","bio":"Robert Whitley writes a syndicated wine column for the Creators Syndicate and is Publisher of the online wine magazine, Wine Review Online. He has been a wine columnist for more than two decades, beginning with his original \"On Wine\" column in the San Diego Union-Tribune in 1991.\r\n\r\nRobert also serves as Director of five major wine competitions in the United States, and has participated in numerous wine competition in the U.S. and abroad, including the Concours Mondial, the Chardonnay Challenge and the annual wine competition at Vinitaly.\r\nRobert also has been a radio host and a reporter, columnist or editor at many top U.S. newspapers, including Newsday, the Washington Post and the San Diego Union.\r\n\r\nHe was the founding Director of the Monterey Wine Competition in 1994, and today also oversees the San Diego International Wine Competition, the Critics Challenge, the Winemaker Challenge and the Sommelier Challenge.\r\n","website":"www.whitleyonwine.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null},{"judgeID":804,"fn":"Debbie","ln":"Zachareas","title":"Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Oxbow Wine \u0026 Cheese Merchant","location":"San Francisco, CA","photo":"804.jpg","bio":"Debbie Zachareas is the proprietor and managing partner at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco\u0027s restored Ferry Building and at the Oxbow Wine \u0026 Cheese Merchant in downtown Napa. She is a luminary for IfOnly and the consulting wine buyer for Boulibar in the Ferry Building. She is a well-known wine judge, lecturer, sommelier, and guest speaker throughout the country. \r\n\r\nIn Zachareas’ career, she has developed some of the most innovative wine programs that have helped to shape the city\u0027s wine culture. She was the founder of one of San Francisco’s most extensive wine programs at bacar restaurant, the wine buyer for the Ashbury Market, EOS Restaurant and Wine Bar, the opening sommelier at Rubicon Restaurant, and the opening wine director at Vertigo in the TransAmerica Building. She won the inaugural Wine Director of the year award for San Francisco Magazine and was the only sommelier ever to have won the award twice. Zachareas has been nationally recognized in many publications, including Food and Wine Magazine, Market Watch, Wine Spectator and Saveur magazines, Bloomberg, Women in Wine Leadership, The California Wine Institute, and was named a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier. She remains a renowned competition judge and brings passion and expertise wine to her profession.\r\n\r\nOutside of the industry, Zachareas is a trustee for the French American International School and International High School, as well as Family House, San Francisco. She is involved in numerous fundraisers, including Family House, French American International, Make-a-Wish, and the Food Bank, just to name a few.","website":"www.fpwm.com","competitions":null,"sommPanel":null}]);