The third annual Sunset International Wine Competition's judging panel includes these notable winemakers, journalists, and wine educators
2014 Sunset International Wine Competition Judges

WINEMAKERS

Honorary Chair: Joel Peterson, Founder and Winemaker, Ravenswood, and Senior Vice President, Constellation Brands

Bryan Avila, Winemaker and Professor, Viticulture & Winery Technology, Napa Valley College

Neil Bernardi, Winemaker, Migration, Duckhorn Vineyards

Paul Dolan, Owner, Winemaker, and Winegrower, Paul Dolan Family Vineyards

Gary Eberle, Owner, Eberle Winery

Wes Hagen, Vineyard Manager and Winemaker, Clos Pepe Vineyards and Estate Wines

Ben Howe, Winemaker, King Estate

Genevieve Janssens, Winemaker, Robert Mondavi Winery

Adam LaZarre, Owner and Winemaker, LaZarre Wines

Marbue Marke, Owner/Winemaker, Marke Wines

Rob McNeill, Director of Winemaking, Don Sebastiani & Sons

David “Merf” Merfeld, Winemaker, Northstar

Christian Roguenant, Vice President, Winemaking, Niven Family Wine Estate

Jeffrey Stambor, Director of Winemaking, Beaulieu Vineyard

Mike Sullivan, Winemaker, GM, and Partner, Benovia Winery

Thomas K. Stutz, Winemaker, La Rochelle Winery

Bob Swain, Winemaker, Mendocino Wine Company

 

JOURNALISTS

Honorary Chair: Sara Schneider, Wine Editor, Sunset Magazine

Randy Caparoso, Bottom Line Editor, Sommelier Journal

Tina Caputo, Editor-in-Chief, Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine, and Columnist, Wine Review Online

Cole Danehower, Publisher, Essential Northwest Wines.com and Author, Essential Wines and Wineries of the Pacific Northwest

Mike Dunne, Wine Columnist and Former Restaurant Critic and Food Editor, Sacramento Bee; Publisher, A Year in Wine

Linda Murphy, West Coast Correspondent, Decanter, and Co-Author, American Wine

Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier, Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar at The Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa and for www.Likelii.com

Leslie Sbrocco, Author, Wine for Women; KQED TV Host of Check, Please! and Founder, Thirsty Girl

Sean Sullivan, Author, Washington Wine Report, and Northwest Contributor, The Wine Enthusiast

Tim Teichgraeber, Wine and Spirits Writer, Opus Vino, San Francisco Chronicle, Cooking Club, and City Pages

John Vankat, Wine Writer, Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine and Arizona Daily Sun

 

TRADE/EDUCATION

Honorary Chair: Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier and longtime Education Chair and Director of Education for the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Americas

Jim Blumling, VP of Alcohol and Tobacco, Safeway, Inc.

Katie Ballou Calhoun, President, Calhoun & Company Communications

Mark Chandler, Certified Specialist of Wine; Owner, Chandler & Company; and Executive Director, WineAmerica

Rebecca Chapa, Certified Wine Educator and Owner, Tannin Management

Kimberly Charles, Diploma in Wine and Spirits and Founder, Charles Communications Associates, LLC

Brian Cronin, MS, Independent Contractor, San Francisco

Mark Davidson, Education Director, Wine Australia

Patrick D. Dodd, Certified Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator, and Senior Director, E.&J. Gallo Winery

Traci Dutton, Beverage Manager and Sommelier, Culinary Institute of America

Peter Granoff, Master Sommelier and Co-Owner, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant

Gilian Handelman, Education Director, Jackson Family Wines

Michael Heintz, CWE, Senior Director of Marketing Communications, E&J Gallo Winery

Kathryn House, Founder, House of Wine

Eugenio Jardim, Wine Director, Jardinìere

Margie Ferree Jones, Certified Wine Educator, Certified Sommelier, and Associate Professor, Collins College of Hospitality Management, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Peter Marks, Master of Wine and Vice President of Education, Constellation Academy of Wine

Elaine Marshall, Advanced Certified Wine Professional; Wine Educator, Culinary Institute of America; and Owner, Marshall Wine Company

Chris Miller, MS, Bond Winery

Sally Mohr, Master Sommelier

Steven Poe, MS, Beverage Director, Big Canyon Country Club

Dawn Smith, Sommelier

David Stevens, Senior Consultant, Davon International

Michael Wangbickler, DWS, CWE, Diploma in Wine and Spirits, Certified Wine Educator, and Senior Manager, Balzac Communications & Marketing

Debbie Zachareas, Partner, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant

 

CONSULTING JUDGE

Paul Wagner, Owner, Balzac Communications & Marketing

 

LOGISTICS MANAGER

Rebecca Murphy, Founder, Dallas Morning News & TexSom International Wine Competition

 

 

 

 

 

 

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