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