The inaugural Sunset International Wine Competition's judging panel included these notable winemakers, journalists, and wine educators; our 2013 judges will be announced soon
2012 Sunset International Wine Competition Judges

WINEMAKERS

Honorary Chair: Joel Peterson, Founder and Winemaker, Ravenswood

Bryan Avila, Instructor and Winemaker, Napa Valley College

Jennifer Beloz, General Manager, The Prisoner Wine Company

Bob Betz, MW, Founder and Winemaker, Betz Family Winery

Paul Dolan, Founder, Paul Dolan Wines and Mendocino Wine Co.

Adam LaZarre, Director of Operations and Winemaker, Villa San-Juliette Vineyard & Winery

Rob McNeill, VP for Winemaking and Operations, Mumm Napa

Duncan Arnot Meyers, Partner and Co-Winemaker, Arnot-Roberts

Peter Molnar, GM, Obsidian Ridge and Poseidon’s Vineyards, Partner in Tricycle Wine Co., and Partner in Kádár Hungary Cooperage

Macario Montoya, Assistant Winemaker, Piña Napa Valley

Tegan Passalaqua, Winegrower, Turley Wine Cellars

Christian Roguenant, General Manager and Winemaker, Niven Family Wine Estates

Jeffrey Stambor, Director of Winemaking, Beaulieu Vineyard

Thomas K. Stutz, Winemaker, La Rochelle Winery

Michael Weiss, Winemaker, Groth Vineyards & Winery

 

JOURNALISTS

Honorary Chair: Sara Schneider, Wine Editor, Sunset Magazine

Stephen Brook, Wine Columnist, Decanter Magazine

Randy Caparoso, Bottom Line Editor, Sommelier Journal

Cole Danehower, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Laurie Daniel, Freelance Wine Writer

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

W. Blake Gray, Publisher, The Gray Market Report

John Haeger, Journalist, Consultant, and Author, North American Pinot Noir and Pacific Pinot Noir

Ronald Holden, Wine Journalist, Pacific Northwest; Founder, France in Your Glass; Director, Wine Tours for the International Vineyard

Linda Murphy, West Coast Correspondent, Decanter magazine and JancisRobinson.com

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

Tim Teichgraeber, Freelance Wine Writer, Opus Vino

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

Robert Whitley, Wine Talk Columnist, Creators Syndicate; Publisher, Wine Review Online

 

TRADE/EDUCATION

Honorary Chair: Tim Gaiser, MS, Former Education Director, Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas

Jason Alexander, General Manager, Meteor Vineyard

Darius Allyn, MS, The Montage Beverly Hills

Bob Bath, MS, Wine and Beverage Instructor, Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

Mark Chandler, Principal, Chandler & Company

Rebecca Chapa, Certified Wine Educator, Sommelier, and Writer; Owner, Tannin Management Consulting Firm

Kimberly Charles, DWS, Founder, Charles Communications Associates, LLC

Nelson Daquip, Wine Director and Sommelier, Canlis Restaurant

Mark Davidson, Trade Education Manager, Wine Australia USA

Patrick D. Dodd, CSS, CS, CWE, Sr. Director, Shareholder Relations & Corporate Training, E. & J. Gallo Winery

Traci Dutton, Sommelier, Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

Margie Jones, Ph.D., CWE, CS, Associate Professor, Cal Poly Pomona

David Lynch, Owner and Wine Director, St. Vincent Restaurant

Peter Marks, MW, Vice President of Education, Constellation Wines U.S.

Elaine Marshall, ACWP, Wine Educator; Owner, Marshall Wine Company

Sally Mohr, MS, Owner, Boulder Wine Merchant

Burke Owens, Continuum Estate on Pritchard Hill

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

Ron Rawlinson, Wine Sales and Marketing Consultant

Dawn Smith, Wine Director and General Manager, Cafe Juanita

David Stevens, Consultant, Davon International

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

Debbie Zachareas, Proprietor and Managing 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


 Enter the Sunset International Wine Competition now through March 8, 2013.   

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