2017 Sunset International Wine Competition judges

WINEMAKERS
Honorary Chair: Joel Peterson, Founder and Winemaker, Ravenswood; Senior Vice President, Constellation Brands; and Founder, Once & Future

• Gary Eberle, Owner, Eberle Winery
• Maayan Koschitzky, Director of Winemaking, Atelier Melka
• Adam LaZarre, Owner, LaZarre Wines; Winemaker, Cycles Gladiator and Sea Monster
• Jeff Mangahas, Winemaker, Williams Selyem
• Rob McNeill, Director of Operations and Supply Chain North America, Accolade Wines
• Macario Montoya, Assistant Winemaker, Piña Napa Valley
• Craig Roemer, Winemaking and Vineyard Consultant, Craig Roemer Wines
• Christian Roguenant, Vice President, Winemaking, Niven Family Wine Estate
• Joe Shebl, Director of Winemaking, Renwood
• Thomas K. Stutz, Winemaker, La Rochelle Winery
• Mike Sullivan, Winemaker, GM, and Partner, Benovia Winery
• Bob Swain, Winemaker, Mendocino Wine Company
• Alicia Ysais, Director of Winemaking, Delicato Family Vineyards
• Meghan Zobeck, Associate Winemaker, Atelier Melka

JOURNALISTS
Honorary Chair: Sara Schneider, Wine Editor, Sunset Magazine

• Dan Berger, Author, Vintage Experiences; Founder & Owner, Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition
• Randy Caparoso, Bottom Line Editor, Sommelier Journal
• Katherine Cole, Author, Rosé All Day; Wine Writer and Host, The Four Top, Oregon Public Broadcasting
• Laurie Daniel, Wine Writer, Bay Area News Group and Wines & Vines
• Mike Dunne, Wine Columnist, Sacramento Bee; Publisher, A Year in Wine
• Ziggy “The Wine Gal” Eschliman, radio and TV personality, rock ‘n’ roll sommelier, and spirits and cocktail expert
• Linda Murphy, Co-Author, American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States; Wine Writer, Vineyard & Winery Management and Decanter magazines
• Cyril Penn, Editor, Wine Business Monthly
• Leslie Sbrocco, Author, Wine for Women; Host, Check, Please! (KQED); TV personality, Good Morning, America and more
• Tim Teichgraeber, Wine and Spirits Writer, Opus Vino, San Francisco Chronicle, Cooking Club, and City Pages
• Robert Whitley, Wine Columnist, Creators Syndicate, and Publisher, WineReviewOnline.com
• David Wilson, Host, Grape Encounters Radio Show

TRADE/EDUCATION

• Bob Bath, Master Sommelier, Wine and Beverage Instructor, Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
• Jim Blumling, VP of Alcohol and Tobacco, Safeway and Albertsons
• Katie Ballou Calhoun, President, Calhoun & Company Communications
• Mark Chandler, Certified Specialist of Wine; Owner, Chandler & Company; Mayor, Lodi
• Kimberly Charles, Diploma in Wine and Spirits, and Founder and Owner, Charles Communications Associates
• Traci Dutton, Beverage Manager and Sommelier, Culinary Institute of America
• Gilian Handelman, Education Director, Jackson Family Wines
• Michelle Heston, Regional Director of Public Relations, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
• Kathryn House, Founder, House of Wine
• Eugenio Jardim, US Ambassador, Wines of Portugal; Partner, Esprit de Champagne; Director of Wine Studies, San Francisco Cooking School
• Shelley Lindgren, Sommelier and Owner, SPQR and A16 Restaurants
• Peter Marks, Master of Wine, 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
• Tim Marson, Master of Wine, California Wine Buyer, wine.com
• Tim McDonald, Founder, Wine Spoken Here
• Sally Mohr, Master Sommelier
• Peter Molnar, GM, Obsidian Ridge and Poseidon’s Vineyards; Partner, Tricycle Wine Co.; Partner, Kádár Hungary Cooperage
• Christopher O’Gorman, Director of Communications, Rodney Strong Wine Estates
• Rob Renteria, Sommelier, La Folie restaurant
• Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier and Wine Consultant, Sawyer Sommelier Consulting
• David Stevens, Senior Consultant, Davon International
• Liz Thach, Ph.D., Master of Wine, Distinguished Professor of Wine & Management, Sonoma State University Steve Young, WSET, French Wine Scholar Certificate
• Paul Wagner, Founder, Balzac Communications
• Michael Wangbickler, Partner and CEO, Balzac Communications
• Debbie Zachareas, Partner, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant and Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant

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