Judges of the SFCWC

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition invited professional judges, representing various North American wine regions, more than 5,000 wines from nearly 1,000 wineries for the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Professional Judges of the 2024 SFCWC
Professional Judges of the 2024 SFCWC (click to enlarge)

Photos of the 2024 Wine JudgingPhotos of the 2024 Wine Judging


Judges Listed by Industry Category

Also see Former Judges of the SFCWC

Bob Ecker

Bob Ecker

Wine Writer/Wine Judge, Rio Vista, CA
Carrie Boyle

Carrie Boyle

Wine Consultant, Sacramento, CA
Craig LaBan

Craig LaBan

Restaurant Critic & Drink Columnist, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA
Deborah Parker Wong

Deborah Parker Wong

DWSET, Global Wine Editor, SOMM Journal, San Francisco, CA
Ellen Landis, CS, CSW

Ellen Landis, CS, CSW

Wine Journalist, CS, CSW, Windsor, CA
Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman

President/CEO, Great Northwest Wine, Kennewick, WA
Esther Mobley

Esther Mobley

Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA
J'nai Gaither

J'nai Gaither

Wine & Travel Writer, Napa Valley, CA
Jamie Knee

Jamie Knee

Sommelier & Wine Educator, Santa Barbara County, CA
Jeffrey Binney

Jeffrey Binney

Writer of, "Jeff's Corner", Educator & Tour Director, Grape Creek Vineyards, Fredericksburg, TX
Jess Lander

Jess Lander

Wine Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle, Based in Napa Valle, CA
Jessica Altieri

Jessica Altieri

CEO, Certified Sommelier, Wine Channel TV Digital Network, Chicago, IL
John Compisi

John Compisi

Freelance wine, food & travel writer. Founder BitesFlightsandSights.com, Reno, NV
Kela Driggs

Kela Driggs

Account Director, Calhoun & Company Communication, San Francisco, CA
Larry Van Aalst

Larry Van Aalst

Retired Sommelier, Radio Talkshow Host, Rohnert Park, CA
Laura Donadoni

Laura Donadoni

Wine Journalist, San Diego, CA
Laura Ness

Laura Ness

Wine Journalist & Columnist, Los Gatos, CA.
Martha Dunne

Martha Dunne

Wine Enthusiast, Sacramento, CA
Mike Dunne

Mike Dunne

Freelance Writer, Sacramento, CA
Peg San Felippo

Peg San Felippo

Wine & Spirits Writer for City & Shore Magazine in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Richard Peterson

Richard Peterson

Winemaker & Author of award-winning book "The Winemaker"
Rick Kushman

Rick Kushman

Wine Commentator, Capital Public Radio, Sacramento, CA
Sarah Doyle

Sarah Doyle

Wine reporter, The Press Democrat & Sonoma Magazine, Sonoma County, CA
Christopher Sawyer

Christopher Sawyer

Journalist/Sommelier & founder of SawyerSomm.com, Petaluma, CA
David Teig

David Teig

Executive Chef, The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA
Jennifer Jespersen

Jennifer Jespersen

Lead Sommelier, Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, CA
Ken Landis

Ken Landis

Retired Chef Consultant, Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn, Windsor, CA
Stephanie Cruz Green

Stephanie Cruz Green

Certified Sommelier, Wine Educator, Domestic & International Wine Judge, Kelseyville, CA
Tiffany Tobey

Tiffany Tobey

Sommelier, Ritz Carlton Dallas, Texas
Tony Lawrence

Tony Lawrence

Owner, The Global Wine Chef/The World is Kitchen, Philadelphia, PA
Ann Littlefield

Ann Littlefield

President, Littlefield Wine Marketing, Napa, CA
April Reddout

April Reddout

Guest Services, Col Solare Winery, Richland, WA
Barry Herbst

Barry Herbst

Wine Director, Bottle Barn Liquors, Santa Rosa, CA
Elsie Wolfe

Elsie Wolfe

Senior Buyer, Adult Beverages, Target Corporation, Pleasanton, CA
Greg Richtarek

Greg Richtarek

Wine & Spirits Manager, Safeway, Pleasanton, CA
Jeff Slankard

Jeff Slankard

Wine & Beer Director, Barons Market, San Diego, CA
Jusden Aumand

Jusden Aumand

Head of Buying, Tri-Vin Imports, NY
Sahar Gharai

Sahar Gharai

Owner and Wine Buyer of La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge, Petaluma, CA
Spreti Valente, CS

Spreti Valente, CS

Sommelier & Senior Wine Buyer, Professional Wine Judge, Consultant & Educator, Costa Mesa, CA.
Wilfred Wong

Wilfred Wong

Chief Storyteller, Wine.com, San Francisco, CA
Amanda Garland

Amanda Garland

Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Dutcher Crossing Winery, Healdsburg, CA
Barry H. Gump, Ph.D.

Barry H. Gump, Ph.D.

Professor, Florida International University, North Miami, FL
Carl G. Brandhorst

Carl G. Brandhorst

President Emeritus, Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, Fairfax, VA
Cheryl Rauch

Cheryl Rauch

Tasting Room Supervisor, Landmark Vineyards Winery, Healdsburg, CA
Jennifer Cossey Hendrickson

Jennifer Cossey Hendrickson

VP of Marketing and Communications, Bravo Spirits McMinnville, OR
John Buechsenstein

John Buechsenstein

Wine Instructor, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education; Visiting Instructor, Culinary Institute of America, St. Helena, CA
Kathleen Arnink

Kathleen Arnink

Lecturer for Wine and Enology, Cornell University Viticulture & Enology, Ithaca, NY
Nadia Pavlevska, CS, CSW, FWS, IWS

Nadia Pavlevska, CS, CSW, FWS, IWS

Professional Sommelier, CSW, FWS, IWS, NP Wine Consulting, Hermosa Beach, CA
Pamela Heiligenthal

Pamela Heiligenthal

Sommelier & Writer, Boston, MA
Richard (Dick) Mercer

Richard (Dick) Mercer

Italy Travel Specialist including Italian Wine and Food Tours, Sacramento, CA
Rick Fraga

Rick Fraga

Wine Educator, Madrigal Family Vineyards, Calistoga, CA
Sean Brosnihan

Sean Brosnihan

Estate Sommelier & Wine Educator, Ramey Wine Cellars, Healdsburg, CA
Alexandra Fraser

Alexandra Fraser

Lab Technician Consultant, Cloverdale, CA
Alicia Ysais

Alicia Ysais

Director, Delicato Family Vineyards, Manteca, CA
Amy Mullally, CS, DipWSET, FWS

Amy Mullally, CS, DipWSET, FWS

National Sales Director, Crown Point Vineyards, Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Miller

Ann Miller

Marketing, Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Rocheport, MO
Bill Pesonen

Bill Pesonen

Owner Pesonen Vineyards and William Gordon Winery, Cloverdale, CA
Carol Shelton

Carol Shelton

Owner, Winemaker, Carol Shelton Wines, Santa Rosa, CA
Charles F. Mara

Charles F. Mara

The Mara Wine Group, Palm Springs, CA
Chris Eberle

Chris Eberle

Winemaker, Eberle Winery, Paso Robles, CA
Chris Ehrenberg

Chris Ehrenberg

Owner, Winemaker Ehrenberg Cellars, Livermore, CA
Christopher O'Gorman

Christopher O'Gorman

Director of Communications, Rodney Strong Wine Estates, Healdsburg, CA
Dan Baldwin

Dan Baldwin

General Manager/Sr. Winemaker, Livermore, CA
Dan Kosta

Dan Kosta

Founder/Proprietor, AldenAlli Winery, Healdsburg, CA
Denise Gill

Denise Gill

Retired Wine Professional, Santa Rosa, CA
Dustin Fults

Dustin Fults

Proprietor, Fults Family Vineyards, Lower Lake, CA
Eric Stine

Eric Stine

VP Winemaking, Foley Family Wines and Langtry Estate & Vineyards, Middletown, CA
Greg Burns

Greg Burns

Owner and Head Winemaker, 1st Generation Winemaker & 5th Generation Grape Grower, Jessie's Grove Winery, Lodi, CA
Harry A. Merlo jr.

Harry A. Merlo jr.

Owner/Operator, Lago di Merlo Vineyards & Winery, Geyserville, CA
Helena Welsh

Helena Welsh

Executive Director, Lake County Winery Association, Kelseyville, CA
Jac Jacobs

Jac Jacobs

Winemaker, Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, San Luis Obispo, CA
Jane Halahan Valentin

Jane Halahan Valentin

Winemaking Consultant, St Helena, CA
Jennifer “JB” Kelly

Jennifer “JB” Kelly

Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Donald Patz Wine Group, Yountville, CA
Jim Trezise

Jim Trezise

President, WineAmerica, New York, NY
John Giannini

John Giannini

Winemaker, Van Ruiten Family Winery, Lodi, CA
Julie Schreiber

Julie Schreiber

Consulting Winemaker, Healdsburg, CA
Kristin Short

Kristin Short

E&J Gallo Winery, Senior Manager Wine and Spirits Education, Sonoma, CA
Maria Navarro-Gerard

Maria Navarro-Gerard

Consultant Winemaker, Santa Rosa, CA
Mark Chandler

Mark Chandler

Principal, Chandler & Company Wine Consultants, Lodi, CA
Mark Drake

Mark Drake

President and Founder, The Drake Luxury Group, Novato, CA
Mark Elcombe

Mark Elcombe

Homeplace Manager , Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Windsor, CA
Maureen Martin

Maureen Martin

Senior Winemaker, Clos Du Bois, Healdsburg, CA
Michael Overholt

Michael Overholt

Winemaker, Educator of Viticulture, Enology & Good Wine, Healdsburg, CA
Miro Tcholakov

Miro Tcholakov

Director of Winemaking/VP Trentadue Winery, Owner of Miro Cellars, Cloverdale, CA
Montgomery Paulsen

Montgomery Paulsen

Master Blender, Gold Bar Distillery, San Francisco, CA
Pat Henderson

Pat Henderson

Winemaker, Sonoma Valley, CA
Rich Parducci

Rich Parducci

Winemaker/Managing Partner at McNab Ridge Winery, Ukiah, CA 
Robert Marr

Robert Marr

Winemaker, Proprietor, Marr Cellars, Davis, CA
Sarah Mullins

Sarah Mullins

Winemaker & Winery Manager, Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Santa Maria, CA
Shauna Rosenblum

Shauna Rosenblum

Winemaker, Rock Wall Wine Company, Alameda, CA
Sue Bonzell

Sue Bonzell

Radio Personality, Author & Speaker, Bonzell Media, Santa Rosa, CA
Tedi Schmidt

Tedi Schmidt

Assistant Winemaker / General Manager, Moose Mountain Vineyards, San Martin, CA
Tom Simoneau

Tom Simoneau

KSRO Wine Guy & Owner, Simoneau Vineyards, Healdsburg, CA
Tyler Weiper

Tyler Weiper

Tasting Room Host, Brian Arden Winery, Calistoga, CA
Victoria Wilson

Victoria Wilson

Winemaker, Wilson Artisan Wineries, Healdsburg, CA
Paul Tincknell

Paul Tincknell

Partner, Tincknell & Tincknell, Wine Sales and Marketing Consultants, Healdsburg, CA
Brian Lobsinger

Brian Lobsinger

Senior Director, Brand & Web Development, A. Bright Idea, Sonoma, CA
Eric Sabee

Eric Sabee

Art Director, Bergin Screen Printing and Etching, Napa, CA
Jennifer Tincknell

Jennifer Tincknell

Partner, Tincknell & Tincknell, Wine Sales and Marketing Consultants, Healdsburg, CA.
Lisa Adams Walter

Lisa Adams Walter

Founder & Senior Publicist, Adams Walter Communications, Napa, CA
M.J. Wickham

M.J. Wickham

Owner, M.J. Wickham Photography, Santa Rosa, CA
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