Judges of the SFCWC

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition invited professional judges, representing various North American wine regions, more than 5,500 wines from nearly 950+ wineries for the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Photos of the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition professional wine judges

Judges Listed by Industry Category

Also see Former Judges of the SFCWC

Media

Bob Ecker

Wine Writer/Wine Judge, Rio Vista, CA

Carrie Boyle

Wine Consultant, Sacramento, CA

Craig LaBan

Restaurant Critic & Drink Columnist, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA

Deborah Parker Wong

DWSET, Global Wine Editor, SOMM Journal, San Francisco, CA

Ellen Landis, CS, CSW

Wine Writer, Certified Sommelier, Certified Wine Specialist, Wine Educator & Professional Wine Judge, Windsor, CA

Eric Degerman

President/CEO, Great Northwest Wine, Richland, WA

Esther Mobley

Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA

J'nai Gaither

Wine & Travel Writer, Napa Valley, CA

Jamie Knee

Sommelier & Wine Educator, Santa Barbara County, CA

Jeffrey Binney

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

Jess Lander

Wine Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle, Based in Napa Valley, CA

Jessica Altieri

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

John Compisi

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

Kela Driggs

Account Director, Calhoun & Company Communication, San Francisco, CA

Larry Van Aalst

Retired Sommelier, Radio Talkshow Host, Rohnert Park, CA

Laura Donadoni

Wine Journalist, San Diego, CA

Laura Ness

Wine Journalist & Columnist, Los Gatos, CA.

Martha Dunne

Wine Enthusiast, Sacramento, CA

Mike Dunne

Freelance Writer, Sacramento, CA

Peg San Felippo

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

Richard Peterson

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

Rick Kushman

Wine Commentator, Capital Public Radio, Sacramento, CA

Sarah Doyle

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

Restaurant, Food & Hospitality Industry Wine Buyers

Christopher Sawyer

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

David Teig

Executive Chef, The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA

Jennifer Jespersen

Lead Sommelier, Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, CA

Ken Landis

Retired Chef Consultant, Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn, Windsor, CA

Stephanie Cruz Green

Sommelier, Representative of 'J' Vineyards, Ambassador, International Wine Judge & Wine Educator, Kelseyville, CA

Tiffany Tobey

Sommelier, Ritz Carlton Resort, Dallas, Texas

Tony Lawrence

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

Retail Wine Buyers

Ann Littlefield

President, Littlefield Wine Marketing, Napa, CA

April Reddout

Guest Services, Col Solare Winery, Richland, WA

Barry Herbst

Wine Director, Bottle Barn Liquors, Santa Rosa, CA

Elsie Wolfe

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

Greg Richtarek

Wine & Spirits Manager, Safeway, Pleasanton, CA

Jeff Slankard

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

Jusden Aumand

Head of Buying, Tri-Vin Imports, NY

Sahar Gharai

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

Spreti Valente, CS

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

Wilfred Wong

Chief Storyteller, Wine.com, San Francisco, CA

Wine Education

Amanda Garland

Assistant Tasting Room Manager, Dutcher Crossing Winery, Healdsburg, CA

Barry H. Gump, Ph.D.

Professor, Florida International University, North Miami, FL

Carl G. Brandhorst

President Emeritus, Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, Fairfax, VA

Cheryl Rauch

Tasting Room Supervisor, Landmark Vineyards Winery, Healdsburg, CA

Jen Cossey

General Manager, Brooks Wines, Willamette Valley, OR

John Buechsenstein

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

Kathleen Arnink

Lecturer for Wine and Enology, Cornell University Viticulture & Enology, Ithaca, NY

Nadia Pavlevska, CS, CSW, FWS, IWS

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

Pamela Heiligenthal

Sommelier & Writer, Boston, MA

Richard (Dick) Mercer

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

Rick Fraga

Wine Educator/Professional Wine Judge, Santa Rosa, CA

Sean Brosnihan, CSW

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

Winemaker & Industry Representatives

Alexandra Alvernaz

Lab Technician Consultant, Cloverdale, CA

Alicia Ysais

Director, Delicato Family Vineyards, Manteca, CA

Amy Mullally, CS, DipWSET, FWS

National Accounts, Laurent-Perrier US, Long Beach, CA.

Ann Miller

Marketing, Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Rocheport, MO

Bill Pesonen

Owner Pesonen Vineyards and William Gordon Winery, Cloverdale, CA

Carol Shelton

Owner, Winemaker, Carol Shelton Wines, Santa Rosa, CA

Charles F. Mara

The Mara Wine Group, Palm Springs, CA

Chris Eberle

Winemaker, Eberle Winery, Paso Robles, CA

Chris Ehrenberg

Owner, Winemaker Ehrenberg Cellars, Livermore, CA

Christopher O'Gorman

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

Dan Baldwin

General Manager/Sr. Winemaker, Livermore, CA

Dan Kosta

Founder/Proprietor, AldenAlli Winery, Healdsburg, CA

Denise Gill

Retired Wine Professional, Santa Rosa, CA

Dustin Fults

Proprietor, Fults Family Vineyards, Lower Lake, CA

Eric Stine

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

Greg Burns

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

Harry A. Merlo jr.

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

Helena Welsh

Executive Director, Lake County Winery Association, Kelseyville, CA

Jac Jacobs

Winemaker, Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, San Luis Obispo, CA

Jane Halahan Valentin

Winemaking Consultant, St Helena, CA

Jennifer “JB” Kelly

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

Jim Trezise

President, WineAmerica, Keuka Lake, NY

John Giannini

Winemaker, Van Ruiten Family Winery, Lodi, CA

Julie Schreiber

Consulting Winemaker, Healdsburg, CA

Kristin Short

E&J Gallo Winery, Senior Manager Wine and Spirits Education, Sonoma, CA

Maria Navarro-Gerard

Consultant Winemaker, Santa Rosa, CA

Mark Chandler

Principal, Chandler & Company Wine Consultants, Lodi, CA

Mark Drake

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

Mark Elcombe

Homeplace Manager , Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Windsor, CA

Maureen Martin

Senior Winemaker, Clos Du Bois, Healdsburg, CA

Michael Overholt

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

Miro Tcholakov

Director of Winemaking/VP-Trentadue Winery; Winemaker/Owner Miro Cellars, Cloverdale, CA

Montgomery Paulsen

Master Blender, Gold Bar Distillery, San Francisco, CA

Pat Henderson

Winemaker, Sonoma Valley, CA

Rich Parducci

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

Robert Marr

Winemaker, Proprietor, Marr Cellars, Davis, CA

Sarah Mullins

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

Shauna Rosenblum

Winemaker, Rock Wall Wine Company, Alameda, CA

Sue Bonzell

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

Tedi Schmidt

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

Tom Simoneau

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

Tyler Weiper

Sequoia Grove Winery, Rutherford, CA

Victoria Wilson

Winemaker, Wilson Artisan Wineries, Healdsburg, CA

Label Contest Judges

Paul Tincknell

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

Brian Lobsinger

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

Eric Sabee

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

Jennifer Tincknell

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

Lisa Adams Walter

Founder & Senior Publicist, Adams Walter Communications, Napa, CA

M.J. Wickham

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