The Seattle Wine Awards could not be possible without the essential and valued contributions of our distinguished group of Northwest wine professionals. Our Tasting Panel features top local and national wine professionals consisting of highly respected Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, wine buyers, wine directors, sommeliers and journalists.
HIGHEST INTEGRITY
THOROUGH EVALUATION
Our thorough evaluation is of the highest integrity and our thoughtful process provides both our Tasting Panel and entries the best environment for tasting.
- CHRIS ARORA
Lead Sommelier, John Howie Steak - JEAN-CLAUDE BEC
Winemaker, Woodhouse Family / Le Bec Fin - JOEL BUTLER
Master of Wine / World of Wine.com - CHRISTOPHER CHAN
Advanced Sommelier, Happy Hour Radio - DR. GREGORY CHAN
Vice-Echanson – La Chaine des Rotisseurs - JEFF COX
Wine Director, PCC Markets - NANCY CROSIER
Founder, VinoSocial.wine - CHIP CROTEAU
Wine Director, Ray’s Boathouse - REGGIE DAIGNEAULT
Wine Educator – ReggieWine.com
- SHELLY FITZGERALD
Wine Educator, Columbia Winery - JEFF FOURNIER
WA State Wine Buyer, Esquin Wine & Spirits - D. MARIA HALSTEAD
Wine Marketing, NW Wine Academy - ROY HERSH
ForTheLoveofPort.com - TRACEY LaPIERRE
Enologist, Seattle Wine Lab - GREG LILL
Co-Founder, DeLille Cellars - TIM O’BRIEN
Beverage Director, Salty’s Seafood Grills - SUSAN PLUNKETT
Wine Team, Grocery Outlet
- LENNY REDE
Wine Buyer, New Seasons Market Mercer Island, WA - SERENA ROBERGE-GORDON
President, Puget Sound Wine Growers - ED RYDBECK
Co-Founder, Seattle Enological Society - AUBREY TERRAZAS
Advanced Sommelier – OMVino.com, San Francisco, CA - OLE THOMPSON
Advanced Sommelier, Seattle, WA - TIFFANY TOBEY
Wine Director / Sommelier, Hilton Hotel – Dallas, TX - ELI TRAVERSE
Advanced Sommelier, Avennia Wines - MINA WILLIAMS
Certified Sommelier / Blanc et Rouge Wine / NW Stir
RECEIVED, REVIEWED & CONFIRMED
WINE & CIDER ENTRIES
Each entry is personally received, reviewed, confirmed and entered into our program matrix. Each bottle is proofed for soundness by a team of certified sommeliers to ensure the wine/cider is true to its’ origin. All entries are checked for bottle variation and tainted wines (TCA, Acetic Acid or Oxidation) are never poured for our panel.