TASTING PANEL
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.
- Dr. Gregory Chan
Vice-Echanson – La Chaine des Rotisseurs, WA - Reggie Daigneault
Wine Educator
ReggieWine.com, WA - David Egan
Wine Professional, Vino Verité, WA - Cyril Frechier
Wine Education, FRA - Roy Hersh
Founder, ForTheLoveofPort.com, WA - Erin Lyman
Owner, Champion Wine Cellars, WA
- Ali Mayfield
WA Wine Maker/Wahluke Wine Co./Selections by Sagemoor - Tanya Morningstar-Darling
Wine Scholar Guild Educator, CellarMuse.com, WA - Billo Naravane
Master of Wine, RASA Vineyards, WA - Robert Ord
Master Sommelier/ISG Dip, Napa, CA - Tonya Pitts
CMS Sommelier/WSET 2/Wine Director, One Market, San Francisco, CA - Sean Razee
Master Sommelier/ WSET Dip, Director of Fine Wine SGWS, Vail, CO
- Amanda Reed
Advanced Sommelier/Beverage Manager, Lotte Hotel, WA - Howard Rossback
Wine Professional/Owner, Citation Wines & Erratic Oak Vyds., OR - Bruce Sturgeon
CMS Sommelier/Wine Director Blue Acre & Orfeo, WA - Mark Takagi
Director of Wine & Spirits, Metropolitan Markets, WA - Tiffany Tobey
CMS Sommelier/GM, Thirty Eight & VINE, DFW, TX - Mina Williams
CMS Sommelier/Blanc et Rouge Wine / NW Stir, WA
RECEIVED, REVIEWED & CONFIRMED
WINE 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 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.