San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Expert judges select the best wines in North America
The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition takes the evaluation of all wines entered into its competition very seriously, trusting only the best palates to taste and judge. During the second week of January, 65 judges from all aspects of the wine industry, including media, restaurant and hospitality, education, winemaking and retail, gathered together to take part in a blind judging of more than 6,800 wine entries. Over four days, the judges determined the best of each category.
Each panel of judges was strategically coordinated by co-directors Bob and Scott Fraser and was designed to be balanced and diverse.
Writer of “Jeff’s Corner,” educator and tour director, Grape Creek Vineyards, Fredericksburg, Texas
Radio personality, author and speaker, Bonzell Media, Graton, Calif.
President emeritus, Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, Fairfax, Va.
Adjunct wine faculty and instructor, UC Davis Extension and Culinary Institute of America, Hopland, Calif.
First generation winemaker and fifth generation grape grower, Jessie Grove Winery, Lodi, Calif.
Professor, Florida International University, North Miami, Fla.
Director marketing communications, Treasury Wine Estates, Napa, Calif.
Chief judge, California
State Fair Wine Competition, Lodi, Calif.
Chief restaurant critic and wine columnist (ret.), Hour Detroit Magazine, Troy, Mich.
Owner, sommelier, international wine judge, Kelseyville, Calif.
President/CEO, Great Northwest Wine, Kennewick, Wash.
Omnimedia wine specialist/ journalist, Indianapolis, Ind.
TheItalianGirl.com, San
Diego, Calif.
Calif.
Wine enthusiast, Sacramento,
Contributing wine columnist, The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, Calif.
Napa-based wine writer and photographer, Napa, Calif.
Homeplace manager, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Windsor, Calif.