The 28th annual San Diego International Wine Competition is just around the corner and we’re locking in the judges who made a commitment months ago to come to the Westgate Hotel in downtown San Diego, April 2-3, to help us evaluate the approximately 2000 wines entered in this year’s competiton.
Selection of qualified judges is probably the most important aspect of my job as Director. We have a talented group this year, of which I am very proud. The updated list:
CHIEF JUDGE
Michael Franz, Editor, Wine Review Online
JUDGES
Hans Backhoff, Winemaker, Monte Xanic, Baja, Mexico
Thrace Bromberger, Gustavo Thrace & Tool Box, Napa Valley, CA
Richard Carey, Winemaker, Vitis Research, Pennsylvania
Kimberly Charles, Charles Communications
Will Costello, Sommelier, Addison, Del Mar, CA
Etienne Cowper, Winemaker, Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA
Adam Curling, Sommelier, Wynn Bartolotta, Las Vegas, NV
Thom Curry, Temecula Olive Oil, Temecula, CA
Mark Deegan, Henry Wine Group, San Diego, CA
Ken Deis, Crooked Vines, Livermore, CA
Traci Dutton, Sommelier, Culinary Institute of America, St. Helena, CA
Bob Foster, California Grapevine, San Diego, CA
Bill Gillespie, Torrey Wines, San Diego, CA
Katherine Jarvis, Jarvis Communications, Los Angeles
Linda Jones-McKee, Wines & Vines, Pennsylvania
Heather Nenow, Winemaker, Turner Road, Lodi, CA
Vernon Kindred, Winemaker, Fallbrook Winery, Fallbrook, CA
Adam LaZarre, Winemaker, Villa San-Juliette, Paso Robles, CA
Kate McHugh, Quintessential Wines, San Diego, CA
Matt Ortman, Winemaker, Ortman Family Vineyards, San Luis Obispo, CA
Nicholas Palumbo, Palumbo Wines, Temecula, CA
Deborah Parker-Wong, Tasting Panel Magazine, San Francisco, CA
Jeremy Parzen, DO Bianchi Wine Blog
Ray Pompilio, Wegman’s Food Markets
Ron Rawlinson, Ortman Family Vineyards, San Luis Obispo, CA
Lisa Redwine, Sommelier, The Shores, La Jolla, CA
Mike Stepanovich, SWE, Bakersfield, CA
David Stevens, Senior Winemaking Consultant, Davon International, Napa Valley, CA
Jim Swelgin, Maurice Carrie, Temecula, CA
Kevin Walsh, Henry Wine Group, San Diego, CA
Duncan Williams, Winemaker, Fallbrook Winery, Fallbrook, CA
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