OUR JUDGES

Wine Editor

For over 10 years, JoAnn Actis-Grande is Wine Editor for Taste of the Seacoast Magazine and writes wine and travel columns for Coastal Home Magazine. She writes a weekly column >Read More

Sommelier

Charlie Arturaola has dedicated his life’s work to serving, informing, educating, and entertaining people around the world about wine, becoming an internationally renowned sommelier. This rare gift has guided Arturaola’s >Read More

Wine Educator & Consultant

Celeste Bailey is a wine educator for the Florida Wine Academy in Miami, Florida.  Ms. Bailey is certified to teach WSET and Wine Scholar Guild courses and teaches a variety >Read More

Sommelier

Collin Bleess is an accomplished Sommelier from Miami, Florida. Collin is currently holding position as Wine Director for Groot Hospitality brands, Komodo Miami, Swan and Papi Steak Restaurants. Born and >Read More

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Educator

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One of our Heroes. Chip, you will always be missed

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Sommelier & Wine Writer

Jacqueline Coleman is a certified sommelier, wine writer, and wine judge based in South Florida. She is the monthly "Vino" columnist for Biscayne Times, writes a quarterly wine column for >Read More

Sommelier

Italian born Roberto Colombi relocated to England in 2003 to learn English and work for Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett at the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, London. While working for >Read More

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Dennis Doorakkers imports wines into the Netherlands from a large number of countries including France, Italy and Germany and is a judge at several international wine competitions. He also provides >Read More

Sommelier

Henry Escobar has been in the hospitality industry for 37 years, working mainly in fine dining establishments. His first introduction to wines was while working at the famous Windows on >Read More

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Sommelier

Every glass of wine is like traveling and visiting a new place. She first discovered her love for hospitality working at a local bar while attending Florida International University. To >Read More

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Owner, RedHead Wines

Michael Goldberg runs RedHead Wines, a wine consulting firm he founded after a careers on Wall Street and the executive search business.  His epiphany struck 25 years ago over a >Read More

Sommelier

Jeremy Gow has a lifelong love of food and delicious wine.  His passion for wine began after graduation from the University of Central Florida and jumping into the hospitality industry >Read More

Wine Author

Dr. Barry H. Gump is the first holder of the Harvey R. Chaplin Eminent Scholarʼs Chair in Beverage Management at Florida International Universityʼs School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Dr. >Read More

Sommelier & Manager

Sommelier and manager for Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Juan Horta elevates guests’ dining experience with his knowledge and passion for wine. He maintains the restaurant’s wine inventory featuring nearly >Read More

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Sommelier

As a young girl growing up in West Virginia, Krystal Kinney learned southern hospitality and an appreciation of spirits from a wine-loving Aunt. It was no surprise when she pursued >Read More

Jamie Knee is a Wine Specialist, Wine Educator and IGTV Wine Host at “Petite Wine Traveler” @petitewinetraveler Jamie has been Miami Marketing Influencer in Lifestyle, Food & Wine since 2012. She >Read More

Sommelier & Wine Writer

Ellen LandisEllen is a published Wine Writer, Certified Sommelier, Certified Wine Specialist, Wine Educator and Professional Wine Judge. She is the author of the blogEllenOnWine.comand writesfor the AWS Wine Journalamong >Read More

Chef

Tony is one of a few African Americans who is a trained sommelier, chef, certified wine & food pairing specialist, lecturer, writer, and international certified food & wine judge. He >Read More

Professor of Wine Business

Dr. Terry Lease is Professor of Wine Business in the Wine and Viticulture Department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. Prior to joining Cal Poly in >Read More

Founder

Veronica Litton has worked in the wine business in South Florida for over 20 years. In 1996 she founded The South Florida Womenʼs Wine Association. Veronica acquired her CSW from >Read More

Beverage Director

Ervin Machado serves as Beverage Director for the Big Time Restaurant Group. He is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of the Masters and holds the Certified Certification from WSET >Read More

Chief Judge & Judging Coordinator

Greg Miseyko has studied, collected and consulted in wines for 45 years including a wildly fortunate mentoring experience with five Masters of Wine in London. Greg co-founded Napa producer Red >Read More

Writer / Sommelier

Stephanie Miskew is a Certified Sommelier, Wine Educator, Fox News Contributor and author of The Glamorous Gourmet, a blog dedicated to her passions in life: food, wine, travel, and entertaining. Stephanie is also the Proprietor of The Wine Atelier, an >Read More

Wine Guru

Stu Nudelman, Stu the Wine Guru, can be heard as host of his successful global radio podcast, Wine Talk with Stu The Wine Guru, now going on its 4th year >Read More

Briana Perez’s love and enthusiasm for wine began in her early years as she gained immense knowledge from her wine connoisseur and dining expert father. For her 21st birthday, Briana >Read More

Wine Communicator

Sarah’s interest in wine was sparked during her time at Edinburgh University in Scotland, when she worked in restaurants alongside her studies. Visits from wine suppliers left her curious to >Read More

Writer

Attorney Monty Preiser has been writing and educating about wines for over 30 years, and now co-publishes and writes for the world’s most comprehensive guide to Napa Valley wineries and restaurants titled, appropriately, The Preiser Key. >Read More

Writer & Educator

Sara Preiser splits her time between South Florida and Napa, CA where she and husband Monty publish and write for The Preiser Key to Napa Valley, the only comprehensive guide to wineries >Read More

Master Chef

Master Chef Angelo Romano, owner of Lake Worth, Floridaʼs Paradiso Risorante, honed his culinary skills at establishments located in a wide range of luxurious resort towns on the Italian Riviera >Read More

Consultant

Wendy Rosano has over 25 years in the restaurant business. From her roots in New York, she has owned and operated over half a dozen restaurants and was directly responsible >Read More

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Writer

Peg San Felippo, has been writing about wine and wine related issues for the last decade. A past chair of The American Institute of Wine and Food – Wisconsin Chapter, >Read More

Sommelier

An internationally-renowned sommelier, wine journalist, wine judge, consultant, and public speaker, Christopher Sawyer travels the world following trends in wine and participating as a judge in international wine competitions, and >Read More

Wine Educator, SMUSA

Kristina first discovered her passion for wine while entertaining clients during a decade on Wall Street. Since leaving the world of finance behind, Kristina has pursued her interest in wine >Read More

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Restaurateur & Consultant

Delius Shirley, proprietor of Ortanique in Miami and the Cayman Islands, has been a restaurateur and consultant for more than 20 years, consistently collecting accolades from his peers for his >Read More

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Wine & Spirits Editor

A wine journalist, consultant, and educator, Patrick Sullivan is the wine & spirits editor for DINE Magazine in Florida. He has been involved in many aspects of the wine business >Read More