The Wine Panel Guest Judges
When possible we like to include an industry professional as a “Guest Judge.” While many of our judges are winemakers, their wines are not included in our evaluations on days they participate. Other judges may include winery owners, sommeliers, wine educators, retailers, etc. in order to provide a fresh rotation of unique perspectives, experience, and palates to our assessments.
John Patterson ~ Patterson Cellars
John worked harvest at Quilceda Creek for 13 years before deciding on a career change. He started Patterson Cellars in 2000 and now produces over 19,000 cases of wine each year in the Warehouse Winery District of Woodinville. Patterson also provides wine processing services for more than 40 boutique wineries in Woodinville. John is President of the Woodinville Wine Country Association and has a well-earned reputation for collaboration and partnership with many local wineries and breweries. Learn more about John and Patterson Cellars at www.pattersoncellars.com
Jason Long ~ Long Cellars
Jason became involved in the wine industry in 2006 when he began assisting several Woodinville wineries. Working with them taught Jason how to appreciate, make, and sell wine while simultaneously incorporating fun and laughter. In 2010, Jason produced his first vintage of wine and has never looked back. Now many of Jason’s wines at Long Cellars are regularly scoring 90+ points and his engaging personality has led to a big wine club following! Learn more about Jason and Long Cellars at www.longcellars.com
Lisa Callan - Callan Cellars
Owner and winemaker Lisa Callan is a proven talent whose time has come to shine on her own. Serving as the assistant winemaker for Red Sky Winery for 4 years, Lisa came to a crossroad when Red Sky decided to close the winery. She realized she had to "go big or go home," but their garage was already full of wine barrels, so her husband encouraged her to start her own winery.
Lisa opened the doors to her tasting room in June of 2017, located in the fast growing Artisan Hill Warehouse District of Woodinville. She is a graduate of Washington State University’s enology program, and has been winning awards for her wines ever since! Find Lisa at www.callancellars.com
Cyril Frechier ~ Frechier Collection
With over 25 years’ experience in the wine industry, Cyril was the Director of Wine and Spirits with Seattle’s prestigious Rover’s Restaurant for 16 years as well as Campagne Restaurant for 7 years, followed by stints with wine distributors American Northwest & Petit Monde Wine Merchant. Mr. Frechier is a Sommelier and recognized French Wine Scholar from Lyon, France as well as WSET certified educator and instructor at South Seattle College’s Wine Technology Program. Learn more about Cyril at www.linkedin.com/in/cyril-frechier
Regina (Reggie) Daigneault
Reggie has spent close to 40 years in the restaurant and wine industries, beginning in California and Oregon, with diverse experience in beverage management and wine buying in various sectors of the wine industry. She has 30 years in Washington State, and has been a wine educator for 20 years at the Seattle Colleges. Her work as a wine director and sommelier as well as working in wine distribution and wine importing has intensified her knowledge of wine globally. Reggie now also hosts tours for her students and enthusiasts throughout Europe and Southern Hemisphere wine regions.
Reggie’s wine certifications include her Sommelier certification thru the Court of Master Sommeliers, her diploma with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and French Wine Scholar and Instructor with the Wine Scholar Guild. To learn more about Reggie’s wine tours, events and certification classes visit Reggiewine.com
Derek DesVoigne - Co-Founder/Winemaker - Livin Right Wines
DesVoigne's winemaking journey began back in 2000 on a road trip through the Yakima Valley where he was lured by what was seen as “the lifestyle.” Several harvests watching his father and friends do crush in the garage led Derek to also begin making wine as a hobby, which quickly turned into an obsession.
After a few years of extension coursework at UC Davis in Enology and Viticulture, Derek started with a small winery in Lake Chelan. The following year he started Cuillin Hills Winery in Woodinville, where he spent the better part of 14 years in the winemaking scene. Always the adventurous spirit, in 2017 Derek co-founded an active lifestyle wine brand, “Livin Right Wines”, where he continues to produce a limited quantity of top tier wines as well as doing Operations Consulting for small wineries in Washington State. Learn more about Derek at www.livinrightwines.com
Lisa Warr-King Packer ~ Warr-King Winery
As a lifelong gourmet, Lisa developed an interest in wine which led to an internship at Patterson Cellars. One harvest and she was hooked. She then completed the Wine Technology Program at Lake Washington Technical College followed by a 2 year certification program in Enology from Washington State University. After 2 years with Patterson Cellars and a harvest at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Lisa finally decided to make a go of it on her own and Warr-King Wines was launched. Learn more about Lisa and Warr-King Cellars at www.warr-kingwines.com
Joseph Miglino ~ Martedi Winery
Winemaker Joseph Miglino began his wine career at the famed Windows on the World restaurant in New York City. After that gig he moved to Washington State “specifically for the grapes we grow here.” His career continued in the Northwest as a sommelier for many respected operations such as Ray’s Boat House, Snoqualmie Casino, Russell’s Restaurant and Larry’s Market. After many years dreaming of crafting his own wines, Joseph finally took the plunge and Martedi Winery was born in 2008, and has been producing wines with a nod to his Italian heritage ever since! Learn more about Joseph and Martedi Winery at www.martediwinery.com
Kevin Lantz ~ Lantz Cellars
Kevin Lantz is one of the few self-taught award winning winemakers who started by doing extensive research from numerous scientific publications and UC-Davis textbooks. Kevin founded Lantz Cellars in 2003 and was named "Winemaker to Watch” just two years into this journey. He has since also been the recipient of a "Top Ten New Wines" award & “Top 100 Wines” by Seattle Met Magazine! Learn more about Kevin and Lantz Cellars at www.lantzcellars.com
Brian Grasso ~ Structure Cellars
Brian started out toiling in the restaurant industry for years at Salty’s on Alki and Chandler’s in Seattle where he learned to appreciate Washington wines. While attending the NW Wine Academy and working his night job, he also had stints helping at Darby and Sparkman wineries, all while making a few barrels a year as a home winemaker until officially starting Structure Cellars in 2011. He has been deemed a “Rising Star” and also earned “Winery of The Year” in 2019, and with his many years in hospitality has built an impressive Wine Club and huge following! Learn more about Brian and Structure Cellars at www.structurewines.com
Kevin Correll ~ Barrage Cellars
Kevin Correll decided to volunteer at a winery for crush one year, then another, and another. The passion for making wine was something he couldn’t deny any longer, thus deciding to pursue his certificate in enology, graduating from UC Davis in 2008. Barrage Cellars is a family owned boutique winery, located in Woodinville, WA. Kevin is the owner and winemaker, truly a one man operation who makes wine in the true Garagiste fashion with a focus on terroir and 100% varietals. Learn more about Kevin and Barrage Cellars at www.barragecellars.com
Amberleigh Brownson
Amberleigh is a certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. She has had stints at the Stars Restaurant at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, EAT Restaurant and Bar in Bellingham, and currently the Sommelier and Director of Operations at Ferndale's Leader Block Restaurant, where they have earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the past 3 years. She has judged wines for Sip Northwest, SavorNW, the Seattle Wine Awards, Great Northwest Wines, the Bellingham NW Wine Festival, as well as a guest judge for The Wine Panel. Find Amberleigh at www.leaderblock.com
Pete Zachara - 8 Bells Winery
Pete Zachara is currently manager for the Eight Bells Winery in Seattle. Zachara spent four years at the Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, working his way up to lead sommelier at Purple Bellevue under Chris Horn. He is currently studying winemaking through the enology program at Washington State University, where he also earned a degree in marketing. Pete is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Masters Sommeliers. You can find Pete at www.8bellswinery.com
Bruce Sturgeon - Ray’s Boathouse
Bruce has 40+ years experience in the restaurant business, where he has been responsible for countless wine programs and wine pairing events and worked extensively with world-renowned winemakers. Bruce was the Wine Director as well as Director of Operations for esteemed Davis Family Restaurants for 10 years, including BlueAcre, Steelhead, & Zane & Wylie's Seattle Steakhouse Orfeo after serving for 5 years as the General Manager & Beverage Director for the famed Wild Ginger, all in Seattle. He also had stints in California and Colorado previously, and has been a Certified Sommelier since 2009 by the Master Court of Sommeliers. Mr Sturgeon is currently working at the iconic Ray’s Boathouse in Seattle, Washington. Learn more about Bruce at www.rays.com
Martin Gorman - Red Earth Wines
Martin is the founder and Managing Director of Red Earth Wines based in Seattle, importing wines Australians are proud to pour to the wine enthusiasts in Washington State. Founded in 2012, Martin has frequently traveled back to Australia to source intriguing wines to import and distribute in the United States, preferring to work with the more craft/boutique sized wineries, selected for their quality and regional alignment. In 2020 Martin and his wife Lisa launched My Wine Hunter, a direct to consumer resource for Australian wine enthusiasts in the United States to access their imported wines! Learn more about Martin at www.redearthwines.com and www.mywinehunter.com
Ole’ Thompson - Downtown Spirits
Ole’ is a CMS Advanced Sommelier and Certified Specialist of Wine thru the Society of Wine Educators, with 30 years of experience running wine and spirit programs. In 2008, Ole was named Washington State Sommelier of the year by the Washington Wine Commission while managing the wine program for Wild Ginger & The Triple Door restaurants, securing just the 2nd Wine Spectator Grand Award in the Pacific Northwest. Ole’ was also Sales Manager for both Acme Wine and Vinum Wine Importing and Distributing, the Luxury Wine Manager for the Heirloom Wine Group with Treasury Wine Estates, Brand Ambassador for LVMH Moët Hennessy, National Sales Manager for Classical Wines of Spain, and Wine & Beer Manager at Town & Country Markets. Currently Ole’ is the Wholesale Manager for Downtown Spirits in Seattle! Learn more about Ole’ at www.thevinoviking.com