Pacific Rim Wine Competition Judges

Pacific Rim Wine Competition Sommelier, Professional Wine Judge, Consultant & Educator

Chair

Orange County, California

Spreti Valente

Patrick Dodd

Proprietor

The Wine Dodd- Modesto, California

Ann Miller

Wine Marketing

Les Bourheois Vineyards - Rocheport, Missouri

Jim Trezise

President

WineAmerica- Washington, DC

Daniel Lonnberg Hume

Winemaker

VinSur/Adobe Guadalupe- Baja California, Mexico

Chris Braun

Wine Importer

Advinture- Southern California

Jon McPherson

Winemaker

South Coast Winery- Temecula, California

Cristina Pino Villar

Winemaker

Bodegas de Santo Tomas -

Baja California, Mexico

Shawn Richcreek

Reginal Business Partner/Buyer

Total Wine & More- Southern California

Rick Fraga

Educator

Madrigal Family Winery- Sonoma, California

Greg Burns

Winemaker/ Proprietor

Jessie’s Grove Winery- Lodi, California

Domenic Galleano

Judge, Winemaker

Galleano Winery- Mira Loma, California

Wing Lam

Proprietor Buyer

Wahoo’s Fish- Southern California

Michael Horn

Journalist, President

CRN Digital Radio Host of “What’s Cookin”- Los Angeles, California

Brian Marquez

Winemaker

Wiens Family Cellars- Temecula, California

Kim McPherson

Winemaker

McPherson Cellars- Lubbock, Texas

David Tieg

Chef/Buyer

The Palace Hotel- San Francisco, California

Larry Schaffer

Winemaker

Tercero Wines - Los Olivos, California

Want to become a judge with us?

If you are a wine professional, dedicated to promoting wine and are a leader within our industry, send us your resume.

In Memoriam

  • Don Galleano

    Mr. Galleano was the President of The Historic Galleano Winery, which made it a third generation of wine growers in the Cucamonga Valley. Galleano Winery produces Old Vine Zinfandel and world class Ports, Sherries and Angelica.

    Mr. Galleano passed away in June 2021. He lived a life “well lived”- his life is beautifully chronicled at https://dongalleano.com/

    He is sorely missed.

  • Chuck Keagle

    Chuck Keagle of Upland, California, was the founder, owner, and CEO of Cask & Cleaver restaurants and the Sycamore Inn. Chuck is a former board member of the Collins School of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona, and the California Avocado Commission and the California Restaurant Association. Chuck was an avocado grower and former wine grape grower. Chuck was a valued judge at Pacific Rim Wine Competition for many decades. He will be missed.

  • Harry McWatters

    Mr. Harry McWatters was the president of Encore Vineyards Ltd., Vintage Consulting Group Inc. In 1980, Mr. McWatters was Chairman of the Board for Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. until June 4, 2018. He founded Sumac Ridge Estate Wine Group, in 1995 he founded See Ya Later Ranch Estate Winery (both acquired by Vincor Canada), he acted as president to both companies and was Vice President of Vincor until 2008. Since 2008, Mr. McWatters has launched TIME Estate Winery and the McWatters Collection. Mr. McWatters was instrumental in founding the VQA Canada and served as its first chairman, and was also the founding chair of the BC Wine Institute and many other foundations and societies in the wine industry. Harry passed on in 2019 and he was a valued judge and fierce supporter of Pacific Rim Wine Competition. He is sorely missed.