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
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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.
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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.
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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.