Super Early
Deadline
December 22, 2026
Judging
Date
July 26, 2027
Winners
Announced
August 12, 2027
The Judges
Clare (Brown) Tooley MW
Master of Wine and Senior Vice President Import Sales at Boisset Collection
Eagle Bear
Wine Buyer at Farmstead Cheeses & Wines
Steve Beckner, CSW
Wine & Spirits Buyer at Grocery Outlet
Jeffrey Birkemeier
Owner, Amapola Kitchen and Wine Merchant
Marc Capobianco
Wine Program Director at Sostevinobile
Santiago Cilley
CEO, Founder & Owner Wine & Spirits Purveyors
Eduardo Dingler
VP of Wine at Wine Access
Hannah Ermisch
General Manager of Vino & Oddlots inc., owned by Grape Expectations
Michael Garcia
District Manager at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
Susan Lin MW
Master of Wine & Head of Wine Expertise, Belmont Wine Exchange
Sabrina Lueck
Wine Buyer | Winemaker │ Master of Wine Student
Tim Marson MW
Master of Wine and Category Director at Wine.com
Karli Massie
Wine Buyer, Jimbo's Natural Family
Brendan McBride
Wine Buyer, Swirl on Castro
Brian McGonigle
Founder, SF Wine Center & Indie Wine & Beer Bar
Dave Osborne
Partner, Sacramento Street Liquors LLC — D&M Liquors & London Market
Bob Paulinski, MW
Master of Wine and Founder/Managing Partner, Moxie Wine Group
Mat Pond
Founder & Co-Owner, The Epicurean Trader
Greg Richtarek
Wine & Spirits Manager, Safeway Stores
Jeff Slankard
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-slankard-5030b215/
Heather Smiley
Wine, Beer & Spirits Manager, Gus’s Community Market
Jared Sowinski
Director of Beverage at Upward Projects Restaurant Group, Postino WineCafe, Joyride Taco House, Windsor, Federal Pizza
Charles Steadman
Director of Food & Beverage Experience and Strategic Partnerships, Virgin Voyages
Dr. Liz Thach, MW
Master of Wine, Professor, Wine Writer & Consultant