Debbie Zachareas is an owner, partner, and wine buyer at Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco. Through her work developing retail and restaurant wine programs, she has helped shape the city’s wine culture, combining wine selection with a passion for teaching and introducing customers to new wines.

Debbie conceived and developed an extensive wine program at Bacar restaurant and helped develop the wine programs at Ashbury Market and EOS restaurant and wine bar. Her work has received national recognition from publications including Food & Wine and Saveur, and she is an experienced wine competition judge.

As a USA Wine Ratings judge, Debbie brings a perspective grounded in independent wine retail, hospitality, and consumer education. Her experience selecting wines and engaging directly with customers provides a practical foundation for evaluating quality, value, and packaging for the U.S. market.