The Sommeliers Choice Awards is an international wine competition created by Beverage Trade Network to help wine producers grow in the U.S. restaurant, hotel, and bar market. With its unique judging criteria — quality, value, packaging, food pairability, and typicity — the competition highlights wines that sommeliers believe are ideal for wine lists and by-the-glass programs.

Sandra Gomes Rocha is a champion of Portuguese wine culture and a leading voice in Portuguese wine education in the United States. From her early years working in her father’s wine business in New York to founding Diniz Cellars, Los Angeles’ premier Portuguese wine importer and distributor, Sandra has consistently built bridges between Portugal’s small producers and American wine professionals.

Sandra Gomes Rocha has been promoting Portuguese wines and growing the category via her wine import business and by pushing the Portuguese Wine Week that she launched.

Her accomplishments include:

- Launching Portuguese Wine Week in 2024, a vibrant initiative showcasing Portugal’s wines to Southern California’s trade and consumers.

- Serving as President of Women for WineSense, LA Chapter, highlighting female leadership in the wine industry.

- Holding a Wine MBA from Sonoma State University, along with Certified Specialist of Wine credentials.

- A successful career in marketing and communications at Hollywood studios and agencies, which she now applies to promoting Portuguese wines.

Sandra’s expertise makes her a trusted guide for wineries seeking to succeed in the U.S. market, blending storytelling, education, and market insight.

Some of the Portuguese wines Sandra is pushing in the USA market.

As an Expert for Portuguese Wines at SCA 2026, Sandra will:

- Judge Portuguese wine entries with a focus on on-premise relevance.

- Share her insights in an exclusive webinar: “How Fine Portuguese Wines Can Grow in the U.S. Market.”

- Provide interviews and educational content to help producers better understand the U.S. on-trade landscape.

- Highlight winning Portuguese wines through video features and tasting sessions, ensuring producers gain visibility with sommeliers and buyers.

Sandra’s involvement underscores SCA’s commitment to shining a spotlight on regions with immense potential in the U.S. on-premise sector. For Portuguese producers, entering the 2026 competition offers the chance to:

- Have their wines evaluated by one of the foremost experts on Portuguese wines in the U.S.

- Gain visibility with sommeliers, wine directors, and restaurant buyers.

- Benefit from Sandra’s expertise in branding, marketing, and storytelling.

With Sandra Gomes Rocha joining as an Expert, the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2026 continues to strengthen its mission: to recognize wines that succeed on wine lists and in by-the-glass programs. Her knowledge, passion, and commitment to Portuguese wine culture will help ensure that Portugal’s wines take their well-deserved place in the global spotlight.

Portuguese producers: this is your moment. Submit your wines to the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2026 and let your story be guided by the expertise of Sandra Gomes Rocha.

Also Read:
Meet Your Expert: Daniel Satola, Founder of Credo Imports
What Makes the Sommeliers' Choice Awards Unique?