Marsha Wright is Corporate Wine Director for Dineamic Hospitality, curating programs across the Chicagoland area. After a decade in corporate America, she pivoted to retail, then restaurants, stacking 15+ years on the floor and diplomas from CMS, WSET, Wine Scholar Guild, and SWE. Her mission: make every glass, whether $15 or $150, feel like it was poured just for you.

What inspired your journey into the world of wine and hospitality?

My love for food and wine pairings

Your favourite US restaurant or wine bar to enjoy a glass of wine (outside your workplace)?

Nabuki (Hinsdale, IL)

Image: Nabuki Hinsdale 

Nabuki, Hinsdale, sake labels line one wall, Greek Assyrtiko the other, and the marble bar fits twelve elbows at happy hour, turning suburban commuters into instant oenophiles.

A wine region you believe is underrated or ready to shine in 2026?

Naoussa, Greece

Image: Greece Wine Regions (Wine Folly)

Your go-to wine brand or wine company?

Kir-Yianni

What qualities make a wine truly stand out on a restaurant wine list?

1) Being approachable and able to enjoy with or without food;

2) Being able to pair with a variety of foods; 

3) Affordable 

A service trend you’re excited about in 2026 (pairing, glassware, sustainability, etc.)?

Wines that are vegan!

For producers entering the Sommeliers Choice Awards, what advice would you share to make their wines more appealing to on-trade buyers?

Price & quality. For too long, it has been perceived that the more expensive the bottle is, the better the quality. That is not always the case. Quality wine does not, nor should not be, out of reach for consumers to enjoy.

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Why do you think the Sommeliers Choice Awards are valuable for the on-trade sector?

The SCA is a chance for producers to hear feedback straight from the people who are in direct contact with the consumers and know what they want. On the other hand, it also gives us (buyers) a chance to discover new wines that we ourselves have not heard of or had the chance to try. It's a great way to get to know each other.

With her corporate-sharp eye and a palate tuned to week-night value, Marsha brings dollars-and-sense clarity to the 2026 Sommeliers Choice Awards judging panel. Her philosophy is straightforward but game-changing: great wine should be approachable, food-flexible, and priced like it’s meant to be poured tonight—not saved for someday.

Also Read:
Meet the Judges 2026: Jeff Van Ham, Certified Sommelier – PROXI Restaurant, Illinois
Heather Durham-Birley Joins 2026 Sommeliers Choice Awards Judging Panel
Greg Spalding Joins 2026 Sommeliers Choice Awards Judging Panel