We are thrilled to announce that Jamie Knee, affectionately known as the Petite Wine Traveler, has joined the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025 as our Regional and Category Ambassador. With her vast expertise and passion for wine, Jamie will be representing Santa Barbara Wine Country, Rioja as wine regions, and Cava as well as the wine category.

Sommeliers Choice Awards is an international wine competition organized by Beverage Trade Network that helps wine producers around the world grow in the on-premise channels of the USA market. The main objective of the competition is to benchmark wines that are great for restaurant wine lists and for by-the-glass programs.

Sommeliers Choice Awards was created with a clear vision to create a wine competition that truly reflects the expertise and preferences of sommeliers, and to reward wines that are a great fit for on-premise channels and wine consumption.

The wine competition has grown consistently over the last 6 years and now has become one of the most important wine competitions in the USA for wine brands that are looking to set them apart for on-premise channels.

Why are Sommeliers Choice Awards different? 

Wines are judged in five categories: food pairability, typicity, quality, value, and packaging. Judges consider two overarching questions whilst considering these five categories: “Would we stock this?” and "Will the consumer buy the second glass?" In essence, then, the entire focus of the awards is finding wines that are a great fit for wine lists and by-the-glass programs. 

Sommeliers Choice Awards has created a reputation for bringing on-premise trade buyers wines that are a great fit for wine lists and by-the-glass programs. Sommeliers can see the winning wines and use them to curate their wine lists.

About The Sommeliers Choice Awards Regional and Category Ambassador Program

The Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025 is proud to introduce the Regional and Category Ambassadors Program, a prestigious initiative designed to promote excellence and innovation in the beverage industry on a global stage. This program will highlight key educators who will educate the trade and consumers about different regions of the world.

Her first webinar as ambassador, titled "How Santa Barbara Wineries Can Grow in the US Wine Market: Insights from Jamie Knee," promises to be an invaluable resource for wineries looking to expand their presence in the competitive US market.

Here’s all you need to know about Jamie Knee: The Petite Wine Traveler, SCA’s Santa Barbara Wine Country, Rioja and Cava Ambassador.

Jamie Knee is a distinguished Santa Barbara Wine Expert, Wine Presenter, and California Wine Writer with over a decade of experience in the wine industry. Her journey as a wine enthusiast and educator has taken her across the globe, where she has curated unforgettable tasting experiences at top resorts, restaurants, festivals, and private events. Jamie's focus on Santa Barbara, California, and Spanish wines has made her a respected figure in the wine community.

As a prolific writer, Jamie shares her passion and expertise through various platforms. She authors the popular blog PetiteWineTraveler.com and contributes weekly as a wine columnist for the Montecito Journal. Her work has also been featured in esteemed publications such as The Slow Wine Guide, Santa Barbara Independent, and Santa Barbara Lifestyles. Additionally, Jamie's insights have graced the pages of prominent wine magazines like Somm Journal, Tasting Panel, and Napa Magazine.

In addition to her writing, Jamie is a well-known television presenter, regularly appearing on local news stations, including News Channel 312 in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, where she presents carefully selected wines. Her ability to communicate the nuances of wine in an engaging and approachable manner has made her a beloved figure among wine lovers and industry professionals alike.

Vineyards in Santa Barbara County | ©Santa Barbara Country Vintners Association

If you are a winery from the Santa Barbara region, RSVP here for her first webinar on "How Santa Barbara Wineries Can Grow in the US Wine Market. The webinar is aimed to help the wineries understand how to sell and story tell the region to Sommeliers. What works with Sommeliers and more. The webinar is free. Sommeliers Choice Awards entrants will also get a recorded video of the webinar. 

How Jamie Knee’s Judging Experience Will Highlight Her In Judging Panel Of Sommeliers Choice Awards

Jamie Knee's expertise extends beyond writing and presenting. She is an esteemed wine judge, evaluating wines in global competitions annually. Her impressive credentials include certifications as a Certified Specialist of Wine, California Wine Appellation Specialist, Spanish Wine Scholar, Rioja Wine Educator, and Cava Wine Educator. Her deep understanding of wine and dedication to promoting wine education make her a valuable asset to the wine industry.

Jamie is also deeply committed to community involvement. She founded the Montecito Wine Society and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Circle of Wine Writers, the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association, and the Association for Women in Communications, where she serves on the board.

Jamie will also be part of the judging panel for 2025 and will be on the wine flights for Barbara Wine Country, Rioja, and Cava. The top winner from the category and region will also get a video testimonial from Jamie which will be showcased in the video section of the winner's videos.

Further to that, the top 5 winners will be showcased in a tasting video by Jamie highlighting the winners once the results are out and promoted by Sommeliers Choice Awards. This is a great chance for wineries from the Santa Barbara region to enter the wines in the 2025 competition.

About Santa Barbara County Wines:

There are 350 wineries in the region and about 75 grape varietals that are grown there. Santa Barbara County is different than any other wine-growing region in the world. Here, the east-west orientation of the coastal mountains forms valleys opening directly to the Pacific Ocean. This unique topography allows the flow of fog and ocean breezes to shape distinct micro-climates, perfect for the cultivation of classic grape varietals and world-class wines.

Here is one great blog post on how to explore the Santa Barbara region if you are a traveler or even a sommelier.

The 50 miles stretching from Point Conception to Rincon constitutes the longest east-west traverse of shoreline from Alaska to Cape Horn. The Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains form a unique coastal range – the inland ebb and flow of fog and ocean breezes make the region one of the coolest viticultural areas in California. This means that the fruit has an unusually long “hang time” on the vine, allowing it to fully develop the acids, flavors, and tannins needed to produce wines of distinctive character. 

The region has many micro-climates, with climates influenced by proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Cool and moderate temperatures toward the west change to warm daytime and cold nights to the east. There are seven official appellations: Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, and Ballard Canyon. Los Olivos District, Sta. Rita Hills and Alisos Canyon. Within the broad Santa Barbara County designation are several other micro-regions – these include the Los Alamos Valley region and the Santa Maria Bench.

You can find more information about Santa Barbara County wines on the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association website. One very useful tool for trade buyers that is there on the Santa Barbara Country Vintners Association website is searching wineries by Grape Varietals.

The Santa Barbara Vintners (Santa Barbara County Vintners Association) is a nonprofit 501(c)6 organization founded in 1983 to protect and promote Santa Barbara County as a world-class wine and grape region.

About Rioja Wines

Rioja wines are produced in the Rioja wine region of northern Spain, which is known for its rich traditions and innovation. Rioja wines are known for their balanced, firm, and tannic profile, and can be red or white, though red wines are more common. Rioja wines are classified into four categories based on barrel maturation:

-  Joven: Wines that have had no oak aging
- Crianza: Wines must spend at least one year in oak barrel and one in bottle before release
- Reserva: Wines spend one year in oak barrels and two in bottle
- Gran Reserva: Wines are usually made in the best vintages and require at least two years of aging in oak and three years in the bottle 

Rioja is most commonly a red wine made from Tempranillo grapes, though sometimes Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano grapes are used. Tempranillo is known for its structure, tannins, and savory taste, though it is notably fruitier than something like Cabernet Sauvignon. There are about 600 wineries in the region.

Here are two associations that are promoting the region and from where you can learn more. ABRA is the connecting link between families and history and winemaking tradition in the Rioja region. Rioja trade is a great trade portal for Sommeliers around the world to learn more about Rioja wines.

Who are the judges of Sommeliers Choice Awards and how wine brands can benefit? 

The judges of the Sommeliers Choice Awards are top Restaurant Wine Buyers of the USA, Master Sommeliers, National and Regional Restaurant group buyers, and leading wine directors of the on-premise channels. The judging panel will also include leading and specialized wine importers and distributors. 

Each panel has a Master Sommelier which means each wine is also reviewed by one Master Sommelier. The judges are real trade buyers and come with direct buying responsibilities. One of the main commercial benefits wine producers have is that the wines are also judged by the package and thus the judges can see the wine bottles once the blind tasting is done which gives a brand solid visibility. 

Each brand also gets constructive trade feedback from these top trade professionals is very valuable. Feedback includes market feedback like, Is your wine a good fit for the on-premise channel? is the region or varietal in demand in the US market? Is it a good fit for the glass program? and if the judges are interested in your brand, they also have an option to ask for more details like pricing and sampling. 

Apart from the feedback, each wine gets a professional tasting note that they can use in custom shelf talkers of SCA. The 2025 SCA judging panel will also include importers and distributors specialized in restaurant wines which brings a solid benefit for international and domestic wine brands looking to get the attention of state distributors and importers. 

If you are looking to sell more of your wines to on-premise establishments such as restaurants, hotels, pubs, and bars, then Sommeliers Choice Awards is the right wine competition for your wines.