Early Bird Ends
January 31, 2025
Judging
Date
May 19, 2025
Winners Announcement
June 10, 2025
The Judges
Wayne Belding MS
Master Sommelier and Partner at Preferabli, Colorado
Mark Guillaudeu MS
Master Sommelier and Sommelier at Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix
Morgan Harris MS
Master Sommelier and Head Sommelier at Saison Hospitality, San Francisco
Kyungmoon Kim MS
Master Sommelier
Brian Koziol MS
Master Sommelier and Complex Director Food & Beveragen Stella Nova & Terra Luna Resorts, Florida
James Bube MS
Master Sommelier and Wine Director at Hogsalt, Chicago
Peter Granoff MS
Master Sommelier, Wine Educator, Speaker, Entrepreneur, San Francisco
Vincent Morrow MS
Master Sommelier and Wine Director at PRESS Napa Valley, San Francisco
Alexander Powell MS
Master Sommelier and Senior Wine Manager at Grill 23 & Bar, Boston
Jeremy Shanker MS
Corporate Wine Director at Mina Group and Master Sommelier
Scott Barber
President at Green Pin Wines
DJ Howard
Sommelier at City Winery, Chicago
Daniel Andrews
Sommelier at Gibsons, Hugo's on Rush St, Chicago
Guillermo Bravo
Beverage Director at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Chicago
Larissa C Dubose
National Director Beverages- Dining Division at Paradies Lagardère and Wine Enthusiast Magazine Future 40, Vino Volo National Buyer
Valerie Cao
Director of Operations and Beverage Director at Le Colonial Chicago
Paul Carayas
GM and Wine Director at Saison Cellar San Francisco and Scotts Valley
Carleigh Connelly
Hospitality Consultant, Chicago
Natalie Duch CS
Certified Sommelier with Shaw-Ross International Importers, Chicago
Cassandra E. Sakai
Corporate Director of Beverage Operations, Gibsons Restaurant Group
Anika Ellison
Wine Manager, Swift & Sons Steakhouse, Chicago
Mark Gallagher
Experienced Sommelier and Mixologist
Krystina Harcourt
Sommelier at Vie Restaurant, Chicago
Jamie Harrison Rubin
Procurement & Placements at Culinary Conservatory, Philadelphia
Kat Hawkins
Wine Director at Miru, Tre Dita, and the St. Regis Bar, St. Regis, Chicago
Colin Hofer
General Manager of Restaurants, Four Seasons Chicago
Arthur Hon
Beverage Director at the Modern, Union Square Hospitality Group, New York
Marija Jovanovic
Estate Sommelier, Bouchaine Vineyards
David Keck MS
Master Sommelier and Owner at Stella14 Wines, VT
Lawrence Kobesky
Lawrence Kobesky, FullG Capital, Chicago
Liz Kowal
Wine Certificate Instructor, Hospitality at College of DuPage
Kasia Kutryba
Wine Consultant at Binny's Beverage Depot
Rachel Lowe
Director of Beverage for Levy Restaurants.
Lee Maher Salzman
Sommelier
Michael Marsico
Michael Marsico
Sutton McElroy
Beverage Manager, Certified Sommelier, Staff Educator
Will Parsons
Vice President, Global Portfolio Manager at Parsons Fine Imports, Columbus, Indiana
Dan Pilkey
Sommelier at The Concours Club and Fine Vines
Charles Schneider
GM, Wine Director at Webster Wine Bar, Chicago
Lisa Selman CSS
Director of Beverage for the Alchemy Room, Breakthru Beverage
Christian Shaum
Lead Sommelier at Bazaar Meat, Chicago
Brandon Snell
Owner of Soroca Imports
Paul Solomon
Director of Operations for Vistro Prime and Petite Vie
Christopher St James
Assistant Sommelier & Supervisor at Esquire, Chicago
Brandon Tebbe MS
Master Sommelier, SWE ISG Certified Sommelier Certified Sherry Wine Expert and Ten Five Hospitality
Tiffany Tobey
Owner and Sommelier, Tiffany's Toast, Dallas, Texas
Ucha Tsiklauri
Toshio Ueno DipWSET
Vice President, Sake School of America, Director of Sake Specialist at MTC
Joseph V. Micallef
Journalist and commentator at Forbes
Jeff Van Ham
Sommelier, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, Chicago