Judging Date
May 19, 2025
Winner Announcement
June 10, 2025
The Judges
Jill Zimorski MS DipWSET
Master Sommelier and Adjunct Professor, DePaul University
Jesse Becker MS
Master Sommelier at Veritable Wines & Estates KG, Chicago
Morgan Harris MS
Master Sommelier and Head Sommelier at Saison Hospitality, San Francisco
Kyungmoon Kim MS
Master Sommelier
Peter Granoff MS
Master Sommelier, Wine Educator, Speaker, Entrepreneur, San Francisco
Scott Barber
President at Green Pin Wines
DJ Howard
Sommelier at City Winery, Chicago
Vanessa Aprille Bagatsing
Restaurant Manager at José Andrés Group
Jonas Bittencourt
Beverage Director & Lead Sommelier at Asador Bastian
Larissa C Dubose
Senior Director at Vino Volo | Wine Enthusiast Magazine Future 40
Matthew Citriglia MS
MS and Director of Education at Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits
Richard Fillmore, CSW
Writer, Wine Educator, Sommelier, Winery Tours, Virginia
Jared Givens
Director of Restaurants, Bars and Events for the Thompson Dallas, Hyatt Hotels
Matthew Goss
Co-owner/Managing Member at Credo Wine Imports LLC
Kat Hawkins
Wine Director at Miru, Tre Dita, and the St. Regis Bar, St. Regis, Chicago
Jesse Hiney
General Manager at The Florentine | Certified Sommelier
Ryan Hoffman
Wine and Spirits Director
Marija Jovanovic
Founder of CheeseWineTravel
Miranda Kaml
Sommelier at Vinfolio
David Kohl
Vice President Portfolio Manager, Chateau & Estates Wine Imports LLC
Kasia Kutryba
Wine Consultant at Binny's Beverage Depot
Élyse Lambert MS
Master Sommelier and Fifth Position Best Sommelier of the World 2016
Jason Lane
General Manager at Boka Restaurant Group
Jane Lopes
Sommelier, Educator, and Co-Founder Legend Imports
Lee Maher Salzman
Sommelier
Charlotte Marshall
Partner, Director of Sommelier Services at Tech Evolution Partners
Michael Marsico
Sr. Director Ops Services & Beverage at Maggiano's Little Italy
Rachel Navarro
Assistant Winemaker and Beverage Captain at City Winery
Will Parsons
Vice President, Global Portfolio Manager at Parsons Fine Imports, Columbus, Indiana
Jelena Prodan
Sommelier & Beverage Director for SMG Restaurants
Sandra Gomes Rocha
CEO and Co-Founder of Diniz Cellars
Jonathan Ross MS
Master Sommelier, Author and Partner at Legend Australian Wine Imports
Chris Saraiva
Co-Founder at Brands of Portugal
Lee Schlesinger, MBA, DipWSET
Vice President, Portfolio Management & Education at Winesellers Ltd
Lisa Selman CSS
Director of Beverage for the Alchemy Room, Breakthru Beverage
Christian Shaum
Wine Director at José Andrés Group
Paul Solomon
Director of Operations for Vistro Prime and Petite Vie
Jared Sowinski
Director of Beverage at Upward Projects Restaurant Group | Postino WineCafe | Joyride Taco House | Windsor | Federal Pizza
Brandon Tebbe MS
Sommelier at Brezza Italian | Winemaker at Mercurial Cellars
Katie Tingle
Founder, Windward Tastings
Jeff Van Ham
Sommelier, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, Chicago