We are thrilled to announce that Scott Barber, Master Sommelier and National Sales Director at Green Pin Wines, has joined the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025 as our Regional and Category Ambassador for Napa. With his extensive expertise and deep connections within the wine industry, Scott is set to bring his passion and knowledge to this prestigious role.

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.

Scott Barber and Sid Patel, in Napa filming for Sommeliers Choice Awards Varietal Benchmark series.

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.

Meet Scott Barber: America’s Leading Sommelier and Wine Trade Professional Connecting People with Exceptional Wines

Scott Barber's journey in the wine industry is one marked by a dedication to excellence and a passion for connecting people with extraordinary wines. A member of the renowned Master Sommelier Class of 2018, Scott specializes in tailoring his approach to suit every level of wine enthusiast, from novice consumers to top-level sommeliers. His ability to find the right tone and engagement level for any audience has made him a respected figure in the industry.

Throughout his career, Scott has developed and executed educational programs focused on Napa Valley terroir and blind tasting, particularly at Meadowood, Napa's premier wine resort. Currently, he represents boutique producers from Napa, Sonoma, and Europe at the distributor level, where he plays a key role in building brands and driving sales. His nationwide travel to teach seminars and support distribution sales teams has solidified his reputation as a leading educator in the wine community.

Scott's expertise extends to creating and leading wine excursions in Napa and Sonoma, with a focus on showcasing the impact of location on wine. His close ties with top chefs, such as Stephan Pyles, Thomas Keller, and John Tesar, have ingrained in him a commitment to providing the highest level of service. This background, combined with his significant experience managing profitable wine programs, makes Scott a valuable asset to any wine-related endeavor.

In addition to his professional achievements, Scott dedicates his spare time to mentoring aspiring sommeliers, guiding them through the rigorous Court of Master Sommelier exams at all levels. His deep connections with winemakers and importers worldwide have also enabled him to successfully introduce several wineries into the Texas and California markets.

2019 Forthright Merlot from Napa won the Merlot the year with 93 points at the Sommeliers Choice Awards. Forthright's philosophy of authenticity and minimal intervention winemaking creates wines that genuinely express their terroir. Forthright Winery's dedication to quality is evident in their acclaimed Oak Knoll District Merlot, awarded the 2024 Sommeliers Choice Awards' Merlot of the Year.

Read the entrepreneurial story of Forthright Winery, which is defined by the great personal ambition and philosophy of its owners. Their minimalist and naturalistic winemaking approach has earned significant acclaim among sommeliers.

This is a great opportunity for wine producers from Napa and Sonoma to enter the wines in the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards and get their wines in front of top restaurant wine professionals in the USA.

Sommeliers Choice Awards team and CEO Sid Patel recently filmed a new Varietal Benchmark series for Sommeliers Choice Awards where the first 2 episodes are done by Scott on Napa and Sonoma covering the iconic grape varietals of that region. The videos will be coming on the Sommeliers Choice Awards video section soon.

The Sommeliers Choice Awards Regional and Category Experts Program

The Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025 proudly introduces the Regional and Category Experts Program, a prestigious initiative designed to promote excellence and innovation in the global beverage industry. This program offers industry leaders the opportunity to network, gain global recognition, and explore commission opportunities while championing the regions and wine categories they are passionate about.

As Regional and Category Ambassador, Scott Barber will represent Napa, sharing his profound knowledge and passion with the international wine community. His expertise in Napa terroir and his experience with boutique wineries will be invaluable as he continues to foster connections between wine lovers and the region’s finest offerings.

Join Us in Celebrating Scott Barber

We are honored to welcome Scott Barber to the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025 and look forward to the wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm he will bring as a Regional and Category Ambassador. Stay tuned for updates on his initiatives, as we continue to celebrate excellence in the world of wine.

This is a great opportunity for wine producers from Napa and Sonoma to enter the wines in the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards and get their wines in front of top sommeliers, master sommeliers, wine directors, and distributors of the USA.

The top winner from the Napa and Sonoma wine region will also get a video testimonial from Scott 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 Scott highlighting the winners once the results are out and promoted by Sommeliers Choice Awards. With the addition of Scott to the global wine expert and ambassador program, Sommeliers Choice Awards aims to grow awareness not only in the USA market but also in international markets via Beverage Trade Network’s global presence.

About Sonoma Wine Region and Associations promoting Sonoma Wine Region.

Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) is the leading voice of Sonoma County wine, dedicated to raising awareness of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier wine regions. SCV represents over 250 wineries throughout the county. The organization actively promotes Sonoma County through educational programming; advocates for its members at local, state, and federal levels; and contributes to the local communities through the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. Sonoma County Wine Auction, its annual fundraiser, benefits nonprofit organizations throughout the region.

Sonoma County Winegrowers was established by local winegrowing families to nurture and protect sustainable agriculture for future generations. In order to achieve this goal, we educate. Here at home, we provide educational resources to local winegrowers in the form of expert panels and grower education meetings which connect the winegrowing community and allow agricultural best practices to continue to thrive in the region.

About Napa Wine Region and Associations

The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its 539 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership, and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. Through their signature marketing programs, industry advocacy, and comprehensive member resources, they work continuously to be the voice of the Napa Valley wine industry for consumers, members of the wine trade, and media outlets around the globe, and they strive to be the essential trade organization for any vintner producing Napa Valley wine in the Napa Valley.