Super Early Bird Ends
October 31, 2024
Judging
Date
May 19, 2025
Winners Announcement
June 10, 2025
The Judges
James Bube MS
Master Sommelier and Wine Director at Hogsalt, Chicago
Morgan Harris MS
Master Sommelier
Mark Guillaudeu MS
Sommelier at Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix
Peter Granoff MS
Master Sommelier, Wine Educator, Speaker, Entrepreneur, San Francisco
Kyungmoon Kim MS
Master Sommelier
Brian Koziol MS
Master Sommelier at Maverick Beverage Company, Chicago
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
Wayne Belding MS
Master Sommelier and Partner at Preferabli, Colorado
Larissa C Dubose
National Director Beverages- Dining Division at Paradies Lagardère and Wine Enthusiast Magazine Future 40, Vino Volo National Buyer
Rachel Lowe
Director of Beverage for Levy Restaurants.
Lisa Selman CSS
Alchemy Room Beverage Director
Scott Barber
President at Green Pin Wines
Mark Gallagher
Experienced Sommelier and Mixologist
DJ Howard
Sommelier at City Winery, Chicago
Kat Hawkins
Wine Director at Miru, Tre Dita, and the St. Regis Bar, St. Regis, Chicago
Michael Marsico
Michael Marsico
Cassandra E. Sakai
Corporate Director of Beverage Operations, Gibsons Restaurant Group
Daniel Andrews
Sommelier at Gibsons, Hugo's on Rush St, Chicago
Guillermo Bravo
Beverage Director at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Chicago
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
Anika Ellison
Wine Manager, Swift & Sons Steakhouse, Chicago
Krystina Harcourt
Sommelier at Vie Restaurant, Chicago
Jamie Harrison Rubin
Procurement & Placements at Culinary Conservatory, Philadelphia
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
Hospitality Consultant
Liz Kowal
Wine Certificate Instructor, Hospitality at College of DuPage
Kasia Kutryba
Wine Consultant at Binny's Beverage Depot
Lee Maher Salzman
Sommelier
Sutton McElroy
Beverage Manager, Certified Sommelier, Staff Educator
Will Parsons
Vice President, International Operations & Global Portfolio Manager at PARSONS FINE IMPORTS
Dan Pilkey
Sommelier at The Concours Club and Fine Vines
Charles Schneider
GM, Wine Director GM, Wine Director Webster Wine Bar
Christian Shaum
Lead Sommelier at Bazaar Meat & Bar Mar Chicago & CMSA Advanced Sommelier, 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
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 on food, wines, spirits, and travel. (Forbes)
Jeff Van Ham
Sommelier, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, Chicago