Rachel Speckan is a seasoned wine professional with deep expertise in beverage program development, wine education, and on-premise wine strategy. Over the years, she has built a reputation for curating thoughtful wine lists, mentoring staff in tasting and service, and aligning wine programs with evolving consumer trends and profitability goals.

As a judge at the Sommeliers Choice Awards, Rachel brings: A refined palate and years of hands-on experience in assessing wine quality, varietal typicity, and food parability, Insight into how wines perform in real-world restaurant settings, A perspective on market trends, consumer expectations, and the balance between quality and value. Entrants will benefit from her authoritative and practical approach—her feedback and scores reflect what works in active wine lists, offering valuable guidance beyond just medal recognition.