Pacific Northwest
Wine Competition
2025 Judging Information
Our 10th Annual Judged Competition for 2025 was held from June 23 to 25 at the Walla Walla Community College Department of Enology & Viticulture and was open to all wineries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. We received a total of 739 entries from 168 wineries.
Judges For Our 2025 Competition
Each year's judging panel is comprised of a diverse group of wine industry and industry-related professionals from the Pacific Northwest including winemakers, distributors and retailers, sommeliers, educators, and restauranteurs. We maintain the highest levels of professionalism and integrity throughout every phase of our competition.
All wines are blind-tasted and awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold medals by our panel of judges. Unanimous Golds receive a Double Gold medal. Commensurate point scores are then awarded by the panel moderator.
Nicole Barto - AWS Certified Wine Judge, with judging experience throughout the US including Washington and California; WSET Level 3
Amberleigh Brownson - Certified sommelier; four-time Wine Spectator wine program award winner; past judge for Great NW Wine, Sip Northwest and Seattle Wine Awards
Deb J. Carter - Certified sommelier; wine educator; past Executive Director, Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
Lynn Compton - WSET Level 3; Northstar Winery, Walla Walla, WA
Martin Fujishin - Director of Enology and Viticulture, Walla Walla Community College
Danny Gordon - General Manager, Sagemoor Vineyards and Wines of Sagemoor; past winemaker, Tamarack Cellars
Jordan Hostetter - Founder/winemaker, Open Soul Wines, Oregon; wine business strategist, Sagemoor Estates; WSET Level 3
Tim Norris - General Manager of Reds Wine Bar, Kent, WA, for 16 years; Certified sommelier, WSET Level 2; Echolands Winery, Walla Walla, WA
Tracy Olney - 20 years wholesale/retail wine industry experience; member, Society of Wine Educators; Certified Educator
of Wine
Dana Van Nest - WSET Level 2; wine writer and communication strategist, Seattle, WA
Sara Wilson - Certified sommelier, WSET Level 3; Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Lewiston, ID
Dan Radil (Moderator) - President, Whatcom Beer & Wine Foundation; wine educator; free-lance wine writer
Note - Judges are not permitted to score wines for any wineries with which they are associated.