Pacific Northwest
Wine Competition
2026 Judging Information
Our 11th Annual Judged Competition for 2026 was held from June 22 to 24 at the Walla Walla Community College Department of Enology & Viticulture and open to all wineries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. We received a total of 644 entries from 153 wineries.
Judges For Our 2026 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.
Amberleigh Brownson - Court of Master Sommeliers trained; four-time Wine Spectator Award recipient; wine writer and consultant; Assistant Winemaker, GLM Wine Co., Blaine, WA
Deb J. Carter - Certified Sommelier; wine educator; past Executive Director, Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
Danny Gordon - General Manager, Sagemoor Vineyards and Wines of Sagemoor; past winemaker, Tamarack Cellars
Jeff Hickenlooper - Certified Specialist of Wine; Certified Sommelier; 35 years wine industry experience, including distribution, wineries and restaurants; Manager, Dama Wines, Walla Walla, WA
Jordan Hostetter - Founder/winemaker, Open Soul Wines, Oregon; wine business strategist, Sagemoor Estates; WSET Level 3
Orion Kamrowski-Poppen - AAS, Enology & Viticulture; Northstar Winery, Walla Walla, WA
Dan Kennedy - Certified Sommelier; WSET Level 3; Zerba Cellars, Milton-Freewater, OR
Tracy Olney - 20 years wholesale/retail wine industry experience; member, Society of Wine Educators; Certified Educator
of Wine
Meg Rulli - WSET Level 3; wine educator; owner/winemaker, Flipturn Cellars, Portland, OR
Sara Wilson - Certified Sommelier, WSET Level 3; Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Lewiston, ID
Dan Radil (Moderator) - President, Whatcom Beer & Wine Foundation; Co-Producer, Pacific NW Wine Competition
Note - Judges are not permitted to score wines for any wineries with which they are associated.