Chief Judge Tim McDonald CSW CSS – President of Wine and Spirits Spoken Here

Tim has over 40 years of proven success in the wine industry with positions in public relations, trade relations, marketing and sales, event management and wine education.  His experience includes positions at prominent adult beverage companies; such as E&J Gallo where he served as Marketing Director Fine Wine Communications, Peak Wines as V.P. of Marketing and Communications, Trinchero Family Estates as Director of Trade Relations, with Heublein Wines as Director of Trade & Public Relations, and sales assignments with both Seagram and Heublein.

Tim has experience with all types of Media, National Accounts, Wholesale Distributors, Restaurant, and Retail segments. Tim has served as a Wine Judge at over 200 Wine and Spirits Competitions here in North America and spoken frequently on assembled panels at many wine industry events.

Karen Bennett –  Wine Buyer, Restaurant Owner

Karen has worked in the wine industry for 29 years and opened one of the first California wine bars in 1991. In 2004 she moved to the Central Coast and became manager and wine buyer for Bill Hoppe of Hoppe’s Garden Bistro in Cayucos. In 2011 she returned to the Central Valley as wine director and buyer for Meir Brown, a winner of The Food Networks ‘Cooks vs Cons’ television series and owner of Cafe’ Med Restaurant and Gourmet Shop in Bakersfield, California. Karen is certified WSET2 and Court of Master Sommeliers.

Traci Dutton – Culinary Institute of America – Manager – Public Wine and Beverage Studies

Traci Dutton serves as the Sommelier in the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America. With the goal of creating The Ultimate California Wine Cellar to be housed in the former Christian Brothers winery, the wine list has won awards and gathered national recognition for the extensive representation of wines from throughout the state, with a special emphasis on Greystone’s Napa neighbors. Ms. Dutton worked in New York City for 14 years and came to California with vast experience in fine dining beverage service and international wine buying. She specialized in Italian wines with her first Sommelier position at Andiamo! and then immersed herself in French wines (though unfortunately, not literally) by joining the top notch service team at the 3 star Montrachet, under the direction of Daniel Johnnes. Ms. Dutton worked as a consultant for several other restaurants in New York at various times specializing in mixology, beer, organic wines and the wines of the northeastern United States. In addition to her work at the CIA, Traci has judged the Dallas Morning New Wine Competition and the LA County Fair “Wines of the World” Competition, two of the largest competitions in the country. She has spoken on marketing at UC Davis, Sonoma State University and the Wine Industry Financial Symposium.

Jamie Knee – Global Wine Communicator, Wine Educator, Int’l Wine Judge, Wine Critic & Writer, Wine Lifestyle Influencer

Jamie Knee, known as the Petite Wine Traveler, is a Wine Travel Storyteller, Global Wine Presenter, and International Wine Judge, recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Wine Hospitality and Wine Travel Awards nominee, including 2026 nominations for Wine Ambassador of the Year and Food and Wine Influencer of the Year.
Her work sits at the intersection of wine, travel, and cultural storytelling, bringing a global perspective to how wine is experienced, communicated, and remembered. Through on-camera media, keynote presentations, and destination storytelling, she connects audiences to the people, places, and traditions that define the world of wine.

Jamie has judged prestigious wine competitions internationally, offering both technical expertise and a refined understanding of evolving consumer preferences and wine tourism.
Her credentials include Certified Specialist of Wine, WSET, Spanish Wine Scholar, Rioja and Cava Educator, Champagne Specialist, and California Wine Appellation Specialist.
She is the creator, host, and co-producer of the upcoming PBS series Petite Wine Traveler Explores: California, and a regular wine contributor on News Channel 3-12. As a writer, her work has appeared in The SOMM Journal, Napa Magazine, Santa Barbara Independent, and Montecito Journal.
Jamie collaborates globally with wineries, tourism boards, and hospitality brands to shape wine travel narratives that resonate with modern audiences and elevate the experience of wine beyond the glass.

Allison Levine – Owner, Please the Palate

Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing, event strategy, and storytelling for the wine and spirits industry. With more than two decades of experience spanning communications, education, wholesale, media, and live events, Allison offers an informed, well-rounded perspective grounded in hands-on industry experience. She holds a Master’s degree in International Communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service, a WSET Level 3 Certificate, and is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers.

Allison’s career reflects a comprehensive understanding of the wine industry at every level. She previously led the marketing and events division at The Tasting Panel Magazine / Blue Lifestyle, producing more than 75 trade events annually across the United States and working closely with producers, importers, distributors, and trade professionals. Earlier, she helped build LearnAboutWine’s education and events programs and later worked as a sales representative for importer-distributor Chambers & Chambers, gaining firsthand experience in wholesale sales, portfolio management, and market positioning. These roles continue to inform her strategic thinking and analytical approach to wine communication.

As a freelance writer and industry expert, Allison collaborates with wine regions and organizations around the world. She has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico, further shaping her understanding of wine through cultural and regional lenses. Her articles have appeared in Wine Traveler, Travel Curator, Wander with Wonder, Monarch.wine, California Winery Advisor, Organic Authority, SommJournal, The Tasting Panel, The Napa Valley Register, and more, in addition to her blog, Please The Palate.

Allison is the U.S. host of the international podcast Wine Soundtrack, where she interviews winemakers and winery owners in a focused “30 Questions” format that blends personal narrative with professional insight. She is also the creator of The Festival of Undiscovered Grapes, an educational tasting event spotlighting lesser-known grape varieties and encouraging deeper consumer and trade engagement.

In addition to writing and media work, Allison serves as a wine competition judge and moderates educational panels, contributing expert commentary rooted in experience, global perspective, and thoughtful analysis.
Her expertise is shaped by experience, analysis, and a commitment to elevating informed conversation within the wine industry.

Omar Lima – Certified Sommelier/WSET 2/ Certified Saké Advisor

Omar Lima who is a born and raised Angeleno where he began his journey as a wine steward at his favorite wine bar Augustine Wine Bar in Sherman Oaks, considered to be one of the best wine bars in America, where he was humbly tapped by Matthew Kaner and David Gibbs to take on the GM / Wine Director role. This is where he caught the wine/ hospitality bug and after passing his Certified Sommelier and obtaining Level 2 WSET/ Certified Sake Advisor he was ready to join the hotel/ restaurant world by becoming a sommelier at the prestigious Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills and then being chosen to join the world-renowned Wolfgang Puck SPAGO in Beverly Hills.

Phil Markert – Director of Liquor for Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions

Phil Markert began his career in the retail grocery industry in 1978, where he worked as a stock clerk in an independent liquor store while attending high school in North Torrance.  His career with the Safeway organization began in 1982, where Phil worked as a bagger in a Torrance store.  He quickly advanced through the retail ranks, serving as clerk, head clerk, grocery manager, assistant manager and store manager.

His entrance into the liquor business began in early 1988 when he was introduced to Fine Wine at a restaurant in Santa Monica during a food and wine experience with friends and family that forever changed the landscape of how wine is sold in grocery stores.  At this dinner, a 1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet was served – the first 100-point wine rating given by Robert Parker to a California wine.   Seeing the dinner guests enjoying and talking about it, the idea came to light that there is a correlation between what customers buy at a restaurant and at a grocery store in the same marketing area. Weeks later, with the support of senior management, the birth of the ‘Fine Wine Program’ took place in Santa Monica Ca.

Phil was promoted to store manager of the Belmont Shore Vons in 1991 and moved the Fine Wine Program to the Belmont Shore.  The program included everyday low pricing, expanded wine selection, local specialty foods, community events, in-store chef demonstrations, bottle signings, winemaker dinners at local restaurants, full-service staff, a newsletter and home delivery service.

From 1994 to 2002, Phil moved to the Vons Division office in Arcadia, and was promoted to Fine Wine Sales Manager.  His job was to rollout the Fine Wine Program to fifty Southern California stores, duplicating what he had accomplished in his store.

In 2002 Phil was promoted to National Category Director of Wine and relocated to Pleasanton.  Phil took his experiences from the Southern California program and applied it to twenty-one states across the country, leading a team of people to become the largest wine retailer in the United States.  In 2007, Phil was promoted to Vice President, General Manager for Alcohol and Tobacco and applied his Neighborhood Marketing approach to Beer, and Spirits.

In 2010 Phil left Alcohol and was promoted to VP of Merchandising/Operations for Non-Perishables for the company. His responsibilities included overseeing the merchandising/marketing and the execution at retail. He also led the companies clustering initiatives, and our Premium store project.

In 2014 Phil was appointed as the company’s leader for Perishables and Non-Perishables of our LOCALIZATION initiative and Neighborhood Marketing efforts.

In 2015 Phil returned to his roots in SOCAL as the LQ. Sales Manager for the newly combined Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions Division of the Albertsons companies. In 2017 Phil took on the additional responsibilities of VP of Marketing/Merchandising of Pavilions. In 2019 went back to full time in alcohol as the Director of Liquor for AVP

Phil supports a wide variety of organizations serving local communities, including City of Hope and most recently the Susan G Komen Foundation in their fight to end breast cancer. Phil is also the #1 fundraiser in the USA for the Susan G Komen walk 4 years running. Phil has a passion for fitness and loves Food, & Wine, – hence the workouts!

Anthony Mueller – Accomplished Sommelier, Wine Presenter and Educator

Anthony Mueller is a highly accomplished sommelier, wine presenter, and educator who has judged prominent wine competitions in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, and internationally in Australia and South Africa. He has lectured at various wine events and hosted masterclasses across the USA, Asia, and Europe. With over 20 years of experience in the food and wine industry, he has worked for leading figures, including Chef Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant The French Laundry in Yountville, California, and for Robert Parker of Wine Advocate as an international wine critic.

Mueller holds several prestigious wine certifications, including the Advanced Sommelier certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Level 3 Award in Wines from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and the Certified Specialist of Wine certificate from the Society of Wine Educators. Additionally, he is a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist and a Certified Sake Advisor.

Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, Mueller has a technical background in math and science. Driven by his passion for wine, he first joined the Wine Archivist team at Delectable.com before moving to Napa Valley to join the service team at The French Laundry in 2014. By 2016, he was named ‘Sommelier of the Month’ by Food & Beverage magazine. In 2018, he joined Robert Parker Wine Advocate, where he reviewed wines from Washington State and South Africa for over five years. In 2025, he launched his own brand, AnthonyMueller.com, and this year, he is introducing a fully digital media platform aimed at exciting and engaging the wine industry while sharing his passion for wine with a broad audience, promoting diversity and inclusion without snobbery or elitism. Like Anthony Bourdain, Mueller is an avid traveler who easily makes new friends and loves exploring new restaurants in unfamiliar cities. Although he never attended culinary school, Mueller enjoys cooking elaborate meals at home, often using organic ingredients grown in his own garden.

Shawn Richcreek – West Coast Regional Business Partner for Total Wine & More

Shawn Richcreek is passionate about people, passionate about wine and spirits education and most importantly, he is passionate about providing amazing customer experiences! He is currently the West Coast Regional Business Partner for Total Wine & More, supporting 67+ locations. Shawn also teaches wine education classes for Arizona State University’s Osher Institute and California State University San Bernardino’s Osher Institute in Palm Desert. Prior to Joining Total Wine & More, Shawn worked for 13 years for Beverages & More where he was the Director of Training for their retail stores. Prior to that, Shawn was the Southern California wine buyer for Cost Plus World Market and has worked on the retail side of the Wine and Spirits business in Southern California for more than 28 years. Shawn is a Certified Sommelier and a Certified Specialist of Spirits.

Cindy Rynning – Freelance Writer, Wine, Food, Travel

Cindy Rynning has been writing about wine, food and travel on her award-winning wine blog, Grape Experiences, since 2011.  She passed the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Advanced/Level 3 program withMeritin 2012. Cindy engages in national and international wine travels, hosts virtual tastings, attends global trade tastings and media events, meets and interviews winemakers and others who share their stories, and writes about tastings, food and wine pairings, wine travel, and more.

She was a judge in the Central Coast Wine Competition in 2022 – 2025held in Paso Robles, California and will continue in that role. In 2023, Cindy was accepted into membership in the prestigious Circle of Wine Writers, the world’s leading international association of wine and spirits authors, writers, journalists, bloggers, broadcasters, photographers and educators.

She has written for a variety of print and digital publications including Crave Local, Wine Tourist Magazine, Wine Traveler, University of Richmond Alumni Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, SommTV Online Magazine, SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel Magazine. She’s also co-creator of the YouTube channel, Crush On This. Currently, Cindy is a Contributing Editor/Field Coordinator to the Slow Wine Guide 2024, 2025, and 2026.

In November 2023, Cindy, also a content creator, published an online course on Teachable, “Discover the Essentials of Wine (and choose it like a pro!).”

Cindy received the Drizly Blogger Award as Best Wine Blog – 2017 and her site was one of the Top 100 Most Influential Wine Blogs in the world in 2015 and the Lux International Magazine Best Wine Blog – US in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Two of her articles were finalists in the Millesima Wine Blog Awards – Wine Travel category in 2017 and 2018.

From 2019-2024, Cindy has been featured multiple times on Good Day Chicago Fox 32, WGN-TV Channel 9, The Jam on Chicago’s WCIU TV, Good Day Sacramento (The CW31), The Rhode Show WPRI Channel 12, Colorado’s Best Fox 31 Denver, Good Day Philadelphia Fox 29, NBC Miami Six in the Mix, Fox Good Day Atlanta, and Yahoo Finance.

Grape Experiences is included in the 100 Best Wine Blogs to Follow in 2026 and in the Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 by Corking Wines.

A former professional educator, Cindy understands the value of lifelong learning and strives to share her knowledge of wine through writing, social media, personalized wine tastings and real-life conversation in order to inform, entertain, and inspire others to discover the beauty of our favorite beverage – wine.

Christopher Taranto – 2025 Wine Industry Person of the Year, Director of Trade Relations – Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

With over 20 years of experience in public relations, destination marketing, and strategic communications, Christopher Taranto has been a driving force behind the success and visibility of Paso Robles Wine Country. As Director of Trade Relations for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance since 2007, he leads trade and media relations, develops programming for industry audiences, and shapes messaging that elevates the region’s profile among consumers, buyers, and press.
Chris is widely regarded for his ability to communicate the nuances of climate, soil, and AVA diversity in ways that are both engaging and accessible. He has designed and executed dozens of trade immersion experiences and media tours, helping top-tier buyers and influential journalists connect deeply with Paso’s people, wines, and place. He also organizes and leads consolidated tastings for influential wine critics to ensure they experience the full depth and diversity of the region. He has worked to present Paso Robles to hundreds of wine writers and critics since he began with the PRWCA. He brings Paso Robles to the world stage as well, representing the region at events across the country and internationally, building new relationships and opening doors for regional growth.
In addition to his core communications work, Chris contributes to grant-funded initiatives and collaborative campaigns that support the long-term competitiveness of the region. He’s known for his thoughtful planning, strong writing, and steady behind-the-scenes leadership that makes complex activations look effortless.
Before joining the Alliance, Christopher was the Public Relations Manager for the California Space Authority, where he led media efforts supporting California’s space enterprise sector. Prior to that, he served as Director of Tourism for the Paso Robles Visitors & Conference Bureau, where he developed a new brand identity and marketing presence for the city. Earlier in his career, he held key roles with the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Monterey County Travel and Tourism Alliance, focusing on strategic marketing, grants, and regional promotions.

Christopher earned his degree in Recreation Administration from California State University, Sacramento. He holds a WSET Level Two certification and is currently pursuing his Certified Specialist of Wine.

A longtime Paso Robles resident, Chris is also deeply engaged in the local community. He serves as Chair of the REC Foundation, supporting parks and recreation programs, and finds balance at home with his wife Jenny and their two sons, Joe and Nick—often enjoying the natural beauty of California’s Central Coast together.

Sandra Taylor – Beverly Hills Sommelier

After being in the entertainment business, in front of the camera for over 20 years, Sandra Taylor is a world-class storyteller who brings a very unique quality to being a personal Sommelier.
Sandra’s ability to bring the wines to life and take you on a journey to their origins is her specialty. Her experience of travel to the world’s most coveted and important wine regions have given her first-hand knowledge, experience, and attention detail. She is apart of multiple exclusive wine groups. She is currently the wine consultant for Jean-Georges in Beverly Hills and the exclusive Sommelier and buyer for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. It was in Vegas that Sandra was inspired to combine her two worlds of the entertainment business and the wine world to create a first ever Sommelier position at an NFL stadium and feature a Premium wine list to offer the exclusive suite holders at Allegiant Stadium.
Sandi has completed wine programs at UCLA and The North American Sommelier Association where she earned her Certified Status and was awarded the prestigious Silver-Pin. https://www.beverlyhillssommelier.com/

Wilfred Wong – Wine Critic, Wine Writer, Professional Wine Judge

Wilfred Wong is a wine critic, writer, and photographer with five decades of experience in the wine industry. A respected wine judge, he has evaluated wines across the globe, including France, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Among his favorite U.S. competitions is the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, the San Francisco International Wine Competition, and the Central Coast Wine Competition where his expertise and keen palate are highly valued.
As the former Cellar Master at BevMo, Wilfred played a pivotal role in creating the company’s wine rating system, a groundbreaking approach that helped guide consumers in selecting wines. Tasting nearly 3,000 wines a year, his scores and concise tasting notes became an influential tool in retail wine buying, earning him a reputation as one of the most trusted palates in the business.
Based in San Francisco, Wilfred’s extensive career has made him a go-to authority in the industry, offering insight through his writing, reviews, and photography. His deep knowledge, sharp judgment, and dedication to wine continue to shape how consumers and professionals alike understand and appreciate wine. Wilfred and his wife Alice unfortunately lost their 9 year old dog Kaili March 17 which left them with broken hearts but with every door that closes a new one opens and they welcomed a new puppy, Riley just recently.