Competition Judges
A Panel of World-Class Wine Experts
Our competition is judged double-blind by Colorado and nationally based sommeliers, wine buyers, wine critics, and certified wine judges.
2026 Denver International Wine Competition
2026 Co-Chairs
Christopher J. Davies, Chairman, Wine Country Network, Inc.
Co-Founder of The Denver International Wine Competition and Festival
Darcy R. Davies
President, Wine Country Network, Inc.
Co-Founder of The Denver International Wine Competition
and Festival
2026 Judging Panel
Larry Wilcox- Senior Judge
Certified Executive Wine and Spirits Judge & Instructor
Nicolas Post- Senior Judge
Wine and Spirits Educator, Master of Wine
Elizabeth Woesnner- Judge
Journalist and Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers,
American Sommelier Society and WSET Level II
Carol Chamberlain-Judge
Owner of Joie de Vin, LLC
Wine Educator, Certified Wine Judge, Guild Wine Master candidate with the International Wine Guild
Maia Parish-Judge
WSET II Certified
Wine Educator and Event Producer
The Wine Suite, LLC
William Hau-Judge
DipWSET Candidate
Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Co-Host of Local Wine Club
Freelance Wine Writer
Lauren Turner-Judge
Executive Sommelier
Certified Wine Judge
International Wine Guild Masters Candidate
Certified Chef of Wine
Completion of the Food and Wine Program,
Cook Street School of Fine Cooking
Mic Naranjo-Judge
WSET Wine and Spirits Level 3 Certified
Dr. Rita Kirchhofer–Judge
WSET Level III
Tom Vanderbosch- Judge
Certified Sommelier, American Wine Society
Past Judges
Eric Anderson, Sommelier and Wine Professional
Director of Procurement
Hyatt Hotels, Denver, CO
Michelle Bainbridge
Wine Industry Professional
President of The American Wine Society- Denver Chapter
Timothy Baldwin, Advanced Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers
Vice President, Food and Beverage, Aspen Skiing Company
Rafael Craveiro
Executive Sommelier, Level II
Owner & Importer, Craveiro Importers of premium beverages
Wine Director, Orvino Wine Imports
William Davis, CSS, CWE
Director of Education, Wilson Daniels
Court of Master Sommeliers (Master Candidate), the Wine and Spirits
Education Trust and the Society of Wine Educators (CSS, CWE)
Justin Gillman, CSW, CSS
Wine Specialist, Wine Retailer & Sommelier
Food & Beverage Team Leader
Target
Carole Hackett
Certified Wine Judge with The American Wine Society
WSET Certified Level 2 With Merit
Rudi Helvig
Certified Sommelier
Co-Owner of Colorado Wine Country Tours, Wine Distributor
Danielle Kennette
WSET Level II with Distinction
Kristen Lindelow
Certified Wine Judge with The American Wine Society
WSET Certified Level 2 With Merit
Bennie Lindeque, MD, PhD
Sommelier and Wine Judge
Ed Martin
L4 WSET (DipWSET) Diploma
Owner, Beverage Education Workshop
Victoria P Roberts,
Executive Sommelier
WSET Level III
David Sandri, CSW, WLS, WSET Certified
advanced, Consulting Senior
Instructor, Wine Studies Program, College of Marin
Sensory Enologist, Winesecrets
Brandon Tebbe MS, Master Sommelier, Winemake
Transparency
Our competition rules strictly prohibit accepting judges who are affiliated in any way with companies that have entered products into our competition.
Our competition is expanding rapidly and we are currently seeking to add seasoned judges to our panel. To apply for consideration, please email your credentials and bio to Christopher J. Davies
2026 Denver International Wine Competition
2026 Co-Chairs
Christopher J. Davies,
Chairman Wine Country Network, Inc.
Co-Founder of The Denver International
Wine Competition and Festival
Darcy R. Davies
President, Wine Country Network, Inc.
Co-Founder of The Denver International
Wine Competition and Festival
WSET Level II
2026 Judging Panel
Larry Wilcox- Senior Judge
Certified Executive Wine and Spirits Judge & Instructor
Nicolas Post- Senior Judge
Wine and Spirits Educator, Master of Wine
Elizabeth Woesnner- Judge
Journalist and Certified Sommelier through
The Court of Master Sommeliers,
American Sommelier Society and WSET Level II
Carol Chamberlain-Judge
Owner of Joie de Vin, LLC
Wine Educator, Certified Wine Judge,
A Guild Wine Master candidate with
The International Wine Guild
Maia Parish-Judge
WSET II Certified
Wine Educator and Event Producer
The Wine Suite, LLC
William Hau-Judge
DipWSET Candidate
Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Co-Host of Local Wine Club
Freelance Wine Writer
Lauren Turner-Judge
Executive Sommelier
Certified Wine Judge
International Wine Guild Masters Candidate
Certified Chef of Wine, Completion of the Food and
Wine Program, Cook Street School of Fine Cooking
Mic Naranjo-Judge
WSET Wine and Spirits Level 3 Certified
Dr. Rita Kirchhofer–Judge
WSET Level III
Tom Vanderbosch- Judge
Certified Sommelier, American Wine Society
Past Judges
Eric Anderson, Sommelier and Wine Professional
Director of Procurement
Hyatt Hotels, Denver, CO
Michelle Bainbridge
Wine Industry Professional
President of The American
Wine Society- Denver Chapter
Timothy Baldwin, Advanced Sommelier,
Court of Master Sommeliers
Vice President, Food and Beverage, Aspen Skiing Company
Rafael Craveiro
Executive Sommelier, Level II
Owner & Importer, Craveiro Importers of premium beverages
Wine Director, Orvino Wine Imports
William Davis, CSS, CWE
Director of Education, Wilson Daniels
Court of Master Sommeliers (Master Candidate), the Wine and Spirits
Education Trust and the Society of Wine Educators (CSS, CWE)
Justin Gillman, CSW, CSS
Wine Specialist, Wine Retailer & Sommelier
Food & Beverage Team Leader, Target
Carole Hackett
Certified Wine Judge with The American Wine Society
WSET Certified Level 2 With Merit
Rudi Helvig
Certified Sommelier
Co-Owner of Colorado Wine Country Tours, Wine Distributor
Danielle Kennette
WSET Level II with Distinction
Kristen Lindelow
Certified Wine Judge with The American Wine Society
WSET Certified Level 2 With Merit
Bennie Lindeque, MD, PhD
Sommelier and Wine Judge
Ed Martin
L4 WSET (DipWSET) Diploma
Owner, Beverage Education Workshop
Victoria P Roberts,
Executive Sommelier
WSET Level III
David Sandri, CSW, WLS, WSET Certified
advanced, Consulting Senior
Instructor, Wine Studies Program, College of Marin
Sensory Enologist, Winesecrets
Brandon Tebbe MS, Master Sommelier, Winemake