Eleanor Leger

Co-Owner and Winemaker at Eden Ice Cider Company in Vermont. Commercial producer of award-winning ice ciders and aperitif wines.

Mary Riggle

Lives in Tipton, PA and is a member of the Laurel Highlands American Wine Society and achieved Certified Wine Judge in 2009.  She has been judging wines for 5 years and hope to continue for many more.

Scott Prom

Scott Prom is currently the winemaker at Shelburne Vineyard in Shelburne, Vermont.  Scott's interest in wine started in 1985 while living in Seattle and working as an engineer for the Boeing Company.  It was there that Scott became active in a unique company sponsored club - the Boeing Employees Wine and Beer Makers Club.  After several years of training and practice, Scott began consistently winning awards at local state fairs, including Best of Show for a 1992 Lemberger.  Originally from Wisconsin, Scott is a mechanical engineer and has worked for 25 years in the aerospace industry, with winemaking always being a serious, passionate pasttime.  In 1996, Scott and his family moved to Vermont and in 1999, Scott began working with Ken Albert to begin Shelburne Vineyard.  Shelburne Vineyard is one of several new wineries in the Northeast working with the new winter hardy grape varieties developed in the midwest (namely LaCrescent, Marquette, Frontenac, and the Swenson varietals). 

Walter Rachele

He has been a long standing member of the American Wine Society(1984) where he graduated from the Wine Judge Certification Program(1994) and returned to it as an instructor where he continues to be active.  He has participated as a judge in several competitions such as Maryland Governor’s Cup, the New Jersey Governor’s Cup and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup as well in several local county festivals at both the commercial and amateur levels.

Betsy Miller

Growing up in a family for whom wine tasting and collecting was an avid pastime, Betsy Miller has been surrounded by wine her entire life. She is a member of the American Wine Society and along with husband Paul Malagrifa, is owner of Whistling Frog Winery. She has been producing wine and spirits since 2005, including several award-winners. Betsy's designs have won "Editor's Choice" and "Honorable Mention" in past WineMaker Magazine label contests. She is editor of (and occasional contributor to) the "Musings on the Vine" newsletter, which reaches an audience of more than 10,000 wine enthusiasts. 2011 is her second year as a judge at WineMaker Magazine's Amateur Winemaking Competition. Betsy lives in Massachusetts with her husband Paul, son Peter, and their aging Jack Russell Terrier, Gus.

Paul Malagrifa

Certified Wine Educator who has been avidly pursuing his passion for wine for the last 20+ years. In the 1980s, Paul began making his own wine from grapes grown in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  Paul writes, teaches and lectures frequently on the topic of wine appreciation, and conducts regular classes and seminars in the greater-Boston area.

Bob and Fran Festa

For the past 25 years Bob and Fran have been  amateur home wine makers, making wines from grapes, juices, and kits.  Having won many gold, silver, and bronze medals for their wines.  Their most memorable achievement was winning a Double Gold and Best of Show for their Merlot in 1999 from the Mt. Carmel Society Wine Competition, having also received gold and silver medals from Amenti del Vino Wine Society and AWS National Conference. Fran and Bob were awarded the 2007 Chevalier Award from the Amenti del Vino Society.  Bob has been an active member of the American Wine Society for the past 15 years and a participating judge for the following competitions:

     ADV Pennsylvania Wine Competition
     ADV Colorado Wine Competition
     ADV Wines of the Northeast Competition
     M & M/ADV Amateur Wine Competition

Leeanne Wheeler

Leanne Wheeler is a member of the Hartford, Connecticut chapter of the American Wine Society and is in the second year of the Wine Judge Certification Program. This was Leanne's second year judging at the WineMaker Magazine Competition.

Bob Stevens

Bob Stevens has been making wines for several years, starting with kits and purchased grapes and juices before starting his own vineyard and winery (Bow Vineyard) in Weathersfield Bow, Vermont in 2006.  After 3 years of research, several Cornell U.workshops, travel to U. of Minnesota conferences, visits to many vineyards that started growing the recently developed cold hardy hybrid grapes, he planted an acre or so of four of the Minnesota varieties on his property (a two hundred year old dairy farm) near the Connecticut River in south central Vermont.  He is now producing his fourth vintage and will be bottling it in late spring this year.  He will likely go commercial this next year since he believes the quality of his wines are now where he wants them.  He grows Marquette, St. Croix, Lacrescent and Frontenac grapes.  His website at www.bowvineyard.com <http://www.bowvineyard.com>  has the history of Bow Vineyards development as well as information on the cold hardy grape varieties he is using in his estate bottled wines.   

Ethan Joseph

Started as a hobby fermenter and working seasonally at Shelburne Vineyard, which developed into a full-time passion. This season starts his fifth vintage growing grapes and making wine at Shelburne Vineyard.

Joseph Klimek

Owner of Mad River Vineyard in Waitsfield, VT specializes in cold climate grapes.  He has trained in winemaking procedures and wine testing at Cornell and has extensive knowledge in organic and biodiversity vineyard techniques.  Mr. Klimek has traveled and studied winemaking and vineyard techniques in France, Italy, California and Canada.

Chris Gerling

Chris Gerling is an Extension Associate in the Food Science Department of Cornell University. He works with the New York wine industry to create educational programs that support the growth and improved quality of premium wines throughout the state.  He is also the manager of the Vinification & Brewing Technology lab, where fermentations are conducted in collaboration with research projects examining every area of viticulture and enology.  Previously he worked at Anthony Road Wine Company in Penn Yan, NY, and was a technician in the enology and viticulture labs.  Chris and the Cornell Enology Extension Lab (CEEL) can be found at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY.   CEEL is responsible for a number of workshops throughout the year and is also home to the New York Wine Analytical Lab, where wines may be submitted for troubleshooting, routine analysis or sensory appraisal.

David Sandri

California native David Sandri has ranged over a wide spectrum of the wine industry in the last 21 years, including retail buyer, wholesale, tasting room management, vineyard operations, winery operations, logistics and winery compliance. He is a regular lecturer on the subject of wine regulation at Sonoma State University, and has given presentations on many facets of the wine industry at other venues, including CIA-Greystone in St. Helena, VESTA, Southern Oregon Wine Institute and various groups in the Lodi region.

David has been published internationally, on diverse topics such as winery compliance, smoke taint in wine, and regional winery and vineyard history; he is currently working on a handbook on winery permitting and reporting (for publication in 2012). In addition, he maintains an active wine judging schedule throughout the year, and is certified in TCA detection. He currently works for Winesecrets, North America's leading provider of production technologies that improve production efficiency, eco-performance, and quality for wine producers. He also provides private consulting in various aspects of the wine industry

Mark Simakaski

Mark Simakaski brewed his first batch of mead while teaching beekeeping in the Peace Corps. Upon his return, Mark set out to find the perfect location for a new meadery and found it in Groton, Vermont. Artesano produces fine, hand crafted mead from local honey and fruit. Mark also brews beer, cider and wine and is addicted to all things that ferment.

Diane Lang

Has been making wine for 20 years, winning a some awards along the way.  She has a small, home vineyard.  Her judging includes one year of the AWS judge certification program and 6 years at the WineMaker Magazine competition.

Joe Dautlick

Joe Dautlick is a graduate of the American Wine Society Judge Training Program.  His interest in wine began as he tasted at wineries in Europe where he worked for four years.  Later he volunteered in a Pennsylvania vineyard, where he had hands-on experience in every stage of wine production from pruning to final blending.  Joe annually organizes several amateur winemaker competitions and judges in numerous amateur and commercial competitions.  He enjoys lecturing on wine aromas and faults.  He is an instructor in the American Wine Society Judge Training Program.

Christian Brouillette

Began his experience with wine as an amateur winemaker about 10 years ago. Currently President of the winemaker club in Quebec (AVAQ).  By assisting and organizing competitions, he became involved in judging by enrolling in the Wine Judges of Canada training program in 2009.

Paul Stetson

This was Paul's 7th year judging the WineMaker Magazine Competition. He is a member of American Wine Society and has gone through their training in judging wines. He has judged a number of competitions for various organizations. Recently has spent time in wine regions of South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and Alsace.

Todd Trzaskos

An avid home winemaker, vineyard hand, local wine educator, he also serves as the Wine Consumer Advocate for the Woodstock Farmer's Market, and helps develop wine selections for restaurants, retail shops, and residential cellars. Vermont Wine Media: Exploring, Supporting, and Promoting Wine Culture in the Green Mountain State.

Jim Barnard

Jim Barnard has been making wine at home for 17 years.  He is a graduate of the 4 year Wine Spirit Education Trust Program at Boston University.  Currently, he is employed in sales by MS Walker, a distributor of fine wines and spirits in Massachusetts. 

Rhiannon Johnson

Rhiannon Johnson is the Tasting Room Manager at Shelburne Vineyard in Shelburne, Vermont. She also works in both the vineyard and winery and is currently studying to take the Certified Specialist of Wine exam.

Ivan Riggle

Belongs to the Laurel Highlands American Wine Society and has been making wine and beer from home for over 14 years.  He became an AWS Certified Wine Judge in 2009 but has been judging for the past 5 years.  In a typicall year Ivan will judge in 6-7 competitions.

Robert Herold

Robert Herold, a past American Wine Society Director of Education Services, currently grows grapes and makes wine from his private vineyard and winery in Connecticut.  He has competed successfully in AWS and other national competitions, and is an adjunct instructor at Naugatuck Valley Community College, at M&M Family of Wine, and at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, teaching both viticulture and winemaking.  He was named Connecticut Wine Person of the Year in 2003 by Amenti del Vino and has served as the Supporting Member Liaison to the Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association.  He is a veteran judge for Amenti del Vino, participating in several amateur and commercial wine competitions.

Rayona Hobbs

Rayona Hobbs first became interested in wine in the 1970's while living in Germany, and has been interested in cooking since she was a child.  She started her wine education by taking classes at Manchester Community College of Connecticut, and has been continuing her education and volunteering at wine competitions ever since.  She has traveled extensively across the country, visiting as many wine regions as possible, and enjoys meeting and talking to winemakers in her travels.  She has been a judge at the WineMaker competition for several years, and continues to seek out wine educational opportunities as often as possible.

Barry St. Pierre

Barry St. Pierre considers winemaking to be a passion of his and has received many awards from amateur winemaking competitions, including a couple of Best in Show awards.  Among American Wine Society winemakers, he was ranked 16th in the nation at the end of 2008.  Barry has completed an intensive three years of training from the AWS to be certified as a wine judge and is trained on the utilization of the AWS 20-point scale utilized at the WineMaker Competition.  He is a member of the American Wine Society, and Barry is a Regional Vice President for the AWS.

Michael & Mary Jane Lamelin

Micheal and Mary Jane Lamelin are members of Amenti del Vino and the American Wine Society.  Their wine tasting experience includes winery tours and visits in France, Italy, the Napa, Sonoma, and Temecula regions of California, Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia.  They are constantly improving their skills by attending wine education courses at Manchester Community College of Connecticut.

Jim Roche

Jim Roche is a co-chairman of the New Haven chapter of AWS.  He has hosted and created numerous wine events, including dinners, tasting, travel events, and wine judging panels.  He is an award winning home winemaker, having won 3 Best of Show awards for his wine.  Jim has been a wine judge for a number of years and has judged this event several times in the past.  He also has represented different wineries and distributors at tasting events.  He continues his work learning and teaching about the many aspects of wine education.