Judges
The judging system used by the AFWC is a combination of the best wine judging techniques as determined and put into place by Chief Judge and judging coordinator Monty Preiser. It employs a four-member panel consisting of the best possible mix of industry professionals. Wines are poured in private and then taken to the judging tables by wine professionals serving as Wine Angels. Glasses are numbered to correspond with the individual numbered wine bottles which are kept secret in the staging area. In order for a wine to be given any particular medal, at least 75% of the panel must agree. Double Gold medals are given when 100% of the panel agrees the wine is worthy of a Gold medal.
The consensus necessary for individual awards may well be reached, and are often facilitated, through discussions led by the Panel Leader, who changes periodically throughout the judging.
Invited judges are chosen based on their wine knowledge, their palates, their dedication, and the fact that they have no fiduciary interest in any commercial winery, distributorship or supplier. The judges are recognized professionals as wine educators, wine writers, restaurateurs, and sommeliers. This is truly a dream team of judges each possessing top qualifications, independence, and the ability to bring a wide variety of experience to the table in the wine & food industry. It is the combination of judges, wines, and the award system, that makes this a unique competition rivaling all others in prestige.
Judges for 2012 American Fine Wine Competition
Chief Judge and Judging Coordinator Monty Preiser is a former wine writer for the Boca Raton News and wine evaluator for Boca Raton Magazine. He co-owns a company which instructs professionals about wine, is the principal wine writer for a large Internet Website, has judged competitions nationwide, and publishes The Preiser Key to Napa Valley, Napas only comprehensive guide to wines and restaurants. To avoid all potential conflicts, Monty will not be scoring unless a problem arises, but will oversee the work of the panels.
Barry Alberts has been teaching about wine appreciation for over three decades. For 19 years he's organized one of the longest-running weekly wine tastings in the country, hosted every Friday evening, now at the Sonesta Hotel in Coconut Grove. He also runs the wine programs at the very popular Jaguar Restaurant in Coconut Grove.
Robin Alix Austin is the editor-in-chief of AmateurGastronomer.com, an online wine, food and entertainment magazine. Prior to founding The Amateur Gastronomer in 2008, Robin was a television news producer at CBS in Miami and NBC in West Palm Beach. Currently based in Atlanta, Robin is a Certified Specialist of Wine and a member of the Society of Wine Educators.
Charlie Arturaola has perhaps the most varied wine qualifications of any person on earth. He has served as sommelier and wine buyer for top restaurants and cruise lines. He is a teacher and lecturer worldwide. He has served as advisor for some of the nations finest wine events from Aspen to Napa. And he is constantly in demand as a judge and advisor, being relied upon by several insurance companies to appraise wine collections of up to $1,000,000.00.
Jenny Benzie was the Sommelier at Michael's Restaurant in Santa Monica, then Chief Sommelier at Café Boulud in Palm Beach. Most recently, she started her own company, Pour Sip Savor, which offers an assemblage of sommelier services to private wine clients. Her wine certifications include the Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, and Certified Wine Educator with the Society of Wine Educators.
Professor "Chip" Cassidy has served as head sommelier for the prestigious Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, and as the wine buyer for a major chain of wine stores, Crown Wine and Spirits. Chip now teaches full time at FIU, and has developed a Wine Certificate Program offered to professionals already working in the wine or related fields.
Italian born Roberto Colombi relocated to England in 2003 to learn English and work for Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett at the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, London. While working for Gordon Ramsay, Colombi completed the Wine & spirits education trust in 2004, and the Certified level of the Court of Master Sommelier in 2006. In 2005 he was promoted to Assistant Head Sommelier, and in 2007 he left England for a Head Sommelier position at Cielo in the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida, where he remains today. In 2008 Colombi was awarded Rising Star sommelier of South Florida by Starchefs.com
Cary Combine represents Napa based Intervine, Inc. as the director of wine sales to the cruise line industry. She has over twenty years of experience in the wine industry through former senior level positions with Constellation Wine, Sebastiani Winery, and Southern Wine and Spirits. Cary has earned her certification as a sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Additionally, she is a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators.
Serving as sommelier and maitre d of Kentuckys only five diamond restaurant, Julie DeFriend has helped bring the famed Oak Room to new heights. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Louisville with a B.A. in art history she began her career in the food and wine industry as a server before receiving continuous promotions to her present prestigious position.
Florida native Don Derocher, Sommelier at The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, has achieved the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for his wine programs at Via Luna in Fort Lauderdale and Solu in Palm Beach. He is certified through the United States Sommelier Association, and currently pursuing his advanced level certification.
A Johnson & Wales University graduate, Tim Eagan served as sommelier at The Old Homestead Steakhouse before being hired to assemble the Beverage Program at the critically acclaimed Atlanta based Chops Lobster Bar. In addition, he holds Advanced Certification from the Master Court of Sommeliers, and will be sitting for the Master Exam in 2010.
A graduate from culinary school in Quebec, Sylvie Gervais has worked over 20 years in the hospitality industry. She is currently the sommelier at the Mizner Country Club. She holds the WSET Diploma, is an Associate member of the prestigious Institute of Wines & Spirits in London, and is a Certified Sommelier by the CMS. She is a member of the Society of Wine Educators and teaches at the International Sommelier Guild program at Miami Culinary School.
Dr. Barry H. Gump is the first holder of the Harvey R. Chaplin Eminent Scholars Chair in Beverage Management at Florida International Universitys School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Dr. Gump is a noted wine author, and has been a professional wine judge for many years at a number of major wine competitions.
Keith Higdon, the owner/operator of the Rustic Cellar from 2004-2008, is now GM at Tryst in Delray Beach. Prior to Tryst, Keith was Beverage director at Lolas. His wine knowledge goes back to his days at the Highlands where he worked under Paul Nigroski in the 90s developing wine lists for the restaurants in the group.
Veronica Litton has worked in the wine business in South Florida for over 20 years. In 1996 she founded The South Florida Women's Wine Association. Veronica acquired her CSW from the Society of Wine Educators in 2005. In her current capacity as the Wine Buyer for Crown Wine and Spirits, her responsibilities include managing a multimillion dollar inventory year round with over 1400 selections from around the world.
Wine Educator, Consultant and Sommelier, Stephanie Miskew is the author of The Glamorous Gourmet, a blog dedicated to food, wine, entertaining and travel. Stephanie has also written wine reviews and educational content for other publications including Gary Vaynerchuks website Corkd and regularly conducts local wine seminars including the Art of Wine & Food series which she established at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale.
John Nihoff is currently Food and Beverage Director of The Everglades Club in Palm Beach. Previously he was an Instructor at the Culinary Institute of America for over 15 years, and has appeared on TV shows, Iron Chef America, and KBS Korean Food in America . His awards include the Gold Star of recognition from The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and recognition from the Caterina de'Medici Society for contributions to wine and culinary education.
Sara Preiser is the co-publisher of The Preiser Key to Napa and The Preiser Key to Sonoma, the only comprehensive guides to all wineries. She is a former wine writer for a number of newspapers and magazines, and the present writer for Living on the Suncoast in Sarasota. She writes a national wine column, and is an accomplished wine judge.
Master Chef Angelo Romano, owner of Lake Worth, Floridas Paradiso Risorante, honed his culinary skills at establishments located in a wide range of luxurious resort towns on the Italian Riviera and the Isle of Capri, as well as in Bermuda and Palm Beach. This international background serves Angelo well in his selection and evaluation of wines.
Peg San Felippo, has been writing about wine and wine related issues for the last decade. A past chair of The American Institute of Wine and Food - Wisconsin Chapter, Peg is also a former wine columnist for The Palm Beach Post, and has written for numerous publications across the country including Wine Business Monthly and Wine Business Insider.
Virginia Santarsiero, wine director at the Prestigious Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, FL, became the 9th woman in the world (currently there are 18 women and 198 total people) to earn the extraordinary accreditation of Master Sommelier. That achievement was complemented when the American Sommelier Association conferred upon her the title of Best Sommelier of the United States in 2002.
Delius Shirley, proprietor of Ortanique in Miami, has been a restaurateur and consultant for nearly 20 years, consistently collecting accolades from his peers for his ability to create wine lists of distinction nationwide. He is driven by a passion for an evolving wine industry and its opportunity for education.
A wine journalist, consultant, and educator, Patrick Sullivan is the wine & spirits editor for DINE Magazine in Florida. He has been involved in many aspects of the wine business for over twenty years - writing and conducting seminars and classes, as well as working in the retail and wholesale segments of the industry.
Scott Tracy, sommelier of the prestigious Michelin starred La Toque in Napa, has been at the forefront of innovative wine pairings for over 25 years. He probably evaluates as many wines as any person nationwide, as all vintners want their wine at La Toque. Scott chooses the best for the cuisine, regardless of the wines origin. Last year Scott was named top Napa Sommelier by the Tasting Panel in their Stars of 2009 awards.