wine judges

11-15 years in the beverage industry; Winemaker; Professor at Texas Tech

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 5 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Getting to taste beside fellow professionals and compare palets, which leads to new insights and friendship
Favorite Wine after a Long Week: Something sparkling to lift the spirits with a sout of a cork coming off

20+ years in the beverage industry; Certified Wine Specialist; WSET: Level 3 in Wines

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: I enjoy sampling wines from different regions and the comraderie with other wine industry personnel
Most Underrated Wine Region: Spain

11-15 years in the beverage industry; Supplier; Retailer; Beverage Educator; Introduction Sommelier; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; Texas Wine Specialist

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 0 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: This will be my first year to judge
Best sparkling wine experience: Moet wine dinner with one of the winemakers for Moet, Marie-Chrstine Osselin at the Four Seasons in Las Colinas

15-20 years in the beverage industry; Beverage Educator and Wholesaler; WSET: Level 2 in Wines and Level 3 in SAKE

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 7 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: N/A

15-20 years in the beverage industry; Press; Beverage Educator; Certified Sommelier; Certified Wine Educator; Certified Specialist of Spirits; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; French Wine Scholar

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 0 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: This will be my first year to judge
Favorite wine/varietal: Dry, racy, minerally whites. Light, volcanic, earthy reds

6-10 years in the beverage industry; Beverage Educator; WSET: Level 3 in Wines

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 7 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Interacting and connecting with those in my field
Favorite wine/varietal:I really love trying indigenous and rare varietals. I don’t have a favorite style – depends on the season.

20+ years in the beverage industry; Retailer; Advanced Sommelier; Certified Wine Specialist; WSET: Level 2 in Wines

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: It’s an honor to be part of the local wine professionals that are available to give back to the community.
Favorite Wine after a Long Week: A red Burgundy helps remove any thoughts to the work week and places all focus on the complexity of history, tradition, and terroir.

20+ years in the beverage industry; Winemaker; Supplier; Wholesaler; Consumer; Beverage Educator; Certified Sommelier; Certified Wine Specialist; Certified Wine Educator; Certified Specialist of Spirits; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; French Wine Scholar

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 3 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Working with all of the other judges and enjoying the high caliber and diverse experiences of each. Interacting with the volunteers at our tables who are always wonderful and helpful.

20+ years in the beverage industry; Press; Judge of wine competitions for nearly 40 years including the California State Fair, TexSom, Los Angeles International, San Francisco International, Colorado Governor’s Cup, and many more

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 18 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: I appreciate that the competition still uses five judges per panel, providing a range of experience and perspective when each wine is considered. The congeniality and professionalism of the sponsoring organization and it’s devoted personnel. The overall hospitality and confidence in the results.

11-15 years in the beverage industry; Certified Wine Specialist; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; French Wine Scholar; Master level accreditation in Champagne from Wine Scholar Guild; Master Certification in Bourgogne from BIVB

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 10 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: The friendship and camaraderie of so many industry friends, all serving together. It’s so wonderful, and the wine isn’t bad either!

20+ years in the beverage industry; Supplier; Retailer, Wholesaler; WSET Level 2 in Wines; Associate degree in Viticulture and Enology

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Helping the kids. Meeting and learning from fellow judges.

1-5 years in the beverage industry; WSET: Level 2 in Wines

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 0 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: This will be my first year to judge
Favorite wine at the end of a long week: A bold Malbec or even a Texas Tannat

6-10 years in the beverage industry; Beverage Educator; Introduction Sommelier; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; French Wine Scholar; Master Champagne; Certified SAKE Sommelier and SAKE Educator

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 5 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: I truly enjoy every aspect of the experience and always learn something new. If I have to pick though, I’d say the people, old and new friends.

11-15 years in the beverage industry; Developer of flavor-based adult beverage recommendation engine; digital wine advisor; 3 Patents on Systems and Methods for Evaluation of Wine Characteristics; Cornell University Sensory Analysis Certification

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 9 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: I love exploring a collection of wines back to back, thinking about the flavors of each individually – honing my skills and discovering new gems. I also LOVE talking with the other judges, learning about new trends and impressions in the industry.

Wine and Social Chair – West Lake Club, Houston; Board Member – Brotherhood of Knights of Vine, Houston; Member, Havester & Bottler – The Nice Winery; Rodeo Houston Wine Garden Committee – TABC

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Ability to share thoughts and learn wine with fellow judges and the attention to organized and detailed planning and execution of competition.

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 10 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Meeting new people and learning the diversity in wines.

20+ years in the beverage industry; Beverage Educator; Retailer; SGM Master Wine Business, Sommelier, Nutrition, Oenology Degree (ISGM WSNO Degree); WSET: Level 3 in Wines

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 2 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Camaraderie, “The Kids!”

11-15 years in the beverage industry; Wholesaler; Beverage Educator; Importer; Introduction Sommelier; Certified Wine Specialist; WSET: Level 4 Diploma; French Wine Scholar; Italian Wine Specialist – North American Sommelier Association

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 5 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: I enjoy participating in a fun event that also raised money for a good cause.

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 0 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: This will be my first year to judge
Favorite wine/varietal: Riesling! It can be beautiful in all styles: rich, lean, dry, sweet, sparkling

11-15 years in the beverage industry; Supplier; WSET: Level 3 in SAKE

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 5 Years
Favorite Party of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Networking, volunteer hours, learning and tasting through different regions styles.
Favorite wine region to travel: Napa/Sonoma

20+ years in the beverage industry; Beverage Educator; Certified Sommelier by Italian Sommelier Association (AIS), Italy; Master Wine Taster by North American Sommelier Association -WSA; Master of Terroir by North American Sommelier Association-WSA

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Conversations with colleagues.

20+ years in the beverage industry; Supplier; Certified Wine Judge; Advanced Wine Certificate (AWC); Certified Wine Educator; WSET: Level 2 in Wines and Level 1 in SAKE; CSS – Certified Spirits Specialist – Society of Wine Educators; Certified Cicerone

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 7 Years
Favorite Party of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: The people and the money raised for scholarships.

6-10 years in the beverage industry; Retailer; Beverage Educator; Certified Sommelier; Sommelier Diploma Program (SDP); Italian Wine Scholar; Viticulture Grad Student

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 2 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Learning different tastes to help me be able to blind taste wines better to study for my next level of Sommelier Certification.

20+ years in the beverage industry; Supplier; Wholesaler; Retailer; Beverage Educator; Certified Wine Judge

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 15 Years
Favorite Party of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: Tasting wine with professionals, and the broad number of world class wines to be tasted.

15-20 years in the beverage industry; Beverage Educator; Retailer; Introduction Sommelier; Intermediate Wine Certificate; Certified Wine Specialist; Certified Specialist of Spirits; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; French Wine Scholar; Italian Wine Scholar; Certified Californian Wine Appelation Specialist; Certified Sherry Wine Specialist; Certified Italian Wine Professional; Certified Italian Wine Specialist

Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 10 Years
Favorite Part of Judging Rodeo Uncorked!: 1) I enjoy the challenge of the task itself. 2) It’s a good opportunity to be able to utilize my wine tasting skills and acumen, as well as, connecting with like minded individuals from within or without the industry. 3) I like the social aspect of it. 4) It’s for a good cause.