Wine Judges
Mike Sarubbi
Experience: WSET 2 Texas Wine Ambassador
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 18 Years
Favorite part of judging Rodeo Uncorked!
Judging wine for the Houston Rodeo is a challenging, critical, and rewarding yearly experience. This weekend starts the new rodeo season and has a tremendous impact on the wine makers and leads to dollars raised for scholarships.
Justin Scheiner
Experience: Professor at Texas A&M University teaching and researching grapes wine for over ten years.
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
When you’re not judging or working with wine, what are you most passionate about?
All things horticulture, especially growing grapes.
Jamie Shamburger
Experience: WSET level 2, WSET Sake level 1, Certified Sommelier
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 10 Years
When you’re not judging or working with wine, what are you most passionate about?
I love to travel, both here in the US and abroad. I spend a lot of my time at home volunteering! In addition to supporting the Houston Rodeo, I help run polling places for Harris County elections, and support Friends For Life, our local animal rescue.
Rhett Shumpert
Experience: Lifelong enthusiast across a broad range of varietals; saddled with label – Industrial Consumer…
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 12 Years
What are your favorite books and movies?
I like fiction and fantasy; we get enough reality on a daily basis. Jim Butcher, Lee Child, Charles Todd, Isaac Asimov
Karin Singley
Experience: AWS Certified Wine Judge; SWE Certified Specialist of Wine
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 23 Years
If you could share a bottle of wine with anyoneÑpast or presentÑwho would it be and what would you pour?
I would love to share a bottle of wine with two dearly departed friends – Bear Dalton and Deborah Touchy. And it would have to be an aged Bordeaux as those two were pure Francophiles! Cheers to you both!!!
MarkAnthony Staha
Experience: CMS: Introductory Sommelier; WSET: Level 2 in Wines; Certified Sherry Wine Specialist; Founder, Culinary Wine Specialist
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 5 Years
What are your tips for others?
Don’t limit yourself to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio. True appreciation comes from exploring beyond the familiar Ñ let each new white wine remind you that discovery is part of the journey. Stay calm, taste widely, live fully, and drink on.
Effie Stees
Experience: Dip WSET Candidate, FWS, SWS, ASTW, Level 1 Court of Masters
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 10 Years
What makes a wine memorable to youÑeven after you’ve tasted hundreds or thousands of wines?
After years of tasting countless wines from across the world, I’ve learned that the rarest ones aren’t necessarily the rarest bottles. They’re the wines that stop you for a momentÑa place, a person, a story suddenly captured in a glass. Great wine leaves more than a finish. It leaves a memory.
Woodie Stephenson
Experience: 15+ years in the wine Industry; 10+ years working with the Boisset Collection; Society of Wine Educators: Certified Wine Educator. Wine & Spirits Education Trust: Diploma in WIne and Spirits. Wine Scholar Guild: Bourgogne Master; French Wine Scholar; Italian Wine Scholar; Spanish Wine Scholar. Burgundy School of Business (Dijon, France) Master?s of Science – Wine Business
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 10 Years
Why work in wine?
I enjoy learning more about culture, science and geography. I like working in agriculture to create a more sustainable future and to support farmers and farm workers
Qiana Taylor
Experience: CMS: Introductory Sommelier; WSET Level 2 in Wines; Advanced Specialist of Texas Wine; Wine Educator/Owner, Living In Vin
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 3 Years
What makes a wine memorable to youÑeven after you’ve tasted hundreds or thousands of wines?
I love that you can find wine in all subject matter from science to art, from history to religion even in theory it brings us all together.
Ned Thorn
Experience: 43 Years in the Fine Wine and Spirits Business
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 23 Years
What makes a wine memorable to youÑeven after you’ve tasted hundreds or thousands of wines?
If it tastes like a certain place, either a specific winery label or specific vineyard source, and there’s a common thread across several vintages or producers that is recognizable.
Monica Townsend
Experience: Brass NY Head Sommelier/Wine Program Lead; Sommelier at The Modern at MOMA in New York; CMS: Advanced Sommelier; WSET: Level 3 in Wines; Italian Wine Scholar; Spanish Wine Scholar; French Wine Scholar; California Wine Appellation Specialist; Certified Sherry Specialist
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 3 Years
Why work in wine?
Working in wine brings me joy. I find pleasure in the moment of connection and being an ambassador for a product that touches all categories of knowledge: history, geography, science, philosophy and art.
Max Vater
Experience: Retired After 20+ Years in the Beverage Industry; ISG: Intermediate Wine Certificate; WSET: Level 1 in Wines
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 17 Years
What made you first interested?
My wife’s profession as a catering director of a major hotel group drew me into the industry.
Mirek von Springer
Experience: Sommerlier, Wine Buyer, Wine Educator
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 15 years
When you’re not judging or working with wine, what are you most passionate about?
The history of the region, vineyards, and winery.
Shelly Wilfong
Experience: Wine Educator; Podcaster, This is Texas Wine; WSET Level 3 in Wines; WSET: Level 1 in SAKE; SWE: Certified Specialist of Wine; Advanced Specialist of Texas Wine
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 4 Years
Why work in wine?
The story of the Texas wine industry is being written before our eyes. The sky’s the limit when it comes to where this industry can go.
Andrew Wright
Experience: Licensed and practicing attorney, CMS-USA Certified Sommelier, Italian Wine Scholar
Rodeo Uncorked! Judge: 6 Years
Favorite part of judging Rodeo Uncorked!
I love supporting this great event and meeting all the amazing wine professionals and volunteers.