Emerging Winemakers Competition and Symposium

The Judges

Since 2018, we’ve hosted some amazing nationally recognized judges. A few of these incredible judges have traveled across this great country and have given educational presentations in grape growing and winemaking practices, winemaking styles and marketing of wine in our seminar series.

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Meet the Judges

During the Competition all wines are judged in blind tasting by the judges led by our very own Head Master Judge, Paula Woolsey, CSW, who has more than 20 years in the Arizona wine industry. Competitors each receive confidential feedback on their wine(s).

2021 Competition Judges

Here is the latest list of judges for our 2021 Wine Competition.
Please stay tuned for any changes.

Paula Woolsey

EWC&S: Head Master Judge

Paula Woolsey, CSW – (Cellar Door Unhinged), a member of the Society of Wine Educators since 1998, she became a Certified Specialist of Wine in 2000, Italian Wine Specialist certified in 2004 and Gallo Wine Academy certified in 2007. She has also been Cellar Master Certified by the Master Court of Sommeliers since 2001. Paula has sat on the Board of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium since its inception in 2008 and for the past 11 years she has been an instructor at Yavapai College in the Viticulture program.

Eric Glomski

Page Springs Cellars

Eric Glomski – (Owner, Page Springs Cellars), has been working professionally in the wine industry for over 20 years. Previously, he taught at Prescott College and owned and operated his own ecological consulting firm called Riparia, LLC, which performed research and conducted restoration projects along rivers throughout the Southwest. While consulting, Glomski made wines out of his garage for several years from apples, pears, quince, blueberry and cherries. His love for these home projects led him to California where he worked his way up from cellar worker to co-winemaker at David Bruce Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains from 1997 to 2002. While at David Bruce, he also did extensive coursework in the University of California at Davis’s Viticulture & Enology program. Moving back to Arizona at the end of 2002, Glomski helped start up Echo Canyon Winery near Sedona, Arizona, leaving in 2004 to found Page Springs Cellars. He later co-founded Arizona Stronghold Vineyards in 2007 and created Provisioner, Stronghold’s second label in 2015.

Sam Pillsbury

Pillsbury Wine Company

Sam Pillsbury, of Pillsbury Wine Company has grown at a stunning rate, doubling sales each year since their first release in 2012. His 100 acre vineyard is located in the Willcox AVA and is a sustainable and virtually organic vineyard. Producing 3,000 cases annually. Phoenix Magazine has called him ‘Best Local Winemaker’ and Arizona Foothills Magazine has voted Pillsbury Wine Company ‘Best Arizona Winery’. Jancis Robinson in her book ‘American Wine’ praised his Viognier and Roan Red, writing that he makes ‘some of the best wines in Arizona.’

Dale Sparks

Advanced Sommelier

Dale Sparks, was the founder, owner and C.E.O. of Arizona wholesaler Quench Fine Wines from 2003- 2010 and before that the Founder and Managing Director of Arizona wholesaler, Boutique Wines, 1998-2002. He served as Cellarmaster at the Phoenician Resort 1997-1998 and began his wine career as the sommelier at Anthony’s in the Catalina’s in Tucson, Arizona from 1989-1997. He holds an Advanced Sommelier Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Julia Dixon

Head Winemaker for Four Tails Vineyard

Julia Dixon is the Head Winemaker for Four Tails Vineyard. Julia graduated from the Viticulture and Enology Program at Yavapai College in 2016 and came to FTV in the summer of 2017. Jules has been an integral part of Four Tails family and is now the Head Winemaker. She shares her time managing her own vineyard at 1764 Vineyards with her husband, and heads their winemaking duties too! Founded in 2017 with their first wine release 2018 Deep Thought Syrah, a Silver Medal Winner at the 2020 azcentral.com Arizona Wine Competition.

Gary Spadafore

Spada4Solutions

Gary Spadafore – (Owner, Spada4Solutions), has spent over 35 years in the adult beverage trade. After retiring as Director of Education for a major wine and spirits wholesaler in Phoenix, AZ, he founded Spada4Solutions LLC. He completely understands that for education to be effective, it must also be entertaining. Spadafore’s passion is evidenced by his involvement in the Society of Wine Educators. A 30+ year member, he passed the difficult certification examination on his first attempt to earn his Certified Wine Educator (CWE) credential. There are fewer than 400 active CWE’s in the world. He also holds the Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) credential. Spadafore is very active in the Society of Wine Educators.

Wes Schemmer

Vino di Sedona

Wes Schemmer – (Owner, Vino di Sedona), started in the wine business at the age of 16. He has run and operated several multi-million dollar retail wine and liquor stores, has worked in the wholesale wine industry representing some the best wineries in the world. Along with his wife Rebecca, Wes opened Vino di Sedona in 2014. Vino is Northern Arizona’s largest wine bar and wine retailer. With over 60 wines by-the-glass and a selection of about 1000 varieties of wine available from around the world. At Vino Di Sedona Wes has offered educational wine tastings and opportunities for consumers to expand their knowledge and palates.