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.

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).
2022 Wine Competition Judges

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.

James Calahan
Rune Wines
Winemaker James Callahan began his journey into the world of wine in 2007. An Arizona native, Callahan was intrigued by the young wine industry right under his nose. Rune Wines has now completed its 9th vintage, and has been recognized for its pioneering utilization of native yeasts and unique expression of Arizona terroir. Today, in addition to continuously expanding Rune Wines and its sister brand Brigand Wines, Callahan is also a consulting winemaker for Deep Sky Vineyards and Autumn Sage Vineyards.

Sheral Schowe, M.Ed., FWS
Wasatch Academy of Wine
Sheral Schowe is the founder and owner of Wasatch Academy of Wine, Utah’s first and largest wine school, established in 1991. She is the affiliate provider of post-nominal certification courses on the wines of France, Italy, and Spain for the Wine Scholar Guild and Adjunct Professor of Wine Studies for the Culinary Institute of Salt Lake Community College and University of Utah Lifelong Learning. Sheral has been a wine judge for the annual Utah Winemaker’s Competition. She is a certified French and Spanish Wine Scholar with Master’s level certification.

Danusia Szumowski
Winemaker

Julia Dixon
Head Winemaker for Four Tails Vineyard

Gary Spadafore
Spada4Solutions
Gary Spadafore – For his entire career, Gary Spadafore has been active in the adult beverage trade, both on a business and personal level. He has traveled extensively through the wine and spirit regions of Europe, New Zealand, South America and North America to enhance his knowledge. He 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.

Ron Brumley
Winemaker/ Vineyard Manager for Alcantara Vineyard and Winery
Arizona Native. Retired from Technology/Internet. Started in the Arizona wine industry in 2012. Currently Winemaker/ Vineyard Manager for Alcantara Vineyard and Winery in Camp Verde. I have lived in the Verde Valley for 11 years. Hobbies include fishing, SUP, NASCAR, baseball and restoring old Chevy trucks. I worked with the Sedona & Telluride Wine Festivals and served on several committees within the Arizona wine community.
2021 Competition Judges

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.

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.

T. Scott Stephens
Annual Judge AWGA
Stephens travels extensively to wine regions all over the globe to explore the culture of wine and the diversity of its people and places. He is a sommelier and an annual judge for the Arizona Wine Growers Association’s (AWGA) wine competition presented by Arizona Republic/ azcentral and serves as a member of the AWGA Board of Directors.
He is co-owner of Beckett’s Table and co-owner of Southern Rail in Phoenix. Both restaurants are multiple winners of Wine Spectators Award of Excellence for their wine program.

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.

Julia Dixon
Head Winemaker for Four Tails Vineyard

Gary Spadafore
Spada4Solutions
Gary Spadafore – For his entire career, Gary Spadafore has been active in the adult beverage trade, both on a business and personal level. He has traveled extensively through the wine and spirit regions of Europe, New Zealand, South America and North America to enhance his knowledge. 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.

Ron Brumley
Winemaker/ Vineyard Manager for Alcantara Vineyard and Winery
Arizona Native. Retired from Technology/Internet. Started in the Arizona wine industry in 2012. Currently Winemaker/ Vineyard Manager for Alcantara Vineyard and Winery in Camp Verde. I have lived in the Verde Valley for 11 years. Hobbies include fishing, SUP, NASCAR, baseball and restoring old Chevy trucks. I worked with the Sedona & Telluride Wine Festivals and served on several committees within the Arizona wine community.
2020 Competition Judges
Our third annual 2020 Competition and Symposium was cancelled in light of COVID-19

Paula Woolsey
EWC&S: Head Master Judge

Eric Glomski
Page Springs Cellars

Jennifer Montgomery
Executive Director of AWGA

Sam Pillsbury
Pillsbury Wine Company

Aaron Weiss
Oddity Wine Collective

Gary Spadafore
Spada4Solutions

Wes Schemmer
Vino di Sedona
Assisting this year’s judges are Dean Pefanis and Andrew Stover
2019 Competition Judges

Paula Woolsey
EWC&S: Head Master Judge

T. Scott Stephens
Annual Judge AWGA

Eric Glomski
Page Springs Cellars

Andrew Stover
Vino50

Jennifer Montgomery
Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners

Matt Raica
Arizona Stronghold

Sam Pillsbury
Pillsbury Wine Company
2018 Competition Judges

Paula Woolsey
Head Judge

Susie Selby
Selby Winery

Dale Sparks
Advanced Sommelier

Matt Raica
Arizona Stronghold

Kevin Maguier
Chaine des Rotisseurs, Sedona Bailliage

Jim O'Meally
Sommelier, Up the Creek Bistro
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