Sunset Wine and Spirits Judges

Jennifer “JB” Grace is a wine and spirits executive, certified sommelier, entrepreneur, and wine judge with 15+ years of industry experience. As an experienced sales, marketing, and public relations professional she recently added assistant winemaking to her diverse repertoire. Jennifer has represented some of the world’s most prominent wine and spirits organizations and held a variety of leadership roles, including famed wine and spirits importer, Wilson Daniels, specializing in French and Italian wines, based in St. Helena, California and Sonoma County-based, Jackson Family Wines working with both domestic and international portfolios. As founder and President of Luxury Wine Partners, a sales, marketing, and public relations agency located in Sonoma County, she focuses on start-ups, wineries, distilleries, and celebrity brands. Looking to the future, Jennifer is an aspiring Master of Wine who is currently enrolled in the WSET certification program to earn her diploma. Jennifer’s drive to continue her education originates from the view of staying ahead of the curve in the ever-changing and competitive landscape of the wine and spirits industry. Jennifer enjoys living in Petaluma, California with her husband Sean. They have three children —Hana, Michael, and Morgan—all living nearby. This adventurous and spontaneous duo enjoy making wine, experiencing local (and not so local) winery destinations, the food scene (near and far), traveling (at a moment’s notice), glamping, volunteering, and supporting local business whenever possible.

International Wine Judge, Sommelier, Certified Wine Professional and Certified Specialist of Wine, Debra Del Fiorentino is a consummate wine professional who brings a dynamic energy and expertise to every endeavor she undertakes. Debra is a familiar face at numerous prestigious wine competitions. She currently holds the esteemed position of Director of Wine Competitions for Wine Competitions Management + Productions, a producer of wine competitions for eight unique craft beverage competitions. Born and raised in San Francisco, Debra is a second generation Italian from a large family that originally settled in the Napa Valley. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of California at Berkeley, Debra opened two gourmet food stores in Marin before venturing into the wine industry. Debra also serves as an independent wine educator and partner at Russian River Vineyards.

Foley Johnson Director of Winemaking, Michael Beaulac, a Vermont native, joined the Foley Family Wines team in 2021, bringing over 30 years of experience working with premier luxury wineries.
Michael began his winemaking career when a chance opportunity presented itself while he was running a Portland, Maine jazz dinner club. There, Beaulac’s career pivoted when Tim Murphy of Murphy-Goode offered him a job one night, partly in jest. The opportunity was one that Beaulac was looking for, and he accepted his offer and moved to Sonoma County, California to work as a Murphy-Goode Winery harvest intern in 1989.
Beaulac spent an interim period at Laurier Winery in Sonoma’s Carneros region working as a cellar master with Merry Edwards from 1989 through 1991. This opportunity gave way to becoming assistant winemaker back at Murphy-Goode, where he spent four years developing new varietal programs for Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. In 1997, Michael Beaulac spent four years as winemaker for Markham Vineyards in St. Helena. Beaulac took his expertise to the next level, becoming Vice President of St. Supéry Vineyards in Rutherford in 2001, working closely with Michel Roland and Denis Dubourdieu. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the Napa Valley, Beaulac became General Manager and winemaker at Napa’s Pine Ridge Vineyards in 2009 where he oversaw the estate’s 160 acres. Beaulac credits his development as a winemaker to working with Michel Roland and Pine Ridge’s high standard for producing quality wines.
Michael’s winemaking philosophy starts in the vineyard. Truly knowing the land, soil, and climate allows him to showcase the exceptionally pure qualities of the diverse vineyard sites and AVAs throughout the Napa Valley. He says of his philosophy for winemaking, “Be proactive in the vineyards. Let the fruit find its balance. Do not force the wine to be anything it’s not. Let it express its typicity. Once in the winery the wine should be touched as little as possible, in a perfect vintage, we really shouldn’t have to do anything.”
Beaulac currently resides outside of Santa Rosa. When he is not in the vineyards, he enjoys hikes with his wife Cathy and their German Shepherd. He also loves to cook and experiment in the kitchen with different recipes.

Dan Berger, former full-time wine columnist for The Los Angeles Times, earned a degree in Journalism in 1967 and spent ten years as a reporter/editor for The Associated Press. He began writing about wine in 1976 and has been nationally syndicated since 1979. His private weekly wine newsletter, Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences, began in 1996. He also teaches wine courses at Santa Rosa Junior College, hosts a radio show, California Wine Country, every Wednesday on KSRO, and is an international wine judge, having judged throughout North America, in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. His books include The Readers’ Digest’s “Wine Routes of North America”; “Beyond the Grapes: An Inside Look at Napa Valley” and “Beyond the Grapes: An Inside Look at Sonoma County.” In 2010, he was inducted into the Wine Media Guild’s Hall of Fame in New York and is vice president of the International Riesling Foundation.

Jay Bileti is currently the Director of Wine Education for Deep Sky Vineyard in Elgin, AZ. He teaches and directs education programs for the winery’s large wine club membership.

Jay has been closely involved with wine since he was a child, helping both of his Italian grandfathers make wine. He worked his way through college as a restaurant wine steward and as a retail wine sales associate.

In 1990, Jay enrolled in the International Wine Academy and completed their five year International Wine Master program. The courses allowed him to travel all over the world studying viticulture, winemaking and honing his sensory evaluation skills. He passed the grueling two-day examination, similar to that given to aspiring Masters of Wine, in 1995. Jay has also earned WSET 3 certification.

Jay is a certified wine judge with the American Wine Society and has been active on the wine competition circuit for more than 30 years, judging in competitions all around the world. He has also spoken at various technical industry seminars on sensory evaluation.

Jay has been a member of the American Wine Society for over 20 years and served on the Board of Directors as the Director of Member Services. He currently volunteers his time with the Membership committee and teaches classes on wine tasting.

Jay’s wine writing has appeared in publications of the American Institute of Wine and Food, American Wine On the Web, Wine and Cuisine magazine, Arizona Vines and Wines, AZ Wine Lifestyles and several other newspapers and magazines.

Bekah began working in wine sales just over 10 years ago. She has held many positions within the industry, all revolving around customer relations due to her ability to easily connect with people. Over the past 2 years, she has had the opportunity to judge numerous wine competitions and build upon her passion for wine education. Newly married into a vintner family, Bekah continues to expand her knowledge from vineyard to glass.

Drew grew up in the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma counties. Drew’s grandfather was a grape grower in Napa Valley and Drew’s Father, Kerry Damskey, is an international consulting winemaker. While in college Drew imported wine into Shanghai, later he moved to India where he imported and marketed wine, beer, and spirits for India’s largest wine producer and importer. Moving back to the States in 2012, Drew was part of SSU’s first cohort of Wine Business EMBA’s. Today, Drew works with his parents, Daisy and Kerry Damskey, on their brand, Palmeri, and consults, making wine and helping build wine brands. Drew was named as a 2017 Winemaker to Watch by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kerry Damskey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fermentation Sciences, from the University of California, Davis. He also graduated from the Intensive Program for Small Business, at the Stanford University School of Business. And, he is a candidate with the Institute of the Masters of Wine. 

Kerry’s characterization is that he is a trailblazing and renowned, international consulting winemaker. Always experimenting with clones, cooperage, and style, Kerry is never satisfied to do things the same way. In Kerry’s words, “mountain vineyards are dynamic and can possess both elegance and strength, and I’m going to find and develop that.” 

Breaking boundaries in familiar and uncharted territories, besides being a stellar winemaker in California, Kerry is known for achieving that character in god-forsaken territories, with absolutely no pre-defined, distinct differentiation yet to have been established. This is why Kerry Damskey has called a “Wandering Winemaker” and the “Indiana Jones of Winemaking.” 

Kerry especially enjoys the exploration and development of vineyards and wineries in non- traditional locales. Kerry’s mission has been to place Terroirs at the leading edge in its groundbreaking efforts to provide truly integrated consulting to the international wine trade. Kerry Damskey is a wealth of knowledge and a forerunner in “how to,” breaking boundaries in India, Israel, China, Bulgaria, and Costa Rico, while still maintaining his own wine called Palmeri. In their own words about their own wine, “they’re expressive small lot wines, from unique mountain terroir.” And, Kerry continues to consult for domestic wines, as well. 

Kerry’s company TERROIRS, INC. is his ground-breaking brainchild and passion. With more than 30 years of wine and wine business experience, he is recognized internationally for his acuity and focus in creating brilliant wines. 

His firm Terroirs Artisan Wines provides custom winegrowing and winemaking expertise plus vineyard and acquisition services. Terroirs Artisan Wines: Damskey and Company also advises on business practices, strategic management, and operational development. These skills coupled with winemaking expertise translate to a fully integrated dynamic. 

Kerry Damskey’s father Ray Damskey was a former Navy man, who evolved into quite a bohemian, chemical engineer. Ray next lived the dream of becoming a Jeffersonian farmer, growing wine grapes in Napa Valley. This was in the early 70s, when he and Constance purchased the Duckhorn property, solidifying the family’s continuance of this passion. The legacy for Kerry began when his father encouraged him to attend UC Davis. Ray saw in his son that winemaking potential, and today would not be surprised in the least that Karry Damskey is now recognized as a world-class pioneer, winemaking leader. And, Kerry continues to be very instrumental in continuing his family’s legacy, of making fine wines a worldwide and world class winemaking endeavor. 

Traci Dutton is a sommelier, a wine judge, and the manager of public wine and beverage studies at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena. She joined the CIA in 1998 as beverage manager and sommelier for the college’s Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant. Over the course of more than 30 years in the wine world, Ms. Dutton has worked in high-end establishments such as Montrachet, The Striped Bass, and 231 Ellsworth, and has served luminaries as varied as Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Bacon, and Chef Paul Bocuse. She has studied and tasted great wines at vineyards around the world, from Portugal and Austria to Argentina and the United States. Her writing on wines and beverages has appeared in Kitchen & Cook, the St. Helena Star, iSanté.com, and many other publications. In 2011, she was named one of the top wine country sommeliers by Tasting Panel magazine.

Once you meet Gianna you’ll always know who to connect with in the future to be entertained. Studying Wine Business and Anthropology/Archaeology at SSU, Gianna quickly found the only way to truly know what went into wine was to make it. She worked with Flowers Vineyards and Winery for seven years and left as their Assistant Winemaker. She continued to make wine as a consultant and journeyed into Market Management at Saverglass and Scott Labs. Gianna then thought she would round it out with Wine Education work for Backroads on their Napa/Sonoma Tours & dive into retail at Andy’s Market! Nestled in her cellar home at Taft Street, she is willing to take a stab at start-up ideas, horrible first concept ideas and all in all anything that makes you want to figure out the next best way to be creative. She could just make wine…She does that too. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Wine is meant to be shared and she shares with all who care to imbibe with her!

Penny’s interest in wine began when her family moved to the Livermore Valley. However, it took a few years and the words of a friend to convince her that making wine was a career that did not require belonging to a winemaking family. In 1986 she landed a job as crush help at Jordan Vineyards & Winery, which lead to a 13-year career at Jordan. She was there for the inception of J Vineyards and Winery. In 1999 she was hired as the Assistant Winemaker for J, eventually working her way up to the Sparkling Winemaker position.

In 2007, Penny left J to work as a Winemaker for Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services. She also has her own brand called Penelope with support by Naked Wines, is the Winemaker for Breathless Wines, had her own wine company making Tempranillo wines, and has her own sparkling wine consulting business called Coral Mustang Wine Consulting.

Penny’s talents have garnered more than 100 medals and awards in the past few years; more than 30 Best of Class, Double Gold and Gold medals in the past few years alone for Rack & Riddle and client wines. Penny was named “Winemaker of the Year” in Dec. 2013, honoring her significant contributions to winemaking. And again in 2024. An incredible achievement, as contenders included the top winemakers from Sonoma, Napa and the greater Bay Area.

An accomplished writer and speaker, she was also selected as an expert panelist at the WIN Expo in Sonoma County, the 2015 Women in Wine event in Napa, and most recently at the 2018 Women in Conversation for Sonoma State University.

In her free time, she loves flyfishing, kayaking, motorcycling, gardening and cooking.

Denise Gill has a broad wine industry background spanning over 30 years. She held prior key positions at Alexander Valley Vineyards, Ancient Oak Cellars, Hop Kiln, White Oak, Blackstone and Fritz Wineries. She has also served as Director of Wine at Mayacama Golf Club and has judged over the last 22 years professional wine competitions including San Francisco Chronicle, California State Fair, International Women’s, Sunset International and the Harvest Challenge.

Barry has more than three decades of experience in the wine industry, ranging from sommelier and wine shop owner to high-level retail and private cellar acquisitions. He was raised in Southern California, where he earned his stripes in some of LA’s most celebrated restaurants, among them Chinois on Main and Osteria Angelini. Most recently, Barry was General Manager of the Rare Wine Company in Sonoma, as well as working with Soutirage and Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Spirits in Napa Valley. Currently, he is the wine buyer for Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa, CA, a 15,000 square foot superstore and arguably has the largest and finest selection of fine wines north of San Francisco. Barry blames a bottle of 1980 Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux for having sent him down the rabbit hole many years ago. Today, he lives in Petaluma, CA with his wife, two children and Australian Shepherd, Elvis, to whom he happily dedicates every spare moment outside of work.

Bio coming soon…

Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to WineOh.Tv, Wine Industry Network, Los Gatos Magazine and Edible:Monterey, as well as other consumer and trade publications. Her passion is sharing insights into the world of wine and the characters that inhabit it, bringing to life their stories for all to taste.

Matt Reid is a UC-Davis-trained winemaker with over 20 years’ experience as a winemaker, consulting winemaker, and, recently, general manager. He has worked in Napa and Sonoma Counties at wineries including Seavey, Burgess Cellars, and Benessere Vineyards, and has produced wines from a wide range of varieties from throughout California.

Greg’s extensive background in the hospitality marketplace includes managing winery marketing and sales, serving as president of the Santa Clara Valley wine association and establishing the regional wine trail in the Santa Clara Valley. Greg is WSET certified and has been judging wine competitions for the past fifteen years.

Dawne Sacchetti has over 25 years of experience in the Sonoma County wine industry. She began her career at the Monell Chemical Senses Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where she conducted laboratory research in taste and smell. She credits this early work in sensory science with shaping the way she evaluates wine today. 

One formative experience was when she volunteered as crew on a private sailing yacht during its transatlantic crossing, traveling from Spain to the United States. During long days at sea, the British captain, a dedicated wine collector, shared his passion for the character and beauty of great wines, sparking her deeper interest in the field. 

Back in Sonoma County, she began her wine career in the laboratory as an enologist, where she became fascinated with fermentation and the chemistry of wine aging. She moved quickly through production roles to become a winemaker and eventually founded her own company, River House Consulting. She has also served as a professional wine judge since 2023, bringing her sensory training and production experience to formal wine evaluation.

Peg San Felippo has had the pleasure of working in the wine industry as a journalist, judge, buyer, importer/distributor, consultant, and cellar manager spanning over twenty years. As the wine columnist for The Palm Beach Post, she wrote over a 100 articles and has written extensively for several other publications including Wine Business Monthly, Wine Business Insider, The Sonoma Sun, and The Palm Beach Daily News. Currently, Peg is the wine and spirits writer for City & Shore Magazine in Fort Lauderdale, and has judged in a variety of wine competitions throughout the United States such as the Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge, the International Women’s Wine Competion, the Oregon Wine Competition, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and the American Fine Wine Competition. A certified sommelier, Peg also oversees the wine program and food & beverage operation at the Milwaukee Public Market, listed as one of the best public markets in America by Frommer’s and USA Today. Peg is the wine and spirits writer for City & Shore Magazine in Fort Lauderdale

Bio coming soon…

With over fifteen years of extensive experience in the restaurant and wine industry, Alex possesses a profound dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences, coupled with a strong focus on business success and ownership mentality. Her passion for her craft is evident, as she takes immense pride and joy in her work, eagerly sharing her wealth of knowledge and expertise with others. Holding the prestigious title of Advanced Sommelier through CMS, Alex is adept at assisting clients seeking wine services to enhance their business operations, offering invaluable insights with her expert-level proficiency.

 Carol Shelton has had an illustrious 50-year career in the wine industry. While getting her Enology degree from UC Davis, Carol worked with Dr. Ann Noble, the developer of the famed Wine Aroma Wheel, now used around the globe to help people find a common language when describing wine.  As one of the first few women to receive her BS in Enology in 1978, Carol worked for Robert Mondavi, Saltram’s in Australia’s Barossa Valley, and at Buena Vista Winery, where she was mentored by the great Andre Tchelistcheff.  

As Winemaker for Windsor Vineyards from 1981 till 2000, her wines drew great acclaim, and she earned the title of “Most Awarded Winemaker in America,” as well as “Winemaker of the Year” five times.  Carol left Windsor in early 2000 to form Carol Shelton Wines with her husband, Mitch Mackenzie.  Their goal is to craft small lots from vineyards that she carefully selects as the best expression of varietal style, with both Zinfandel and Rhône wines as both a focus and a passion.  She continues to draw acclaim, earning 90+ scores consistently, winning many Gold+ medals and Best of Show awards. She has been named “Winemaker of the Year” a record eleven times now, and her wines have been featured in the Wine Spectator’s annual “Top 100 Wines of the World” four times in the past ten years and in the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 list in 2023. Carol is a highly sought-after wine educator who is warm and down-to-earth, who loves to share her delicious wines and help people understand more about wine, her passion.

Julie Schreiber is a consulting winemaker who focuses her work in Napa, Sonoma, and the Livermore Valley. Her repertoire includes supervising the making of superior wines from picking and production to bottling, including Cabernet sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot noir. Her wines have won award ratings of 90 points and higher. As a consulting winemaker, recent and current clients include Kenwood Vineyards, The Tri-Valley Conservancy, Plata Wine Partners, Terroir Napa Valley, Valley of the Moon, and Yao Family Wines. Julie has worked as Interim Winemaker at Valley of the Moon and Dry Creek Vineyard, Assistant Winemaker for Flowers Vineyard and Winery, Associate Winemaker for Sterling, and Assistant Winemaker for Gallo of Sonoma.

Julie’s passion for food and wine started at an early age. She pursued a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration at the University of Massachusetts, and then completed professional culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. She worked 14 years as a professional chef at some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Boulevard and One Market. Julie decided to take her passion for wine to the next level, returned to school and completed her Master’s degree in Enology at the University of California, Davis. She has gained valuable experience working at several wineries in Napa and Sonoma, in addition to a stint in Australia.

Julie’s culinary background and impeccable palate give her valuable insight and a unique edge into winemaking. This, combined with her passion for wine, raises the level of what she makes, and compliments her professional expertise. Julie carries her love of food and wine into other related arenas including being a mushroom aficionado. She is the lead chef for culinary events and demos at mushroom forays for David Arora, Relish Culinary Adventures, the Sonoma County Mycological Association (SOMA), the Mycological Society of San Francisco (MSSF) and the North American Mycological Association (NAMA). She is a business partner in Mycoventures, a company that organizes local and international mushroom forays and former Sonoma County Mycological Association (SOMA) board member. She is responsible for organizing events, helps lead forays and teaches people how to cook cultivated and wild mushrooms.

In addition to her work in food, wine and mushrooms, Julie dedicates a lot of time to volunteering with various organizations that include charter membership in Les Dames d’Escoffier of Sonoma (LDEI), acting as round table chair of the Winemaking forum for Wine Women, and as committee chair for the Culinary Committee of NAMA.

Winemaker, David Sundberg, has been making wine since the late 90’s. Passionate about all things culinary, he first studied to become a chef before finding his way to winemaking. David received a Winemaking degree from California State University Fresno, and following graduation, honed his winemaking skills at Ste. Michelle Estates Elara, Conn Creek, and Villa Mt. Eden in Mendocino and Napa.

In 2004, he moved to Chile to become Winemaker at a small family-owned winery in the Maipo Valley. Upon returning to California, he began consulting and making wines with William Knuttel, including Ottimino and William Knuttel Wines. In 2010 David took over the winemaking at Tedeschi Family Winery, growing their portfolio to include more than 12 rare varietals. In 2015, he added the winemaking lead at Hans Faden to his list of successes.

In addition to crafting a wide variety of wines, he is also a talented chef and cooks for friends and family at special events. His style of winemaking lends itself to an old world style, believing that wines should be well balanced and bespeak of their respective variety and AVA.

Dr. Liz Thach, MW is the President of Wine Market Council, a non-profit firm that provides research on U.S. wine consumer purchasing habits, attitudes, and trends.  She also works as a Professor, Wine Writer and Consultant based in Napa and Sonoma, California. She is an award-winning author and educator, specializing in wine business strategy, marketing, leadership/executive development, and wine lifestyle.
 
Liz is considered to be one of the nation’s leading wine experts and has visited most of the major wine regions of the world and 80 countries. She teaches wine classes at Stanford Continuing Education, Burgundy School of Business, and Sonoma State University, and has published over 300 articles and 9 books, including Call of the Vine, Best Practices in Global Wine Tourism, and Wine Marketing & Sales. She frequently publishes in Forbes, Wine Business Monthly, Wine Spectator, and The Somm Journal, amongst others. In addition, she serves as a wine judge and on several non-profit boards.
 
A fifth-generation Californian, Liz finished her Ph.D. at Texas A&M and now lives on Sonoma Mountain. Liz obtained the distinction of Master of Wine (MW) in May of 2011, becoming the first female MW from California. Website: https://lizthachmw.com/, Email: Liz@lizthach.com.

Stephanie has been in Napa Valley’s wine industry since 1995. Initially, in the cellar then to cellar master, apprentice winemaker, director of sales, director of winemaking and ultimately to producing wine for her own label, Trotter 1/16. She is originally from Phila. PA, the youngest of 16 children, and at age 19, was on her way to Alaska when she landed here. She met her husband, discovered her passion for wine and the rest as they say, “is in the barrel”.

Larry is a retired Sommelier and radio Talkshow Host, with more than more than 30 years of industry experience judging wines. As Sommelier, Larry selected wines for Equus for over a decade. Larry has been judging at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair/San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for over a decade likewise, an opportunity for Larry to keep abreast of fine wines from California. He is the talk show host, of CRN talk radio.

David Vergari’s lifelong interest in wine is attributable in part to his Italian ancestry. His first memory of wine occurred when he was five years old in his great-uncle’s cellar in San Francisco where he tasted “Dago Red” (his Nonna used to make several hundred gallons of wine each vintage in Pennsylvania; the grapes were shipped from California by rail). He began his working career as a financial analyst, but David felt like a square peg in a round hole. Winemaking was in his blood so he went to Davis and that was it. His winemaking career included internships at Sonoma-Cutrer and The Hess Collection in California, and work abroad at Coldstream Hills in Australia and Covisa in Spain, plus a consulting gig in Chile. David is mostly finished with day-to-day winemaking. Nowadays he prefers to play golf and do some occasional consulting and wine judging.