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2022 Judges
Our judging panels comprise many of Canada’s leading wine writers, journalists, sommeliers, buyers and industry professionals. Each year we also seek out young, emerging talent in the industry to be part of the judging process and further their education in Canadian wine and the art of judging. The blend of experience and enthusiasm, brought by judges from many regions across the country, ensures a comprehensive view of the Canadian wine world for that moment in time.
Judges at 2021 National Wine Awards of Canada
You can follow the 2022 NWAC and our judges’ tweets from start to finish on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #NWAC22 and #NWAC2022.
Our Judging Process
The judging is overseen by co-chairs Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason, experience Canadian wine journalists and judges, who co-founded the Awards in 2001 while working jointly at Wine Access magazine. They have also held that the Awards are the most objective way to inform both consumers and the industry of Canadian wine’s yearly progress. All competition wines are blind-tasted and judged in categories according to varietal or style, not by region, using the same 100-point system as used at WineAlign. Approximately one percent of the total entries boasting the highest scores awarded highly coveted Platinum medals.
Gold medals = 91+ points, Silver medals = 90 – 89 points, Bronze medals = 88 – 87 points
The 2022 Judges (in alphabetical order)
Co-Head Judges Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason
Anthony Gismondi
British Columbia
Co-Head Judge
BC Food & Wine Radio Show, Vancouver Sun, Gismondi on Wine
Follow on Twitter @TheSpitter
Follow on Instagram @anthony.gismondi
(bio)
David Lawrason
Ontario
Co-Head Judge
WineAlign, Fine Vintage Ltd Instructor, Advisor to Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, Canadian Wine Insider
Follow on Twitter @DavidLawrason
Follow on Instagram @davidlawrason
(bio)
Jeremy Bonia
Newfoundland
Co-Owner/Sommelier of Raymonds and The Merchant Tavern
Follow on Twitter @JeremyBonia
Follow on Instagram @jeremybonia
(bio)
Sara d’Amato
Ontario
WineAlign, Fine Vintage Ltd (instructor), Wine Thieves
Follow on Twitter @SaradAmato
Follow on Instagram @saradamatokilley
(bio)
Janet Dorozynski, Ph.D., DipWSET
Ontario
WineAlign, Luxe Magazine Ottawa, Gismondi on Wine, Oxford Companion to Wine, WineAnorak.com
Follow on Twitter @WineTrackMind
Follow on Instagram @winetrackmind
(bio)
José Luis Fernandez
Ontario
Langdon Hall
Follow on Twitter @In_Sommniac
Follow on Instagram jose_luis_fernandez.do
(bio)
Michael Godel
Ontario
WineAlign, godello.com, Barque Smokehouse, Canadian Ambassador to Chianti Classico, educator
Follow on Twitter @mgodello
Follow on Instagram @mgodello
(bio)
Evan Goldstein, MS
USA
Wine Educator, Author (Five Star Service: Your Guide to Hospitality Excellence, Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier’s Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food, Wines of South America: The Essential Guide)
Follow on Instagram @evangoldsteinms
(bio)
Jamie Goode, Ph.D.
United Kingdom
Author (The Science of Wine, Authentic Red, I Taste Red, Flawless), The Sunday Express, WineAnorak
Follow on Twitter @JamieGoode
Follow on Instagram @drjamiegoode
(bio)
DJ Kearney
British Columbia
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Director of Wine at Terminal City Club, Vice President CAPS-BC
Follow on Twitter @djwines
Follow on Instagram @djwines
(bio)
Elsa Macdonald, MW
Ontario
Freelance educator and consultant
Follow on Twitter @elsamac
Follow on Instagram @elsamacdonaldmw
(bio)
Michaela Morris
British Columbia
Decanter, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Quench, Vintec Club and Taste magazine
Follow on Instagram @michaelawine
(bio)
Geoffrey Moss, MW
British Columbia
Lithica Wine Marketing, Gismondi on Wine, WineAnorak, Purple Pages, Palate Press
Follow on Twitter @geoffreybmoss
Follow on Instagram @geoffreybmoss
(bio)
Brent Muller
British Columbia
Vessel Liquor
(bio)
Rhys Pender, MW
British Columbia
Wine Plus+, Little Farm Winery
Follow on Twitter @WinePlus
Follow on Instagram @rhyspendermw
(bio)
Craig Pinhey
New Brunswick
Brunswick News, Quench, Author (The Wine Lover’s Guide to Atlantic Canada)
Follow on Twitter @frogspadca
Follow on Instagram @brufrog
(bio)
Treve Ring
British Columbia
WineAlign, Gismondi On Wine, WineAnorak, Cru Consultancy, World of Fine Wine, Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast
Follow on Twitter @Treve_Ring
Follow on Instagram @trevering
(bio)
Brad Royale
Alberta
The Glencoe Club, The Forks, Panorama Mountain Resort, Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, Hotel Grand Pacific
Follow on Twitter @BradRoyale
Follow on Instagram @bradroyale
(bio)
Ben Sigurdson
Manitoba
Winnipeg Free Press
Follow on Twitter @bensigurdson
Follow on Instagram @bensigurdson
(bio)
Dick Snyder
Ontario
Canada’s 100 Best (wine and drinks editor), LCBO Food & Drink, The Toronto Star, Toronto Life, Zoomer, WineAlign (editor)
Follow on Twitter @snyderdick
Follow on Instagram @citybites
(bio)
John Szabo, MS
Ontario
WineAlign, Modalina, MarQuee, CellArt, Wine Thieves, Author (Volcanic Wines, Salt, Grit and Power), www.johnszabo.com
Follow on Twitter @JohnSzabo
Follow on Instagram @johnszaboms
(bio)
Apprentice Judge
Megha Jandhyala, S.J.D.
Ontario
WineAlign Critic Understudy
Follow on Twitter @winewanderin
Follow on Instagram @winewanderin
(bio)
Questions or comments? Contact us: [email protected]
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