2024 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.

You can follow the 2024 NWAC and our judges’ tweets from start to finish on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #NWAC24 and #NWAC2024.

Our Judging Process

The judging is overseen by co-chairs Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason, experienced Canadian wine journalists and judges, who co-founded the Awards in 2001 while working jointly at Wine Access magazine. They have 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 used at WineAlign. Approximately one percent of the total entries boasting the highest scores are awarded the highly coveted Platinum medals.

Co-Chairs David Lawrason and Anthony Gismondi

The 2024 Co-Chairs:

Anthony Gismondi
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Co-Chair
BC Food & Wine Radio Show, Vancouver Sun, Gismondi on Wine
Follow on Twitter @TheSpitter
Follow on Instagram @anthony.gismondi
(bio)

David Lawrason
Toronto, Ontario
Co-Chair
WineAlign, Advisor to Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, Canadian Wine Insider
Follow on Twitter @DavidLawrason
Follow on Instagram @davidlawrason
(bio)

The 2024 Judges (in alphabetical order):

Jacky Blisson, MW
Montreal, Quebec
Quench magazine, Extra-Brut, Good Food Revolution, Jacky Blisson, MW, JackyBlisson.com
Follow on Twitter @JackyBlisson
Follow on Instagram @jackyblisson
(bio)

Jeremy Bonia
St John’s, Newfoundland
Co-Owner/Sommelier of Raymonds and The Merchant Tavern
Follow on Twitter @JeremyBonia
Follow on Instagram @jeremybonia
(bio)

Sara d’Amato
Toronto, Ontario
WineAlign, Fine Vintage Ltd (instructor), Wine Thieves
Follow on Twitter @SaradAmato
Follow on Instagram @saradamatokilley
(bio)

Janet Dorozynski, Ph.D., DipWSET
Ottawa, Ontario
WineAlign, Luxe Magazine Ottawa, Gismondi on Wine, Oxford Companion to Wine, WineAnorak.com
Follow on Twitter @WineTrackMind
Follow on Instagram @winetrackmind
(bio)

Nadia Fournier
Sutton, Quebec
Le Guide du Vin, L’actualité, Exquis, Wine & Spirits Magazine
Follow on Twitter @NadiaFournier
Follow on Instagram @nadia_fournier
(bio)

Michael Godel
Toronto, Ontario
WineAlign, godello.com, Barque Smokehouse, Canadian Ambassador to Chianti Classico, educator
Follow on Twitter @mgodello
Follow on Instagram @mgodello
(bio)

Evan Goldstein, MS
San Diego, California
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)

Dr. Jamie Goode, Ph.D
London, England
United Kingdom
Author (The Science of Wine, Authentic Wine, I Taste Red, Flawless), The Sunday Express, WineAnorak
Follow on Twitter @JamieGoode
Follow on Instagram @drjamiegoode
(bio)

DJ Kearney
Vancouver, 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)

Élyse Lambert, MS
Montreal, Quebec
Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Radio Canada, consultant, speaker, educator
Follow on Instagram @elyselambert
(bio)

Elsa Macdonald, MW
Toronto, Ontario
Freelance educator and consultant
Follow on Twitter @elsamac
Follow on Instagram @elsamacdonaldmw
(bio)

Michaela Morris
Vancouver, British Columbia
Decanter, Meininger’s Wine Business International, Quench, Vintec Club and Taste magazine
Follow on Instagram @michaelawine
(bio)

Geoffrey Moss, MW
Penticton, British Columbia
Lithica Wine Marketing, Gismondi on Wine, WineAnorak, Purple Pages, Palate Press
Follow on Twitter @geoffreybmoss
Follow on Instagram @geoffreybmoss
(bio)

Brent Muller
Victoria, British Columbia
Vessel Liquor
(bio)

Rhys Pender, MW
Kelowna, British Columbia
Wine Plus+, Little Farm Winery
Follow on Twitter @WinePlus
Follow on Instagram @rhyspendermw
(bio)

Heather Rankin
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Obladee Wine Bar
Follow on Twitter @heatherarankin
Follow on Instagram @heather.a.rankin
(bio)

Treve Ring
Victoria, 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
Calgary, 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)

John Szabo, MS
Toronto, Ontario
WineAlign, Accor/Fairmont/Sofitel Hotels (Quebec), Wine Thieves, Author (Volcanic Wines, Salt, Grit and Power), www.johnszabo.com
Follow on Twitter @JohnSzabo
Follow on Instagram @johnszaboms
(bio)