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Meet our Judging Panel
The true measure of any wine is its taste.
Sur Lucero, MS
Master Sommelier
Sur is the 14th Krug Cup recipient, passing all three sections of the Master Sommelier exam on his first attempt. Previously National Director for Wine Education at Jackson Family Wines, he has been wine director or sommelier at restaurants such as The French Laundry, The Little Nell, Cyrus, Meadowood, and Daniel Boulud. In 2011, Wine & Spirits Magazine named Sur one of the Country's Top New Sommeliers.
Vanessa Conlin
Stage 3 Master of Wine Student
Vanessa was head of sales and marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious estates including Arietta Wines, Dana Estates, and Realm Cellars. Previously, she was a retail buyer and wine bar wine director in New York. She’s President of the Board for the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, holds the WSET Diploma, and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa is a student in the Master of Wine program and has passed the Theory portion of the MW exams.
Robert Emery holds the Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, and is a student with the Institute of Masters of Wine, having passed the Theory portion of the MW exams. He was most recently General Manager for a winery in Napa Valley and previously a Manager for Total Wine & More. Robert has also traveled extensively in over seven countries in pursuit of a greater understanding of wine, judging numerous wine competitions throughout his career.
Robert Emery
Master of Wine Candidate
Jonathan Cristaldi
Editor in Chief
Jonathan Cristaldi is the Editor-in-Chief at WineAccess.com. He is also a Contributing Writer and Columnist for Food & Wine magazine and a Contributing Editor for Tasting Panel Magazine and The SOMM Journal. Previously, he served as the Chief Editor and Content Creator at Napa Valley Wine Academy. Cristaldi’s work has appeared in Los Angeles Magazine, First We Feast, Thrillist (National Edition), Tasting Table (National Edition), Time Out LA and Psychology Today.
Meet our Judging Panel
The true measure of any wine is its taste.
Sur Lucero, MS
Master Sommelier
Sur is the 14th Krug Cup recipient, passing all three sections of the Master Sommelier exam on his first attempt. Previously National Director for Wine Education at Jackson Family Wines, he has been wine director or sommelier at restaurants such as The French Laundry, The Little Nell, Cyrus, Meadowood, and Daniel Boulud. In 2011, Wine & Spirits Magazine named Sur one of the Country's Top New Sommeliers.
Vanessa Conlin
Stage 3 Master of Wine Student
Vanessa was head of sales and marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious estates including Arietta Wines, Dana Estates, and Realm Cellars. Previously, she was a retail buyer and wine bar wine director in New York. She’s President of the Board for the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, holds the WSET Diploma, and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa is a student in the Master of Wine program and has passed the Theory portion of the MW exams.
Robert Emery
Master of Wine Candidate
Adam is one of 45 Masters of Wine in the U.S. He judges in top wine competitions such as the TEXSOM International Wine Competition and serves on the Education Committee for the Institute of Masters of Wine. Adam held numerous management roles for importer Frederick Wildman and Sons – and has also earned his Certified Sommelier designation from the Court of Master Sommeliers and his Diploma from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
Jonathan Cristaldi
Editor in Chief
Jonathan Cristaldi is the Editor-in-Chief at WineAccess.com. He is also a Contributing Writer and Columnist for Food & Wine magazine and a Contributing Editor for Tasting Panel Magazine and The SOMM Journal. Previously, he served as the Chief Editor and Content Creator at Napa Valley Wine Academy. Cristaldi’s work has appeared in Los Angeles Magazine, First We Feast, Thrillist (National Edition), Tasting Table (National Edition), Time Out LA and Psychology Today.
Meet our Judging Panel
The true measure of any wine is its taste.
Sur Lucero, MS
Master Sommelier
Sur is the 14th Krug Cup recipient, passing all three sections of the Master Sommelier exam on his first attempt. Previously National Director for Wine Education at Jackson Family Wines, he has been wine director or sommelier at restaurants such as The French Laundry, The Little Nell, Cyrus, Meadowood, and Daniel Boulud. In 2011, Wine & Spirits Magazine named Sur one of the Country's Top New Sommeliers.
Vanessa Conlin
Stage 3 Master of Wine Student
Vanessa was head of sales and marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious estates including Arietta Wines, Dana Estates, and Realm Cellars. Previously, she was a retail buyer and wine bar wine director in New York. She’s President of the Board for the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, holds the WSET Diploma, and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa is a student in the Master of Wine program and has passed the Theory portion of the MW exams.
Robert Emery
Master of Wine Candidate
Robert Emery holds the Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, and is a student with the Institute of Masters of Wine, having passed the Theory portion of the MW exams. He was most recently General Manager for a winery in Napa Valley and previously a Manager for Total Wine & More. Robert has also traveled extensively in over seven countries in pursuit of a greater understanding of wine, judging numerous wine competitions throughout his career.
Jonathan Cristaldi
Editor in Chief
Jonathan Cristaldi is the Editor-in-Chief at WineAccess.com. He is also a Contributing Writer and Columnist for Food & Wine magazine and a Contributing Editor for Tasting Panel Magazine and The SOMM Journal. Previously, he served as the Chief Editor and Content Creator at Napa Valley Wine Academy. Cristaldi’s work has appeared in Los Angeles Magazine, First We Feast, Thrillist (National Edition), Tasting Table (National Edition), Time Out LA and Psychology Today.
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