TASTING PANEL

The Seattle Wine Awards could not be possible without the essential and valued contributions of our distinguished group of Northwest wine professionals. See below for more about the members of our esteemed Tasting Panel.

2008 Seattle Wine Awards Tasting Panel

Front Row L-R:  Cyril Frechier, Campagne Restaurant; Dan McCarthy, McCarthy & Schiering; Lisa Rongren, The Herbfarm; Amy Mumma, CWU World Wine Program; Gerry Warren, Seattle Wine Society; Chris Tanghe, Crush Restaurant. Back Row L-R:  Mark Takagi, Metropolitan Markets; David LeClaire, Wine Events & Promotions; Jake Kosseff, Extraordinary Dining Society; Arnie Millan, Esquin Wine Merchants; Bob Bain, Odom/NW Wine Co.; Christopher Chan,* Seattle Wine Awards Executive Director; Ryan Allison, Cellar 46; Thomas Price, The Metropolitan Grill; Tim O’Brien, Salty’s on Alki; Lars Ryssdal, ACME Wine Co.

A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR TASTING PANEL

Ryan Allison Cellar 46˚ Founder of awinestore.com and Cellar 46˚ Ryan has a great appreciation for NW Wines and has served as a panel member of the New World International Wine Competition since 2004.  This is Ryan’s first year as a member of the Seattle Wine Awards Tasting Panel.

Bob Bain Odom/NW Wine Co. With nearly two decades of fine wine expertise, Bob currently works as a fine wine specialist for NW Wine Company / ODOM Corp. and has served on the Seattle Wine Awards Tasting Panel since 2007.

Cyril Frechier Campagne Restaurant Cyril is a dedicated wine educator and accomplished wine taster, Cyril teaches at South Seattle Community College Wine Technology Program. His tasting abilities are frequently called upon in numerous wine-judging competitions and other wine events both in the U.S. and Europe.  Cyril held the prestigious title of Cellar Master and Sommelier for the highly acclaimed Rover’s Restaurant in Seattle from 1993 – 2007 and is currently the Director of Wine for another Seattle icon, Campagne and Café Campagne.

Jake Kosseff Extraordinary Dining Society Jake has consulted on the wine lists for some of Seattle’s finest wine centric restaurants such as Crush, Campagne and Qube in Seattle.  In 2006, Jake was named the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs “Best Young Sommelier in America” and has been accepted to sit for the Master Sommelier Diploma examination.  Jake is also the Sommelier for Seattle Metropolitan Magazine’s “Restaurant Dream Team” (2006), as well as Seattle Magazine’s “Best Sommelier” (2007).  Jake currently serves full-time as a consultant and is founder of the amazing Extraordinary Dining Society.

David LeClaire Wine Events & Promotions David LeClaire is a certified sommelier and the founder of Wine Events & Promotions and Seattle Uncorked, Seattle’s largest wine club. He is a wine educator at North Seattle Community College, a freelance writer for Wine Squire & NW Stir websites, and is also a member of The International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association.

Dan McCarthy McCarthy & Schiering Dan McCarthy has spent his entire professional life in the wine trade.  In 1980, he established his own firm McCarthy & Schiering Wine Merchants, Inc., a retailer of premium wines in Seattle's Ravenna district. In 1990, in partnership with Jay Schiering, he established a second retail outlet in Queen Anne. In 1991, he wrote Pick The Right Wine, his first book featuring food and wine pairings in an easy to use format. (Doubleday). He co-authored Northwest Wines, a pocket guide to the wines of Washington, Oregon, & Idaho. (Sasquatch Books). Currently, he is a contract writer for Oz Clarke’s Fine Wine Guide, Oz Clarke’s New Encyclopedia of Wine, and Oz Clarke’s Wine Guide on the topic of Northwest wine.

Arnie Millan Esquin Wine Merchants A twenty year veteran of the Seattle Wine Industry and a fixture in local wine classes, industry events, and Esquin Wine Merchants, Arnie serves as a knowledgeable and passionate aficionado with great experience and expertise.

Amy Mumma CWU World Wine Program Amy Mumma has worked and taught in the international wine industry for more than 10 years. She is the Director of the Central Washington University Wine Program in Washington State and was awarded the Professional Wine Woman title in Paris at the International Wine Women Awards.  Amy has a MBA in Wine Industry from the University of Bordeaux Business School, a Diploma of Tasting and Wine Studies from the University of Burgundy in Dijon, and the Advanced Certificate from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London.  She is a freelance writer for publications including Vineyard & Winery Management and the North American correspondent for the Bordeaux wine magazine L’Amateur Bordeaux.  She is a wine judge and frequent presenter at national and international conferences.

Tim O'Brien Salty's on Alki A long-time Northwest wine professional, Tim has worked in the beverage world since 1988 and is currently the distinguished Wine Director & Sommelier for Salty’s Restaurants.  Tim has earned numerous Wne Enthusiast Awards as well as being honored many times; most notably by the Washington Wine Commission as the 2004 Walter Clore Honorarium recipient and the 2006 Washington Sommelier of The Year.

Thomas Price The Metropolitan Grill Thomas recently earned his Advanced Sommelier Certification from the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers.  He is currently a Sommelier/Captain at Seattle’s legendary steak-house, The Metropolitan Grill in addition to being the owner/founder of Luau Polynesian Lounge & Restaurant.  Thomas plans to sit for his Master Sommelier examination in Spring 2009.

Lisa Rongren The Herbfarm Lisa recently earned her Advanced Sommelier Certification from the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers.  She’s worked at Scott Carsberg's Lampreia in Seattle, John Howie's Seastar in Bellevue, and was the Wine Director at the venerable Ray's Boathouse in Seattle before taking up her current position as sommelier at Puget Sound’s renowned Herbfarm Restaurant.

Lars Ryssdal ACME Wine Co. Lars earned level one certification from the Court of Master Sommelier in March of 2000 and started tasting with others as insane as him to think advancing in that organization’s ranks is a good idea. Since then Lars has aided the Court in executing its’ Basic Level Exam to the tune of over 400 candidates passing in the Seattle area.  His current day job is helping the Carroll family out with the small distribution outfit, the Acme Wine Company.

Mark Takagi Metropolitan Market Born and raised in Seattle, Mark has grown up with Washington wine.  Working his way through the some of Seattle’s finer restaurants, Mark began a career as one of Safeway’s original Wine Stewards.  Acknowledged locally and nationally, Mark now works as the Director of Food & Fine Wine for Metropolitan Market.  He is devoted to philanthropy with his dedication to volunteering on the wine procurement committees for numerous Civic and Charity organizations.

Chris Tanghe Crush Restaurant Chris is currently the sole wine director and general manager of Chef Jason Wilson’s Crush Restaurant. He has recently completed the ISG Diploma program and is planning to take The Court of Master Sommeliers advanced certification this next year. This is Chris’ first year as a member of the Seattle Wine Awards Tasting Panel.

Gerry Warren Seattle Wine Society Gerry is one of Seattle’s wine originals.  He has served as past president of the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest, Chair of it’s judging of Northwest Wines and founding chair of the Auction of Northwest Wines.  In addition to his participation on the Seattle Wine Awards Tasting Panel he serves as a  judge at wine competitions in the Northwest and California.

Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen Cascadia Restaurant Recently awarded the 2008 Pacific Northwest Regional Best Young Sommelier by La Chaine des Rotisseurs International Food & Wine Society. Jeff holds sommelier certification from both the Court of Master Sommeliers and the International Sommelier Guild. As Director of the award-winning wine and spirits program at Seattle’s renowned Cascadia Restaurant, Jeff has been able to bring Washington's world-class wines to guests from around the world.

 

Christopher Chan Executive Director, Seattle Wine Awards Executive Director and Certified Sommelier Christopher Chan has over 20 years of Special Events and Food & Beverage experience in Seattle and Washington DC and currently serves as the Director of Wine & Spirits for Seattle’s exclusive Rainier Club. (Christopher Chan does not participate in the tasting or evaluating of wine for the Seattle Wine Awards.)