Virginia Governor's Cup

The Virginia Governor's Cup, one of the most stringent competitions in the US, is hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association, in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association.

The Competition

In 2025, world-class judges will sample over 620 of the best Virginia wines, ciders and meads from across the Commonwealth. In 2025, 87 wineries received 155 Gold Medals, the highest 12 ranking red and white wines made up the Governor's Cup Case, with one bottle taking home the coveted Governor's Cup®.  The 2025 competition was celebrated at Richmond's Main Street Station on March 13th.

Preliminary Round

Over the course of three days, each wine is tasted by 6 judges. This is a single-blind tasting, meaning that judges only know the grape or category of a wine, but the vintage, winery and name are hidden behind coded-glasses.

Finally, individual judges' scores of a wine are averaged into one score after the lowest score is dropped.

Final Round

Over the course of 3 days, 12 judges assess the highest ranking wines from the preliminary round. Unlike the preliminary round, each judge samples all of the Final Round wines.

Each wine in the Final Round receives a final average score after lowest is dropped. The 12 wines with the highest average score are identified as the "Governor's Cup Case."

The wine with the highest overall score is the Governor's Cup Winner.

Judging Criteria

Judges will use the 100 point scale, as used by Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits, and many others, to rate the most outstanding wines Virginia has to offer.

Tasting Notes

Our esteemed judges assemble tasting notes for each wine commenting on:

  • Appearance Clear or dull, color, intensity, any other visual observations
  • Aroma Descriptors as to clean or faulty aromatics, fruit, floral, vegetal, spice, oak, chemical, animal, and intensity
  • Flavor Character of the alcohol, acidity, body, tannin, oak, fruit, floral, vegetal, spice, oak, chemical, animal, and intensity
  • Overall Quality
  • Commercial Suitability

Rating Scale

The numerical rating will be used to determine medal winners and advancement to subsequent round.

100-95
Classic Among The Best Wines In The World
94-90
Outstanding Superior Character And Style
89-85
Very Good A Wine With Special Qualities
84-80
Good A Well Made Wine Of Good Quality
79-75
Average A Drinkable Wine That May Have Minor Flaws
74>
Not recommended(NR)/ No Score(NS)

The Awards

Once the judging is complete, the average wine score will be used to determine if it qualifies for a medal, and the highest 12 ranking red and white wines will become the Governor's Cup Case.

Best in Show Cider

Beginning in 2021, Virginia cider is judged in its own category. Judges are selected based on their passion, experience, and understanding of the cider category. Each cider is scored using a 100 point scale. After tasting through all the entries, the top six scoring ciders were identified. The judges then retasted (blind) and ranked their favorites from 1-6. The highest-rated cider will win the Best in Show Cider award.

The Judges

Meet this year's judges; a world-class panel with decades of experience.

Judge Categories

Swati Bose

For the last ten years, Swati owned and operated Flight Wine Bar in Washington, DC. Her goalwas to provide a neighborhood spot featuring small-production and minimal intervention wines. Flight was nominated as a James Beard semi-finalist for Outstanding Wine Program twice and was a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner since 2016. When Flight closed in December 2023, it was a top destination not just because of its list but also because of the hospitality and warm experience it offered.
 
Now, Swati is taking a short break and working on her next idea – a fine wine shop continuing to offer the wine classes, winemaker meet and greets, and tasting events that Flight was known for. Swati and her partner, Kabir hope to open in early 2025.

John Brecher

John Brecher is a senior editor of Grape Collective, an online wine publication based in New York City. He and his wife, Dorothy J. Gaiter, created The Wall Street Journal’s wine column, which they wrote for 12 years. They became well-known as guests on Martha Stewart and many television programs, including CBS Sunday Morning. They are the authors of four books and invented Open That Bottle Night, a global celebration of wine and friendship (and a question on Jeopardy!). They have been drinking and studying wine together since 1973. Before they accidentally became wine columnists, John was known for long-form journalism at The Wall Street Journal, which won seven Pulitzer Prizes during his tenure as Page One Editor.

Matthew Brown

Since graduating from the University of Virginia in 2010, Matthew has spent his entire career in the hospitality and wine trade. His diverse experience includes restaurant service and management, off-premise wine retail work, as well as winery marketing, branding, and administrative management. In 2017 he earned a Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit EducationTrust and enrolled the following year as a student of the
Institute of Masters of Wine which, like the WSET, is based in London. Matthew’s passion for food, wine, and unforgettable experiences has taken him around the world, adding the benefit of a global perspective to his work as a business and marketing consultant in the wine trade.

Nadine Brown

Sommelier Nadine Brown was born and raised in Jamaica and Puerto Rico and began her hospitality career at the host stand. 

Today Nadine is a twenty-five veteran of the Washington Area restaurant industry. She spent over 14 years at Charlie Palmer Steak as their Wine Director and Sommelier. She has also been a  managing partner, General Manager and hospitality consultant. She is a two-time winner of the Rammy’s Wine Program of the year for the region. Nadine is a board member of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan D.C as well as the nonprofit the Verasion Project.  She is a wine judge participating in competitions including the Monticello Cup and TexSom IWA. Nadine is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier D.C chapter and the Regarding Her organization. Nadine is a published author writing articles about wine and the wine industry for various publications. 

Her company, At Your Service, offers a range of services from hosting wine events, cellar management and wine promotions, staff training and hospitality consulting.. Nadine is a mentor to many young professionals in the business. Nadine strives to encourage more women to join and stay in the industry. for moms and dads. She is a mother of two, Estelle and Emerson.

Claudia Chamberlain

Claudia is a Region Manager for the Mid-Atlantic for Jackson Family Wines and a WSET educator at Capital Wine School, based in Washington DC. She started her career in wine in the E&J Gallo sales program, working in both on and off premise wine distribution sales in North Carolina and DC. She then pivoted to spirits where she was the On Premise Sales Manager for Heaven Hill in Virginia before coming to JFW. Claudia holds the WSET Diploma in Wines, WSET Level 3 in Spirits, CWE and CSE from the Society of Wine Educators, and is an Advanced Sommelier with CMS. She is a WSET certified instructor for both wine & spirits. She is a Master Sommelier candidate and a Stage 2 Practical Only student in the Master of Wine program.

Sarita Cheaves

Sarita Cheaves, WSET (Wine Spirits Education Trust) certified, is a proud Washington, DC native with a passion for food and wine. She is the founder of VineMeUp Media, producer, and host of The Swirl Suite Podcast. Sarita is the author of VineMeUp: An Activity Book Celebrating Melanated Wine Enthusiasts.

As a wine professional dedicated to storytelling, Sarita explores diverse wines and experiments with food. Whether creating vivid recipes, pairing food with a wide range of wines, or interviewing winemakers or chefs, Sarita is committed to sharing new experiences and stories with the VineMeUp Media and The Swirl Suite Podcast communities.  She has served as a judge for the Maryland Governor’s Cup Wine Competition.

Quynh Cohen

Sommelier and Chief of the Virginia Wine Experience at The Omni Homestead, Quynh Cohen enjoys bringing high-end Virginia Wine tasting to her guests. She is also a certified advanced yoga instructor, where she has embraced the many sustainable, bio-dynamic and lower alcoholic wines Virginia offers and pairs them with her classes. She began her career many years ago in several of the Orange County, VA vineyards and later went on to work as Sommelier at Fiola in Miami. After enhancing her skills working with one of the largest import and export companies in Florida, Quynh was ready to return to her roots in hospitality. Quynh earned her Sommelier and Diploma in Wine & Management through Le Cordon Bleu and the Wine Culture Heritage and Tourism University Diploma awarded by the Georges Chappaz Wine and Vine Institute in Champagne (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne), when they still collaborated with the Le Cordon Bleu in Austin Texas.  She has worked in the wine and hospitality industry for over 20 plus years, but sometimes feels she is just getting started. 

Emmanuel Dabney

Emmanuel Dabney is a historian, resident of southside Virginia, and an avid consumer of wine and cider and Virginia made spirits. Emmanuel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia and completed a Master’s degree in Public History at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He’s a member of several Virginia beverage makers’ clubs and has given a presentation on the relationship between enslaved people and fruit orchards in antebellum Virginia among a host of other topics related to slavery, freedom, emancipation, and the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The 2020 Virginia Governor’s Cup is Emmanuel’s first time participating.

Maria Denton

Maria E. Denton, CSS CSW CWE, is the Food & Beverage Training Manager for the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, part of the Marriott International family of hotels. She brings over 30 years experience to this role, having started her wines & spirits career in the restaurant industry, working her way from server to bartender and eventually to upper management. Maria has also worked in the beverage wholesale business, as a beverage instructor, and as a lead sommelier for several international wines events. Always an advocate of education, Maria has been a mentor to DC-area sommeliers, and served on the Society of Wine Educators Board of Directors from 2008 to 2014. 

David Denton

David D. Denton, CWE CSW CSS, is the sommelier at Cut by Wolfgang Puck at the Georgetown Rosewood Hotel in Washington, D. C. He is an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Bordeaux Educator through the L’Ecole du Vin Bordeaux, and holds the Official Sherry Educator title from the Consejo Regulator of Sherry. David has served as the head sommelier for many prestigious global wine events, including the WineFuture conferences, many of the Society of Wine Educator conferences, and the Vinoble Fortified and Dessert Wine Festival in Jerez, Spain. 

Justin Ferguson

Justin Ferguson is a seasoned wine professional with a distinguished career that seamlessly blends expertise, passion, and a commitment to education. As a WSET Level 3 Certified & Sommelier, Justin’s depth of knowledge spans both the nuanced art of wine tasting and the process behind vineyard sales and acquisitions. His unique perspective as a Wine Director, educator, and vineyard consultant makes him a sought-after voice in the wine community.

Currently serving as the Wine Director for The Underground Kitchen, Justin curates immersive wine experiences that celebrate diversity, culture, and the stories behind the bottle. His ability to pair wine with culinary excellence has earned him recognition for creating unforgettable dining experiences that resonate beyond the palate.

As an educator, Justin is dedicated to demystifying wine for enthusiasts and professionals alike. He regularly shares insights on wine appreciation, pairing techniques, and the intricacies of vineyard management. His consulting work focuses on supporting vineyards in optimizing their operations and achieving their full potential, blending his commercial real estate background with his wine expertise.

Justin’s dedication to wine goes beyond his certifications; it is rooted in a desire to make wine accessible, inclusive, and exciting for everyone. Whether guiding clients through the complexities of wine selection, offering vineyard consulting services, or hosting wine-focused events, Justin’s mission is to elevate and inspire through the world of wine.

Lindsey Fern

 Director of Wine and Beverage for The Inn at Little Washington & Patty Os Cafe: Lindsey fell in love with wine while backpacking through Europe and Africa after she graduated from Simmons University in Boston. Lindsey has worked in restaurants all over the world including London, Ibiza, Miami, and in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Lindsey joined the Wine Team at the Inn in 2014 as their Cellar Master and has moved up the ranks and became Director of Wine in 2021. In 2022 Patrick O’Connell The Inn’s proprietor and Chef opened his first casual concept, Patty O’s and she was promoted to Wine and Beverage Director for both properties. Lindsey is an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and the mother of 2 beautiful teenaged girls.

Dorothy Gaiter

Dorothy J. Gaiter, senior editor of Grape Collective, an online wine magazine, is an award-winning journalist and author. Prior to joining Grape Collective, she wrote The Wall Street Journal’s wine column, “Tastings,” for 12 years with her husband, John Brecher, with whom she has been tasting and studying wine since 1973. At The Miami Herald, she was the first Black female editorial writer and regular Op-Ed columnist. She was a reporter at The New York Times and at The Wall Street Journal, which twice nominated her reporting on race for the Pulitzer Prize and once for “Tastings.” She gave the University of Missouri School of Journalism’s commencement address in 2009, when it turned 100. The Hue Society named a journalism award after her, honoring her decades of work like her ground-breaking 2020 article “Being Black in the White World of Wine” for SevenFifty Daily.

Dottie and John are well-known from television appearances and as creators of the annual international “Open That Bottle Night” celebration of wine, family and friendship. In 2020, they donated their papers to the UC-Davis Warren Winiarski Wine Writers Collection, which also includes the work of Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson. André Cold Duck was the first wine Dottie and John shared.

Titus Green

Titus Green is a graduate of Virginian Military Institute. He is accredited as court of masters sommelier and currently ad Advanced level candidate.  He reigns from Washington DC with one of the best wine list in the city; multiple acclaimed Wine Spectators best award of excellence.  His background includes decades of upper level management in hospitatlity, fine dining wine director and education, leadership in sales through our the DMV as well as an International and local wine judge.  Titus has collaborations with top well known Wine brands and has been named by top Wine Enthusiast, other magazines and internet sources as a top sommelier to follow.   Currently the Vice President of sales Maryland/Montgomery county at Constantine wines.  You can usually fine him singing about wine as he etches a niche in the music.

Booth Hardy

Booth Hardy fell in love with wine working the 2005 harvest at Carneros Creek in California. After three years working production on the North Coast and in Santa Cruz, he returned to Virginia to take a job at the award winning Barrel Thief wine store in Richmond. In 2011, he became a partner and took over operations and purchasing. During his ongoing tenure there, he completed the WSET Advanced Certification with merit, became a Certified Specialist of Wine and Level 2 Sommelier, judged wine competitions around the state, and led the Barrel Thief team to receive many awards including Richmond’s Elby Award for Best Wine Program. In 2023, he took over as full owner of Barrel Thief. In his free time, his passion for wine takes him around the world to visit the producers he loves. 

Erica Jeter

Erica Jeter is a cidermaker and cider enthusiast, who finds great joy in fine cider’s current revival. She is a member of the American Cider Association, a Cider Convolunteer, and has studied cidermaking, sensory analysis, and orcharding through workshops at Blue Bee Cider, Albemarle CiderWorks, Penn State Extension, the American Cider Association, and the CiderInstitute of North America. She is one of the organizers of The Cider Exchange (TCE) community on Facebook, and loves sharing and exchanging orchard-based ciders and perries with friends across many cider regions. As a cidermaker, her quest for rare and exceptional apples has led her to orchards throughout central and southwest Virginia, including the highly revered Foggy Ridge Cider orchard. As an avid fan of nature and the outdoors, she enjoys traveling in her microcamper to orchard-based cideries to experience what she refers to as “full terroir immersion”: sleeping under the stars in orchards, cooking and dining al fresco with the farm and cidery families, and tasting ciders among the trees and land that produced them. Erica lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and teenage son, who wonder how long it will take for her cider making equipment to take over every floor of their home.

Frank Morgan - Director of Judging

Judging Director
Frank Morgan is a data privacy regulatory professional, traveler and writer based in coastal Virginia. He has been writing about the wines, wineries and winemakers of Virginia for 15 years. He writes a syndicated wine column that appears in newspapers including The Daily Press, The Boston Herald, The Virginian-Pilot, and The Orlando Sentinel. Morgan is also a contributor for Virginia Living Magazine and Wine & Country Life magazine.  He has managed the Monticello Cup Wine Competition and the Shenandoah Valley Wine Competition for the past five years.  He served as a judge for the Virginia Governor’s Cup for 10 years before assuming the role of Director of Judging. He lives on the coast of Virginia with his wife, daughter, dog and bird.

Cassandra Kessman

Cassandra has been in the food and beverage industry since 2006. Over the past 5 years she has become a passionate oenophile as Wine Director of the Blacksburg Wine Lab, while gaining certificates with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust levels I & II (WSET) as well as taking the Intro Exam for the Guild of Court Master Sommeliers. She has aspirations to continue her studies by completing WSET level III. She enjoys expanding guests palates by hosting a variety of educational wine tastings, including her favorite, the monthly wine themed book club. Originally from New York, Cassandra has called southwest Virginia her home the past decade and has fallen in love with the region and it’s wine. She feels her degree in Environmental Studies helps her have a greater appreciation and understanding of Terroir.

Anna Kietzerow

Currently a Ph.D. student, Anna Kietzerow has been actively involved in the wine industry for the past 6 years.  She started by working at a small estate winery in Michigan and brought her passion for local wine with her when she moved to Virginia.  Presently, she works with the Wine Guild of Charlottesville writing wine offers and notes, developing wine classes, and curating wines for individuals for any time or occasion.  She holds a Wine and Spirits Education (WSET) Level 3 award and is currently working on the WSET Diploma.  She recently served as a judge for the Shenandoah Valley Wine Competition.  

Lance Lemon

Lance, a Virginia native and a 2011 graduate of the University of Virginia, is an accomplished actor and a connoisseur of the grape. Double majoring in acting and studio art with a focus in cinematography, Lance brings a creative flair to the world of wine. Alongside his acting pursuits, he holds a WSET Level 2 Certification, underscoring his deep understanding of the nuances in the vast world of wine.

In 2020, Lance showcased his entrepreneurial spirit by opening RichWine RVA, an online local delivery service. His return to Richmond began a new chapter, where he immersed himself in the local wine scene. Lance further enriched his wine journey by opening Penny's Wine Shop and Wine Bar in Jackson Ward, Richmond, Virginia, in February 2023. Penny's has earned numerous awards and recognitions since its opening, From Forbes "Forget canceled and delayed flight, plan an end of summer road trip to Richmond instead", to Wine Enthusiast "Top 25 Wine Shops", to Vine Pair "Retailer of the Year", to Top 25 restaurants in Richmond from Richmond Magazine and most recently Richmond's dining all-stars of 2023 from Richmond Times Dispatch.

Working alongside winemakers and brothers Ben Jordan and Tim Jordan at their family farm in Shenandoah, Lance honed his craft. Additionally, he served as a Cellar Assistant at Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison County.

A true advocate for Virginia wine, Lance proudly holds the title of Virginia Wine Ambassador with The Virginia Wine Marketing office. Further demonstrating his commitment to the craft, Lance is making his first wine in collaboration with Reggie Leonard at Common Wealth Crush. They are the first to be part of this exciting inaugural incubator program. Their wine is titled The Parallax Project, which focuses on exploring the juxtaposition between the traditional Vitis Vinifera Grape and the new wave of grape growing in Virginia with Hybrids.  Lance's journey in wine is about appreciation and active participation, making his mark on the industry from vine to bottle.

Robert Jones, MS

Grew up in Roanoke VA - studied Psychology, Anatomy & Physiology, Spanish at Roanoke College, Class of 1986.

Spent 1990's working at restaurants & hotels in Charlotte NC, Martha's Vineyard MA and Atlanta GA honing service and beverage skills, ended up as sommelier at The Dining Room at Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, running the Ritz's flagship Mobil 5-Star restaurant

Started CMS courses in 1995, earned Master Sommelier Diploma in March 2001, the 47th North American to do so.

Joined Kysela Pere et Fils LTD in June 2001, managing national accounts and leading educational buying trips to six continents for our clients.
Elected to Board of Directors for Court of Master Sommeliers for a three year term starting January 2024.

Jay Youmans, MW

Jay Youmans has been involved in the sales, importation, and distribution of wine for over four decades. He began his career as a sommelier at The Salem Cotton Company, one of the first restaurants in the USA to receive a Wine Spectator Magazine award. From 1990 until 1998, he was the Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager for Southern Slopes International. At the end of 1998, Jay started Rock Creek Wine Merchants, LLC, a sales and marketing consultancy which he owned until 2020. He has owned and managed the Capital Wine School in Washington, DC since 2008.

Jay has judged wine for the Starwine International Wine Competition, The Atlantic Wine Competition, the Mid-Atlantic Competition, The Dallas Morning News, and The California State Fair. He was Director of the Virginia Governor’s Cup Wine Competition for 12 years.
Jay is an accredited Burgundy Wine Educator by the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB), and an accredited Bordeaux Wine Educator by the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB). His certifications include: Certified Wine Educator (CWE -Society of Wine Educators); Advanced Level Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers), French Wine Scholar (FWS – Wine Scholar Guild), and Master of Wine (MW – The Institute of Masters of Wine). He passed the MW exam in 2004, receiving the Vina Errazuriz Trophy for the best paper on the Business of Wine. He served as an examiner for the Master of Wine practical paper for 13 years.

Kryss Speegle, MW

Kryss Speegle MW is the Executive Vice President of Winegrowing at O'Neill Vintners & Distillers, one of California's fastest-growing wine producers and a leader in sustainability.

With over a decade at O'Neill, Kryss oversees all aspects of grape sourcing, vineyard operations, and winemaking, while also leading the company's business-to-business sales division. As a member of the executive leadership team, she plays an instrumental role in shaping the company's strategic direction. Prior to her tenure at O'Neill, Kryss held various winemaking roles across Northern California. She also develops and teaches wine studies courses, mentors young professionals, and is passionate about building knowledge and inspiring future talent in the wine industry.

Kryss earned her BA in History from the University of Virginia and MS in Food Science/Enology from the University of California, Davis. She holds a Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and is a member of the Institute of Masters of Wine. Kryss lives in northern Virginia with her husband and daughter.

Lisa Granik, MW

Lisa Granik MW entered the wine trade following an earlier career as a lawyer and law professor.  Having worked in both the importing and distribution channels, she currently advises European wineries and regions on strategies for the US market.  As a specialist in Russian and Soviet studies, she first encountered Georgian wines in Moscow and Tbilisi in the late Soviet period, when it was more enjoyable to savor memories of Burgundy and Bordeaux wines than to partake in the industrial wines then on offer. As Georgian wines improved following the nation’s (re)independence, she saw a need for a definitive book on the region; “The Wines of Georgia” was published in 2020.  A fourth edition of her annual companion volume, “Granik’s Guide to Georgian Wine” is forthcoming.  She has been a Master of Wine since 2006. 

Joel Butler, MW

 As one of the first two resident American Masters of Wine (1990), Joel Butler, MW has a long and varied career in the wine industry. He is a member of the Institute of Masters of Wine, was on its Board of Directors 2012-2015, continues to teach on the annual seminar program, and was a Panel Chair and Examiner for the Masters of Wine Exam from 2004-2023 and continues to be involved with the MW Education Program, currently as an advisor for Research Paper candidates.

A professional wine writer since 1977, Butler has contributed to VINTAGE Magazine, Friends of Wine, The International Wine Cellar, Independent on Sunday, the LA Times, and the Contra Costa Times. He is currently a Contributing Editor for the International Wine Review and publishes the blog The WineKnowLog© on Substack.


His book Divine Vintage: Following the Wine Trail from Genesis to the Modern Age, (2012) was voted Best Wine Book by Gourmand International UK. He has also judged wine competitions worldwide, including in London, Australia, Turkey, and the U.S., and has held roles as a wine educator, buyer, consultant, and importer.


From 2015 to 2023, Butler co-owned World of Wines in Redmond, WA. He is based in Washington State and working on a new book.

Courtney Mailey

Courtney Mailey attended Cider School at Cornell University and Apprenticed at Albemarle CiderWorks. She founded Blue Bee Cider in 2011, selling it to the lead employees in 2023. She currently works in economic development and small-scale real estate development. 

Dave McIntyre

Dave McIntyre has written the weekly wine column for The Washington Post since October 2008. His writings focus on the cultural and historical context of wine in our modern lives, while always trying to point readers to some really good vino. He has also been published in Wine Enthusiast and The San Francisco Chronicle, and his Washington Post column is widely syndicated throughout the United States. He has contributed to Lonely Planet Wine Trails of the United States & Canada (2018), the World Atlas of Wine, 8th Edition (2019), the Oxford Companion to Wine, 5th Edition (2023) as well as other books. He has twice been honored by the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association for his contributions to consumer awareness of the wines of the Eastern United States, and is a frequent judge for the Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition.

Sujata Mehta

A Virginia native and long-time food and wine enthusiast, Sujata started her journey of wine exploration in Virginia Wine country. She began formalizing her wine knowledge in 2018 with the Wine Spirit and Education Trust (WSET). She currently holds the Level 2 and Level 3 Awards with WSET, an Introductory Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) and is currently a WSET Diploma Candidate.

An extrovert to her core, Sujata has a passion for wine education, teaching, and inclusion. She entered the wine industry in 2020 by holding virtual wine tastings and seminars and continues to cater to private events and clients. She is most excited when showcasing excellent wine at any price, with a special place in her heart for women and BIPOC winemakers. She is integrated in the DMV wine community, leading the DMV Wine Tasting Group, and serving as a finance committee member of the Vin.Vitalité: Women of Wine DC Non-Profit.

Outside of the wine world, Sujata is a graduate of George Mason University, holds a degree in Finance, and works for a large government contractor as a Financial Operations Senior Manager. She is the founder and lead of the DC Women in Finance within her organization and is heavily involved in Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives.

Bethany Morris

Bethany Morris is a leading wine professional and Sommelier for Coastal Virginia. Having worked at some of the top restaurants in Hampton Roads, and holding a title of Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers of the Americas, she has championed fine wine programs for over 14 years and is the recipient of the Walter Clare Scholarship for “Highest in Class”. With classic wine training background specializing in old world wines, she is actively engaged in her community emphasizing the culture of wine. She is a member of the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation and participated in the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic. Currently she resides as resident Wine Director for Luce and Luce Secondo. 

Tassie Pippert

Tassie Pippert is a Certified Chef and a Certified Specialist of Wine. She also holds Level 2 wine certification with Wine and Spirit Educators Trust.  Tassie is retired from the Hart School of Hospitality at James Madison University in Harrisonburg Virginia, where she served as professor of food and beverage education.  In her faculty role, she has taught food and wine programs in Virginia, Napa and Sonoma California, Florence Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, and throughout France.  Additionally, Tassie is the Emmy-winning host and producer of Un-Wine’d on PBS.

Winn Roberton

Winn Roberton began his restaurant career in 2000 bussing tables full of tacos while studying music at Penn State University. With years of passion for food & cooking already under his belt, it was no surprise he caught the wine bug with relative ease. Life then took Winn to Las Vegas where he cut his teeth on many different restaurant positions in restaurants such as Nobhill, Craftsteak, and Carnevino.

After a stint of wine study in California, Winn returned to his native Washington, DC to open Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak DC in 2008. There he works with a world-wide wine list featuring affordable finds up to aged first-growth Bordeaux. With a passion for teaching, Winn looks forward to staff training at Bourbon Steak as well as outside engagements.

Paul Ting

 While Paul did not grow up in a culture of wine, he fell in love with wine over three decades ago when he was stationed near Napa Valley while serving in the United States Air Force. A lover of Burgundy, age-worthy white wines, and Champagne, he is always in pursuit of wine with elegance and depth.

A lifelong student, Paul holds WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 certification and he is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW). His interest extends to other fermented beverages and he is also certified as a Sake Professional, Sake Scholar, Shochu Advisor, and Cider Professional. In addition, he has a Certificate in Winemaking from the University of California, Davis and has frequently assisted his wife Joy, a professional winemaker, in the winery.

In 2022, Paul co-founded the Virginia Wine Benefit, a non-profit organization dedicated to leveraging the local wine industry to support various charitable causes within the state. After serving as President of the Board for a year, he continues as a current member of the Board of Directors.

Paul has lived in Virginia for most of his life and is an enthusiastic supporter of the Virginia wine industry. He is honored to have served as a judge for the Monticello Cup, the Shenandoah Cup, the Homestead Norton Challenge Cup, and the Virginia Governor's Cup.

Neal Wavra

Neal Wavra is the Chef Owner/Sommelier of Field & Main Restaurant in Marshall, VA.  He also provides consulting services, creates customized wine and food events and presents about hospitality, wine and food through his company FABLE Hospitality.  Wavra was the host and sommelier at The Riverstead, a sixteen-seat restaurant located in Chilhowie, Virginia run by Michelin starred chefs John Shields and Karen Urie.  Wavra was the former General Manager and Sommelier for The Ashby Inn & Restaurant in Paris, VA.  In addition, Wavra is the present director for the Loudoun County Wine Competition.  
 
Prior to working in Virginia, Wavra was the Dining Room Manager at Charlie Trotters in Chicago and the Dining Room and Farmstead Manager at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN.  He holds degrees from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington; the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California; and the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.  Wavra is the recipient of the Commanderie de Bordeaux Wine Scholarship and the Kopf Foundation Wine Excellence Scholarship.

Don Whitaker

Don Whitaker has been nurturing his passion for cider for many years. Serendipitously, he seized the opportunity to learn the fine art of cidermaking and orcharding while moving from Cellarhand to Cellarmaster, and then to Cidermaker in Virginia. Today, he makes cider at home for friends & family, is a consultant, and is an ACA certified Pommelier. From dry to semi-sweet, and from fruit and botanical ciders to dessert style/fortified ciders, he’s utilized many varietals to create nuanced offerings. When he's not making cider or orcharding, he is tending to his love of music & percussion, and working at a local tree nursery & orchard. 

Doug Zerbst

Doug Zerbst has been in the wine business for a long while now… When he first started, the job of wine steward was granted to him not because of his keen wine knowledge or discerning palate, but rather his breathtakingly authentic pronunciation of French wine labels.  In his years in and around wine, he has worked as a chef, sommelier, hotel manager, and as a wine wholesaler.  In his current role as VP of Fine Wine for Republic National Distributing Co of Virginia in Richmond, Doug works with a highly wine-educated sales team that feels there is nothing more fun than stumping the boss with arcane wine questions and obscure blind tastings.

Doug has close involvement with hundreds of domestic and international suppliers and wineries.  He also has a passion for supporting the Virginia wine industry, and has been serving on the board of the Virginia Wine Distribution Co for several years.  Each winter, he enjoys the interaction with the other judges on the Governor’s Cup panel, which he has proudly served on for over 10 years.
 
When he is not working, he loves spending time with his wife Petra and his English Shepherd poring over his collection of capsules de Champagne.  His love of food, wine, restaurants, and European travel has him achingly close to the milestone of accumulating 100 Michelin stars.

Lauren Y. Zimmerman

Lauren Zimmerman has 20 years experience working in all areas of the wine business from vineyard, winemaking, marketing, and sales. She started working in vineyards while in high school in Prince Edward County, Ontario, then moved to Niagara Falls, Canada, to study and graduate with a degree in Enology and Viticulture in 2006. She has worked with wineries around North America and New Zealand gaining experience from top players in the industry. Lauren purchased land and planted 5 acres of Sauv Blanc and Pinot Noir in Ontario, making her the youngest professional vintner and vineyard owner in Ontario. She then met her husband and moved to Maryland in 2012. Since starting at Port of Leonardtown Winery, the winery has brought home numerous prestigious awards including the coveted Best in Show Governor’s Cup twice! (2018 and 2020), Best in Show Jack Aellen Trophy (2020), and Best in Show Comptroller’s Cup (2021). She has worked as a Board member for the Maryland Grape Growers Association, and Maryland Winery Association, as well as worked with Maryland Tourism. She is a big advocate for local tourism and is an ongoing ambassador for the local craft beverage industries.  

2025

The Governor's Cup Case Winners

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