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.
Explore the Gold Medal Wine Trail

The Competition

In 2026, world-class judges will sample over 670 of the best Virginia wines, ciders and meads from across the Commonwealth. In 2026, 113 wineries received 224 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®.  

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.

Cider of the Year

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 Cider of the Year 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.

Matthew Brown

Matthew W. J. Brown is a Charlottesville-based wine professional, educator, and consultant with over 15 years of hands-on experience shaping how people make, sell, and experience wine. A University of Virginia graduate, he holds a Diploma in Wines & Spirts from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is currently a Stage 2 student of the Institute of Masters of Wine, blending analytical insight with a deep respect for craftsmanship, community, and story. At the Capital Wine School, Matthew teaches both consumer and professional-level courses, bringing technical precision, humor, and clarity to even the most complex wine topics. As Coordinator of the Virginia Wine Coalition, he leads efforts to expand Virginia’s traded-sector presence, advance consumer research, and connect wineries with new opportunities. He also judges regularly for the Virginia Governor’s Cup, Monticello Cup, and Shenandoah Cup, tasting hundreds of Virginia wines each year alongside hundreds more from around the world as part of his Master of Wine studies. His background includes harvest work in Virginia, California, and Argentina, as well as academic travel to many of the world’s leading wine regions, giving him a rare blend of field experience and strategic market insight. Matthew’s passion for wine was sparked by stories from his late grandfather, Robert R. French, who worked with legendary wine merchant Alexis Lichine — shaping Matthew’s lifelong appreciation for the connection between craft, history, and place.

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.

Sarita Cheaves

Sarita Cheaves, WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certified, is a proud Washington, DC native with a deep passion for food and wine. She is the founder of VineMeUp Media, producer, and co-host of The Swirl Suite Podcast. Sarita is also 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 to celebrate the richness of culture and community. Whether creating vibrant recipes, pairing food with a wide range of wines, or interviewing winemakers and chefs, she is committed to sharing authentic experiences and amplifying new voices within the world of wine.
In December 2025, The Swirl Suite Podcast concluded after years of inspiring conversation and community-building within the wine and beverage industry. Sarita now continues her storytelling journey through VineMeUp Media and is currently working on her first cookbook, blending her love of flavor, culture, and connection.

Follow Sarita @VineMeUp, and explore her ongoing projects and updates on Instagram, TikTok and Substack.

Quynh Cohen

Quynh Cohen, Chief Sommelier and head of the Virginia Wine Experience at The Omni Homestead Resort, curates elevated tastings that celebrate the Commonwealth’s finest wines. A certified advanced yoga instructor, she uniquely pairs biodynamic, sustainable, and lower-alcohol Virginia wines with wellness experiences.

Quynh began her career in the vineyards of Orange County, VA, and later served as a sommelier at Fiola in Miami before joining one of Florida’s top fine wine import/export firms.

She holds a Diploma in Wine & Management, an Advanced Sommelier Certification from Le Cordon Bleu, and a Wine Culture, Heritage & Tourism Diploma from the Georges Chappaz Institute in Champagne—credentials that inform her commitment to regional wine tourism and cultural storytelling. Actively engaged in Virginia’s winemaking circles, Quynh collaborates with local vintners to inclusively spotlight the artistry and exceptional quality of the region’s wines. Now leading the acclaimed “Art of Wine-fullness” program and the Epicurean Classic at The Homestead, she brings over 20 years of expertise to her mission of honoring Virginia’s winemaking legacy with passion and purpose.

Alicia Cypress

Alicia Cypress is a WSET-certified wine writer with experience judging both the Virginia and Maryland Governor’s Cup competitions. After more than 25 years as a journalist for The Washington Post, NPR and the USA Today Network, she’s now the managing editor for the World Resources Institute, a global research organization focused on people, climate and nature. She recently authored a white paper for Virginia Women in Wine on closing the gender gap among Virginia winemakers. Find more of Alicia’s work at itswinebyme.com.

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. 

Brett Drucker

Brett Drucker, founder and sommelier of Own Your Palate, holds certifications from both WSET and the National Wine School. Brett's passion for learning about wine from vine to glass emerged as a college student working in the central coast of California wine country at Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande, California. After graduation he became a wine distributor for Epic Wines & Spirits in Los Angeles, now Southern Glazer’s, where he had the opportunity to work closely with top chefs and sommeliers working in the high-end Beverly Hills restaurant scene, hosting lively wine pairing dinners and teaching an array of wine tastings. After spending time pursuing two Master’s degrees and working in the world of education and the arts, Brett founded Own Your Palate to provide customized private and corporate wine tasting experiences and winery tours that blend meaningful connection with interactive wine exploration.

Rachel Gendreau

Rachel Gendreau is a hospitality industry veteran and passionate fine wine specialist. As Managing Partner of Second Street Hospitality, she leads the daily operations of some of Charlottesville’s most beloved establishments—Crush Pad Wines, Luce, Bizou, Bang, and C-Ville Supper Club. A Certified Sommelier and WSET Diploma candidate, Rachel brings a deep expertise in wine to her work, focusing on the curation of exclusive wine and culinary experiences.

Rachel also oversees custom crush collaborations, a program that partners with Virginia’s most skilled vintners to craft bespoke, small-batch wines exclusively for Crush Pad Wines and the hospitality group. These collaborations involve working directly with winemakers to select varietals and guide stylistic direction, ensuring the finished wines express the Commonwealth’s distinctive terroir.

Her vision—rooted in education, craftsmanship, and hospitality—guides everything she does, from developing wine programs to creating memorable dining experiences that celebrate the artistry of food and wine.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Rachel enjoys traveling, trail running, skiing, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending time with her fourteen-year-old twin daughters.

Titus Green

Titus Green is a graduate of Virginian Military Institute. He is accredited as court of masters sommelier and currently an 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 and distribution through out 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 in Brand Development for Crunchy Hydration throughout the Mid Atlantic region.

Booth Hardy

 Growing up in Williamsburg, Virginia, Booth was torn between two passions: food and music. Choosing music, he studied percussion at Berklee College of Music and spent years performing, but a harvest job in Sonoma County in 2005 changed his path. The blend of art, science, and camaraderie in the cellar, and a shared bottle of 1996 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, sparked a lifelong love of wine. Returning to Virginia, he joined Barrel Thief in Richmond, where he immersed himself in study, tasting, and travel. After years of judging competitions and exploring wine regions around the world, he purchased Barrel Thief in 2023, continuing the pursuit that began on that Sonoma crush pad: discovering new wines, sharing experiences, and chasing the spark he found, surrounded by friends, with a glass of Champagne.

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 is a seasoned WSET Level III certified wine professional. She started in the food and beverage industry in 2006. Originally from New York, she has called southwest Virginia her home for the past decade and fell in love with the region and its wine. You can find her at the Blacksburg Wine Lab where she enjoys expanding guests' palates by hosting a variety of educational wine tastings while curating the wine program as the Lab's Wine Director. She has had the privilege to judge the 2024 & 2025 Virginia Governor's Cup, Monticello Cup and Shenandoah Cup. She has aspirations to become a Master of Wine.

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.

Caroline Hermann, MW

Caroline Hermann is a highly respected wine lecturer, having taught wine industry professionals since 2010 at the Capital Wine School in Washington DC. She has worked in many aspects of the industry, including wineries and retail sales, as well as wine law and regulations. She has studied viticulture, winemaking, and tasting analysis at the University of Bordeaux and Plumpton College, and is a recipient of the AXA Millesimes Scholarship. Caroline holds a Diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, and is DC's 2nd Master of Wine.

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.

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, regions, and importers 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” (Classic Wine Library) was published in 2020. A fourth edition of her annual companion volume, “Granik’s Guide to Georgian Wine” arrived in 2025. She has been a Master of Wine since 2006, winning the Villa Maria Award for her writing on viticulture. Her shorter works have appeared in The New York Times, SommJournal, SevenFifty Daily, The World of Fine Wine and other wine-focused publications. Based in New York City, where she is also the wine director of Askili Orchard, serving elevated Georgian cuisine with an international wine list.

Dave McIntyre

Dave McIntyre is the author of “Dave McIntyre’s WineLine,” recommended by The Wall Street Journal as one of the best wine publications on Substack. He is also Associate Wine Editor and columnist for The SOMM Journal. Dave wrote the weekly wine column for The Washington Post from October 2008 until January 2025. 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 written extensively about climate change and wine and is a leading proponent of lighter bottles and alternative packaging. Dave contributed to Lonely Planet Wine Trails of the United States & Canada (2018), the World Atlas of Wine, 8th Edition (2019) and 9th Edition (2026), 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 Education Trust (WSET). She currently holds the Level 3 Award with WSET, an Introductory Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) and is 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 served as a judge in the prestigious Virginia Governor’s Cup competition in 2024 and 2025, and the Shenandoah Valley Wine Competition in 2024.

Sujata 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 with the DMV wine community, leading the DMV Wine Tasting Group, and serving as the CFO of Vin.Vitalité: a non-profit that strives to create pathways, connections, and opportunities for all women in the wine community.

Outside of the wine world, Sujata is a graduate of George Mason University, holds a degree in Finance, a minor in Spanish, and works for a government contractor as a Business Process Architect Senior Manager. She is the founder DC Women in Finance within her organization and is involved in Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives.
 

Bethany Morris

Bethany Morris is a Virginia native, Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers of the Americas, and is the recipient of the Walter Clore Scholarship for “Highest in Class”. With over 15 years of experience in the wine and hospitality industry, she has lead some of the premier restaurants in the Hampton Roads community. Currently she resides in Washington DC where she currently serves on the Sommelier team at Michelin Starred restaurant Albi, in Navy Yard. Albi is currently #34 on North America’s Top 50 Restaurants and Washington DC’s leader in fine dining.

Tassie Pippert

Tassie Pippert is an Emmy-winning creator, producer, and host of the PBS series, Un-Wine’d. A faculty emerita of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Tassie is the recipient of the international Herman Breithaupt Award for outstanding contributions to culinary arts education. Her teaching expertise has allowed her to travel with her students to Alaska, California, Oregon, France, Scotland, Ireland, England, Turkey, Sicily, Greece, and numerous states in the US. She currently serves as a member of the Culinary Center Instructional Team for Oceania and Regent Cruise Lines where she travels the globe teaching “The Finest Cuisine at Sea!” As Faculty Member in Residence for JMU, she served for two semester-abroad experiences in Florence Italy. Tassie is an active member in her community having served on the boards of her local hospital, Explore More Discovery Museum, and Blue Ridge Community College. A Certified Chef Emerita and a Certified Specialist of Wine, Tassie enjoys sharing her skills pairing food and wine. She is a restaurant consultant and serves as Chef in Residence at Monty’s in Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg. Married nearly 50 years to her college sweetheart, Tom, the two spend all their spare time enjoying their Portland Oregon-based granddaughters, Chloe (3) and Isabella (7).

Erin Scala

Erin hails from Market Street Wine in central Virginia, a wine hub dedicated to sustainability, wine education, and community building. She’s also a content creator and wine journalist, and has written articles for Wine & Country Living, Wine & Spirits, Knife & Fork magazine, and The C-Ville Weekly. Erin has two hilarious children proficient in jiu jitsu, so you can understand her difficulty in keeping Zaltos around the high-action house. In the wonderful swirling whirl of wine classes, tastings, dinners, pairings, martial arts, instagram, research, archives, vineyards, PetNat projects, and writing about Virginia’s local wine scene, ironically, it’s often copious amounts of coffee that keep it all going!

In past vintages, Erin worked in New York City at several Michelin star restaurants, notably JoJo, PUBLIC, and The Musket Room, where her wine lists won many awards and accolades. For half a decade she also ran the wine program at storied Fleurie Restaurant, where she built her ultimate dream wine list, including a map of Beaujolais painted in wine.

Named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 wine professionals to watch, her award winning wine lists have helped shine lights on interesting regions and unique topics, like sustainability, climate change, soil influence, and emerging wine regions. Erin received a James Beard Rhône Rangers Travel Study Grant to study Rhône varieties in California. She competed in the Sommelier Scavenger Hunt to find delicious Pinot Noirs in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Her work in wine has been noted in The Washington Post, Wine Spectator, Garden & Gun, The New York Times, Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, and she’s been a judge, speaker, and sommelier at various wine events around the world.

Paul Ting

Although he didn’t grow up in a culture of wine, Paul discovered his love for it more than three decades ago while stationed near Napa Valley during his service 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. Alongside his personal exploration, he earned a Certificate in Winemaking from the University of California, Davis, and has assisted his wife Joy, a professional winemaker, in the cellar.

A committed lifelong learner, Paul holds WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 certification and is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW). His curiosity extends to other fermented beverages and he is also certified as a Sake Professional, Sake Scholar, Shochu Advisor, and Cider Professional.

Writing and consulting form the backbone of his professional life in wine. He writes regularly about wine and spirits, contributing a column to C-VILLE Weekly since December 2019, while also advising retail shops on programming and selection.

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

In 2022, he co-founded the Virginia Wine Benefit, a nonprofit dedicated to using the strength of the local wine community to support charitable causes across the Commonwealth. After serving as President of the Board for a year, he continues to serve on its Board of Directors.

Patricia Valas

In 1983 Patricia joined the American Wine Society in 1985.  She graduated from the AWS Wine Judge Training Program in 1997 and began to judge at a variety of venues including the American Wine Society Commercial and Amateur Competitions , the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association Competition and Winemaker Magazine’s Amateur competition, as well as several county and state fairs in the Mid Atlantic region. She has been an instructor in the AWS Wine Judge Certification Program since 2009, also the year she and her husband started the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County)AWS chapter in Lovettsville VA. Patricia has completed the WSET level 2 course with merit in 2020.

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. 

Kathy Wiedemann

Kathy Wiedemann is a wine educator, judge, board member, student, and ambassador holding WSET Advanced and Champagne Specialist credentials. A passionate advocate for local wine, she shares the stories, people, and bottles that make the region’s wine scene so compelling.

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 over 20 years of experience working in all areas of the wine industry from vineyard to 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. 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 as the head winemaker at the cooperative 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 twice (2021 and 2024). She has worked as a Board member for the Maryland Grape Growers Association and the Maryland Winery Association, as well as working with Maryland Tourism. She is a strong advocate for local tourism and serves as an ongoing ambassador for the local craft beverage industry.

2026

The Governor's Cup Case Winners

View Winners