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2025 Judges
Our judging panels comprise many of Canada’s leading wine writers, journalists, sommeliers, buyers and industry professionals sprinkled with a handful of international wine personalities with strong judging resumés. 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 2025 NWAC and our judges’ tweets from start to finish on Instagram using the hashtags #NWAC25 and #NWAC2025.
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. In 2013, Wine Access Magazine ceased publication, and the Awards were reconstituted as the National Wine Awards of Canada under the ownership of WineAlign but run by the same team since its inception.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 2025 Co-Chairs and Co-Founders:
Anthony Gismondi
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Co-Chair
BC Food & Wine Radio Show, Vancouver Sun, Gismondi on Wine
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 Instagram @davidlawrason
(bio)
The 2025 Judges (in alphabetical order):
Jeremy Bonia
St John’s, Newfoundland
Co-Owner/Sommelier of Raymonds and The Merchant Tavern
Follow on Instagram @jeremybonia
(bio)
Michelle Bouffard
Montreal, Quebec
Tasting Climate Change, Curieux Bégin, Le Devoir
Follow on Instagram @jeremybonia
(bio)
HJ Cha
Penticton, British Columbia
Lithica Wine Marketing, Gismondi on Wine
(bio)
Sara d’Amato
Toronto, Ontario
WineAlign, Fine Vintage Ltd (instructor), Wine Thieves
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 Instagram @winetrackmind
(bio)
Andrea Eby
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Wine Scholars Guild, CAPS, VinCru
(bio)
Michael Godel
Toronto, Ontario
WineAlign, godello.com, Barque Smokehouse, Canadian Ambassador to Chianti Classico, educator
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 Instagram @drjamiegoode
(bio)
Kelcie Jones
Vancouver, British Columbia
Follow on Instagram
(bio)
DJ Kearney
Vancouver, British Columbia
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Director of Wine at Terminal City Club, Vice President CAPS-BC
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 Instagram @elsamacdonaldmw
(bio)
Sharon McLean
Victoria, British Columbia
Obladee Wine Bar
Follow on Instagram @urban_vines1
(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 Instagram @geoffreybmoss
(bio)
Brent Muller
Victoria, British Columbia
Vessel Liquor
(bio)
Darren Oleksyn
Calgary, Alberta
Follow on Instagram
(bio)
Rhys Pender, MW
Kelowna, British Columbia
Wine Plus+, Little Farm Winery
Follow on Instagram @rhyspendermw
(bio)
Barry Rooke
Ottawa, Ontario
Cider Canada
(bio)
Brad Royale
Calgary, Alberta
The Glencoe Club, The Forks, Panorama Mountain Resort, Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts, Hotel Grand Pacific
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 Instagram @johnszaboms
(bio)
Apprentice Judges: tba
Questions or comments? Contact us: Awards@WineAlign.com