Meet The Judges

Doris Miculan Bradley is an award-winning educator and industry consultant with over three decades of experience in hospitality operations, education, and leadership. She has also studied master’s level courses at the European Wine Academy, earning their associate degree Master Sommelier and Consultant certification. As a professor at George Brown College’s School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Doris has dedicated her career to shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals, bringing real-world expertise and a passion for experiential
learning into the classroom. Doris has held leadership roles in some of Canada’s top hospitality establishments, including Toronto’s landmark CN Tower. Her commitment to excellence and innovation has earned her recognition as a trailblazer in hospitality education, with a focus on wine, spirits, and hospitality-tourism management. Beyond the classroom, Doris is a sought-after speaker and mentor, known for her engaging teaching style and deep industry knowledge. She has contributed to numerous advisory boards, academic journals and initiatives that bridge the gap between industry needs and academic programming. Doris’s work emphasizes sustainability, local sourcing, and the future of hospitality, preparing students and professionals to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.

François is an esteemed expert in the field of wine, with a profound passion for sharing his knowledge. A native of Québec, Canada, he is bilingual, speaking both French and English fluently. He holds a master’s degree in applied sciences and a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Université de Sherbrooke in Canada. François ranked fourth in Canada at the prestigious IVDP Master of Port competition. Additionally, he graduated third in his class with a Sommelier-Conseil from the Université du Vin de Suze-la-Rousse in southern France. In his free time, François contributes as a freelance writer for various wine publications. He also teaches for the Sommelier Association of Quebec, having obtained his Canadian wine judge certification in 2015. Moreover, François serves as the Deputy Technical Director for Sélections Mondiales des vins du Canada and acts as a judge for OIV and international wine competitions globally.

Growing up in the Silicon Valley, Corey’s journey into winemaking began unexpectedly, diverging from a trajectory towards medicine. During a trip to a winery in Temecula, California, as part of an economic botany class, her perspective shifted. Witnessing the intricate fusion of science and winemaking ignited a newfound interest. This revelation led her to eventually return to Wine Country after college, where she found work at the Marimar Estate tasting room in the Russian River Valley, reigniting her love for wine. Corey’s career trajectory solidified as she immersed herself in the world of winemaking. Starting as a lab technician at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards in Sonoma County, she honed her skills in the wine lab, eventually transitioning to Frank Family Vineyards in Napa Valley. There, she quickly climbed the ranks from enologist to assistant winemaker, focusing on scientific education. As The Federalist’s winemaker, Corey spearheads small-batch, boutique production that blends innovation with classic techniques to bring the boldest and brightest flavors to your table.

Vanessa grew up in Silicon Valley, a short distance from Napa and Sonoma, where she became fascinated by the romantic idea of growing wine grapes since she was eight years old. As a young adult who knew nothing about wine, she shifted focus in college at UC, Berkeley, where she majored in Neurobiology. After college, she decided to work a harvest in the laboratory as a lark before applying for medical school. Her first harvest was in 2009 at Ridge at Lytton Springs in Healdsburg, California, and was so inspired that she never left the industry. Since then, she has worked in wineries in California, New Zealand, Australia, and Italy. Vanessa was the enologist at Groth Vineyards & Winery in Napa for several years, before joining the Duckhorn Portfolio as an assistant winemaker with Decoy. In 2020, she earned her master’s degree in Viticulture & Enology in Italy. When not making wine, she enjoys cooking, embroidery, and swimming with her dog named Hammie.

Bob co-founded Sheldrake Point Winery, Finger Lakes, NY in 1997 and was Winegrower & GM for 12+ years. He was on Kindred Fare’s opening team, Geneva NY in late 2015 and served as Wine Director for several years. Bob is a Board Member of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and is Chair of the Promotions Committee. Bob represents Tonnellerie Bossuet in the Finger Lakes, New York and Niagara, Ontario. He is the Head Judge for the Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition and the Eastern States Exposition Big E and judges annually at international wine competitions in Canada, the United States and Europe. Bob’s certifications include WSET 3, Certified Sommelier (CS) through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and American Wine Society’s Certified Wine Judge with Merit (CWJM), where he also serves as a National Wine Educator. For 15+ years Bob has provided Educational Wine Tours for industry professionals to classic European wine regions.

Aaron balanced his full-time career as an attorney while studying for his Master of Wine certification for five years. A task that had to be put on hold as Aaron made a move with his legal practice. Aaron received his diploma from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in 2015 and is also a Certified WSET wine educator. In addition, he is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) through the Society of Wine Educators and tutored students testing through the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). He served as the Director of Education for America’s largest consumer-based wine education organization, the American Wine Society (AWS) from 2015 to 2022, and is responsible for making AWS an official WSET program provider during his tenure. In addition, Aaron served as Chairman of the Wine Judge Certification Program with AWS for eight years. Aaron judges for some of the most prestigious international competitions in the world and teaches wine education for the Mid-American School of Wine.

Kim’s father, Clint “Doc” McPherson’s experimental plantings in the 1960s laid the foundation for the Texas High Plains landscape. Kim has continued this vision by completing his enology and viticulture studies at UC Davis in the 1970s. He gained experience in Napa Valley shortly after the Judgment of Paris, but his heart brought him back to Texas. In Lubbock, where the High Plains terroir was largely unexplored, he produced wine at local wineries, including his father’s Llano Estacado Winery, for over twenty years. In 2000, Kim launched his label, a dedication to his father. McPherson Cellars focuses on sustainably farmed, small-batch wines from the Texas High Plains. His winery has been a twice-nominated semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Producer” category and has received awards in major wine competitions, including Texsom International. Kim remains an influential figure in the development of Texas’s wine industry.

Martin has been involved with wine since 1982, working in almost every aspect of the industry, from grapes to glass. This includes time spent in wineries in England, France, and Australia, eight years with Diageo Ireland, several years teaching WSET courses, 15 years discussing wine on radio and four on TV, and nearly 30 years writing about wine. He initially wrote for a decade in Food and Wine magazine, then The Evening Herald, and since 2012 in the Sunday Times (Irish Edition). Additionally, he created and wrote several editions of a guide to buying wine in Ireland called Wine Republic. Along the way, he passed the Master of Wine exam in 1994 and has been shortlisted for a Glenfiddich award as well as for a Louis Roederer award as columnist of the year and for the World Food Media Awards’ Best Drinks Writer. He has judged at London’s International Wine Challenge for over 30 years, serving as a senior judge, super juror, faults arbiter, and as a panel chair for 14 years. He has also judged prestigious wine competitions in South Africa and Australia, including serving as an international judge at the National Wine Show in Canberra and the Royal Melbourne Show.

Kevin, a retired teacher and nuclear power executive, is the acting Director of Education for the American Wine Society (AWS). He is an AWS Certified Wine Judge with Merit II (CWJM), an instructor in their Wine Judge Certification Program, and the Chapter Chair of the AWS Beaver County Chapter. Kevin holds WSET3 (with Merit), is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), and has a Champagne Master Level Certificate from the Wine Scholar Guild (WSG). He belongs to the Wine Century Club and is PA RAMP Certified. He judges wine for Amateur and International Competitions across America and is also an award-winning amateur winemaker. Kevin teaches wine classes for residential and commercial clients, as well as Butler County Community College in Pennsylvania. Residing in Beaver, PA, Kevin and his wife Cheryl stay busy with family, cooking, gardening, traveling, and spending time with their 6-year-old grandson. “It’s the people you’re with that make every glass of wine memorable.”

Michele has over 23 years of experience as a wine professional. She co-owns a boutique winery in New Mexico, handling branding, marketing, distribution, and content creation. Her innovative blogs and editorials earned her recognition from London’s prestigious organizations, leading to membership in the Association of Wine Educators (AWE) and the Circle of Wine Writers (CWW). Michele conducts wine education seminars and public speaking engagements across Europe and the United States. She contributed to the e-book “The New Normal in the Wine World” and is an ambassador for the Heroic Viticulture movement. She holds a Certified Advanced Sommelier certification from the International Wine Guild, has undertaken Master Sommelier Intensives, received the SommCon Merit Scholarship in 2023, and is WSET Sake level one certified. Michele also judges for prestigious international wine competitions, holding OIV international wine judging status.

Daniele is an Italian Advanced Sommelier with extensive experience, being born and raised around the Tuscan hills of Chianti. His professional studies began with prestigious master courses at the Università di Bologna and the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milano, as well as completing his studies at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa. In addition, Daniele completed three levels of his Italian Sommelier Certification from Il Santuccio in Florence in 2009 and achieved an additional two advanced Sommelier Certifications shortly thereafter. He found his true calling serving as an International and OIV juror. Additionally, Daniele holds multiple juror certificates from competitions such as the Asia Wine Trophy and la Selezione del Sindaco. His wine judging experience includes many prestigious global competitions. Daniele is also certified as an olive oil master and conducts masterclasses on this subject in Asia and Italy. In his spare time, he has an additional passion for foraging rare and exotic mushrooms.

Marie has extensive experience and qualifications. She is a certified educator for WSET Global School, Sake School of America, the International Sake School, VSF Wine School and 67 Pall Mall. She writes for World Whiskey and More magazine, Glass of Bubbly (online), as well as ghostwriting, blogging, and freelance journalism. Marie has presented globally on drinks and food and serves as an Ambassador for ADI International Spirits, the Baijiu Academy, and Cheng International. Additionally, she is the Chairman of the Board for the British Sake Association and Baijiu Association, and a Council member for the Association of Wine Educators and on the Committee of the Guild of Food Writers. Marie is a Sake Samurai, Rectifier of the GinGuild and Mousquetaire d’Armagnac. She travels the world as an OIV and VINOFED International Wine Judge and enjoys flyfishing, as well as exploring different cultures, food, and drinks in her free time.