Pennsylvania Winery Association Brings 16 Wineries and 93 Pennsylvania Wines Before 19 Wine Professionals at 2026 Sommelier Judgement
Pennsylvania Winery Association Brings 16 Wineries and 93 Pennsylvania Wines Before 20 Wine Professionals at 2026 Sommelier Judgement
Blind tasting at Garces Trading Company connects Pennsylvania wineries with sommeliers, buyers, writers and other wine professionals
PHILADELPHIA, PA — September 28, 2026 — The Pennsylvania Winery Association (PWA) hosted its 2026 Sommelier Judgement of PA Wines on Monday, September 28, bringing together 16 Pennsylvania wineries, 21 wine professionals and 93 wines for a day dedicated to tasting, evaluation and industry connection at Garces Trading Company in Philadelphia.
Now in its ninth year, the Sommelier Judgement provides Pennsylvania wineries with an opportunity to place their wines directly in front of sommeliers, wine buyers, wine writers and other members of the wine community. The wines were evaluated through a blind tasting, allowing the wines themselves to take center stage.
The judging panel represented a broad cross-section of the wine industry, including sommeliers, wine buyers, educators, writers, distributors, retailers and restaurant professionals.
The 2026 judging panel included:
- Noelle Allen – PhillyWine
- Arindam Basu — Perfect Pour Experience
- Alexandra Cherniavsky — SWIG Partners
- Cheron Cowan — Wine Enthusiast
- Lisa Granik — Wine Writer & Consultant
- Adam Knoerzer — Burghundy
- Matt Kirkland — PhillyWine
- Carrie Lyn Strong — Strong Wine Consulting & SoilAir Selection
- Lydia Parke — Fine Wine & Good Spirits
- Bailey Place — Vine Bar
- Joseph Quintela — Amada & Village Whiskey
- Robin Shreeves — Freelance wine, travel and food writer; People, Inc.
- Justen Sloyer — Thistle Finch Distillery / Shot and Bottle / Burley Bar
- Thomas Stevens — Fearless Restaurants
- Marissa Swailes — Proof Lancaster
- Phillip Thomas — Shot and Bottle
- Bob Trimble — La Lumiere Selections
- Hamilton Weaver — Skurnik Wines & Spirits
- Kevin Ostrowski — Wine educator; Butler County Community College
- Kevin Shaffer — PhillyWine
Judges evaluated the wines blind and provided thoughtful feedback for participating wineries. The feedback is intended to give producers an additional perspective on their wines while creating an educational exchange between Pennsylvania wineries and members of the broader wine trade.
Following the judging, PWA hosted an Industry and Winery Networking event, bringing participating wineries together with members of the judging panel and additional wine industry professionals. The gathering provided an opportunity to taste the wines alongside the people who make them and to explore potential opportunities for restaurant placements, retail, media coverage, collaborations and future tastings.
“The Sommelier Judgement is about creating meaningful connections between Pennsylvania wineries and the professionals who can help introduce these wines to new audiences,” said Abigail Miller, Association Director of the Pennsylvania Winery Association. “The blind tasting gives our wineries valuable feedback, while the networking portion creates opportunities for relationships and collaborations to continue well beyond the event.”
The event is part of PWA’s ongoing efforts to increase awareness and recognition of Pennsylvania wines and create new opportunities for the state’s more than 375 wineries. By connecting Pennsylvania producers directly with members of the wine trade, the Sommelier Judgement helps expand the conversation around the quality, diversity and potential of Pennsylvania-grown wines.
The 2026 Sommelier Judgement results and recognition will be announced during the PA Wines Harvest Celebration on October 9, 2026, at Stone Gables Estate in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
About the Pennsylvania Winery Association
The Pennsylvania Winery Association represents more than 375 wineries across the Commonwealth and works to promote Pennsylvania wine, support its winery members, increase awareness of the state’s wine regions, and create opportunities for Pennsylvania wines in markets throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.
To learn more, visit PennsylvaniaWine.com.