2026 Wine Judges
Many thanks to StAR, who sponsors the official Tasting Team for the Ojai Wine Festival. The judging panel is drawn from StAR’s network of local sommeliers and includes several senior members.
Sommeliers of the American Riveria
Sommeliers of the American Riviera (StAR) is a guild of sommeliers in Santa Barbara, California, who support each other through networking, education and training, and are active in the community by volunteering at charitable events and providing a personal link between producers and consumers. info@sommeliersoftheamericanriviera.org
Judges
- Carlos Mascherin
- Yvonne Sandbloom
- Kathryn Hope
- Emily Johnston
- Julie Cox
- Christina Feezor
Wineries pouring at the Ojai Wine Festival can choose to participate in a special free wine judging service. Certified wine sommeliers will evaluate and score wines poured at this year’s festival. The team of sommeliers will complete a grading sheet for each wine, and will issue a score on the 100-point scale on the event day.
Gold and Silver certificates will be awarded in several categories. Award winners will be announced at the event at 3pm.
All winning wines will be listed on the Ojai Wine Festival’s website on our wine judging awards page.