British Columbia Wine Awards Judges

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Brad Royale is the wine director for Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts. He oversees seven beautiful properties throughout Alberta and BC. Brad has been involved in retail and restaurant management for fourteen years. He has completed the ISG Sommelier program, the WSET Diploma program. His wine travels include regions in Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Austria, Germany, United States, Chile, Australia, and Japan. Brad regularly sits on the judging panel for the Wine Access International Value Wine Awards. Brad has won multiple awards for his programs from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Vines, Sante and the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival. A lover of restaurants and traveling, Brad utilizes everything glorious from the world of wine to have a delicious time....all over the place.

Steven Wong is a food and beverage consultant, cookbook author and free-lance journalist based in Vancouver, BC. Wong started his career as a restaurateur. During the 80's & 90"s he held key management positions in some of the best award-winning dining establishments in Vancouver and in BC. including Sooke Harbour House and Raintree. As a food wine journalist, Wong has contributed to regional and national publications such as Sunset Magazine, Canadian Living, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Metropolitan Home and Georgia Straight. Stephen is also the author of four cook books: Heart Smart Chinese Cooking, New World Noodles, New World Chinese Cooking, and Chef's In The Market. Wong has participated in many regional wine and food competitions as a judge and sits on the critics panel for the influential Vancouver Magazine Restaurants Awards.

Stephen Schiedel Since 2004 has been the Portfolio manager for Wines of the Americas at the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch. This involves buying wines and supporting the marketing programs for 197 BC Liquor Stores along with category management and overseeing regulatory requirements. Prior positions include: Acting Portfolio Manager Spirits, Fortified Wines and Refreshment Beverage: Product Consultant involved at store and head office level including BCL Website Editor and developer, matters of Taste Editor and developer, Millennium,/Champagne Project Manager, in-house educational course development and facilitator for Progressive Retailing and Product Knowledge Level 3 programs. Education and related studies include Masters of Wine Program of Study sessions 1996-97 - Rosemount Scholarship-Top North American Candidate/Tuition Scholarship 1996; finalist Canadian Sopexa Sommelier competition Montreal, Quebec 1994; BCLDB Advanced Product Knowledge course - Peter Adams Trophy for scholastic achievement 1986. Judging stints include North-West Summit (Oregon), Okanagan Wine Festival and B.C.Lt. Governor's Award of Excellence.

Tim Pawsey (aka The Hired Belly) continues to document the dynamic evolution of the Vancouver and BC food and wine scene both on line and in print. Tim has over 30 years experience for the respected outlets such as Vancouver Courier, North Shore News and Where Vancouver Magazine. His words and images are often picked up by others across Canada such as the Calgary Herald and National Post. Tim also contributes to magazines such as Tidings and BCLS Taste, and is a Vancouver-based editor for Zagat Survey BC.

Follow him at hiredbelly.com and twitter.com/hiredBelly

Eric Degerman is managing editor, wine judge and restaurant writer for Wine Press Northwest, a quarterly consumer magazine that was founded in 1998 and focuses on Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho.

He is online managing editor at the Tri-City (Wash.) Herald and lives in Richland, Wash., with Traci, his wife of 19 years, and their cat, Ichiro. His judging history includes the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Northwest Wine Summit, Grand Harvest Awards, Long Beach Grand Cru, Washington State Wine Competition, the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival and Oregon’s Greatest of the Grape.

Jim Martin has been involved with the wine and spirits industry for more than three decades. Originally from Vancouver, he started with the provincial BCLDB and discovered a passion for wine in 1977 when he stumbled across a 1975 Bordeaux, which was a revelation to him. This led to divulging further into wine appreciation through education, constant tasting and evaluation of the different regions of the world. In 2004, he left the BCLDB for the private sector becoming involved in the opening of Kelowna's first private specialty wine store, Waterfront Wines. He was instrumental in developing an email newsletter while at the LDB and expanding it at Waterfront Wines to now include over 3000 people, who receive up-to-date wine news every week.
You can reach Jim at 778-484-5656, email jim@metroliquor.com or visit

Treve Ring is a certified sommelier, wine consultant, judge, writer and editor. After completing her Art History degree from the University of Victoria and being exposed to the world of wine business at Christie's in London, England, she switched gears, leaving the realm of art for the world of wine. Treve is the DRINK Editor of EAT magazine, and the Director of Liquid Assets for Edible Canada. She is also BC's Regional Editor for SIP Northwest magazine and a contributor to YAM Magazine and Flavours Magazine. She received her Sommelier Diploma from the International Sommelier Guild, has become a French Wine Scholar through the French Wine Academy, a Certified Sherry Educator through the Consejo Regulador of Jerez, a certified Wine Location Specialist through the Center of Wine Origins, and is currently finishing her Diploma with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust as well as completing certification with the Society of Wine Educators. Treve was a contributor to the international award-winning "Island Wineries of British Columbia". published in early 2011.

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver based freelance wine consultant, competition judge and writer who received the Sommelier of the year award from both the 2010 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and Vancouver Magazine. Recently named one of Western Living magazine's 'Top 40 Foodies Under 40' he is certified by London's Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has credit in the Winemaking program at UC Davis. A big proponent of a casual and fun approach to wine, Kurtis' enthusiasm and experience has resulted in a high demand for appearances, from writing and judging for both Wine Access and Vancouver Magazine to leading wine festival seminars and beyond

Simon Gaudreault has been passionate about wine for over 15 years. After studying to be a Sommelier he worked in various restaurants with his art and knowledge of wines around the world. Simon also has worked as a wine advisor in SAQ's outlets and has been a wine educator for SAQ's Les Connaisseurs wine seminars for the past 6 years. Simon continues to share his passion for wine at many conferences and class rooms. He is currently working for the SAQ as a wine expert and taster, and is also a regular contributor to SAQ's official bolg. He is the co-author of the book, Vins et Vignobles du Canada.