Peter Bell has been making wine in the Finger Lakes since 1990. He was head winemaker at Fox Run Vineyards for 27 years before retiring in 2022 and now consults to a number of eastern wineries.

Peter was an adjunct lecturer at Cornell University for 15 years and also found time to serve as visiting winemaker at the University of Adelaide in 2004. He has also lectured and consulted in Hungary, France, Spain, Serbia, China, and throughout the USA.

Fox Run Vineyards was named one of the top 100 wineries in the world by Wine and Spirits Magazine in 2008. Peter was named one of the 20 most admired winemakers in North America by Vineyard and Winery Management magazine in 2014. In 2019 he received the Atlantic Seaboard Unity Award, and in 2020 the Jim Finkle Industry Award, both for his services to wine. Most recently, he was listed as One of Wine's Most Inspiring People in 2023 by Wine Industry Advisor.

Tim's roots run deep in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, where he grew up surrounded by his grandfather's vineyards. As the winemaker for Hazlitt Winery, he will celebrate 34 years of winemaking in 2025, with a total of 40 years’ experience in the grape and wine industry. Throughout his career, Tim has crafted many award-winning wines from vinifera, hybrid, and native varieties, specializing in dessert wines like Port, Sherry, Late Harvest, and Ice Wines. In recent years he has expanded his portfolio to include hard cider, formula wines and RTD cocktails. He has also had the privilege of judging wines in several international competitions. When not at the winery, Tim remains deeply connected to his community, helping his son with the family farm, playing music professionally, and serving as an assistant chief with his local volunteer fire department.

Lorraine's a lecturer at the Rochester Institute of Technology's Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. She's also an instructor at the New York Kitchen in Canandaigua, NY. Lorraine is a Certified Sommelier with The Court of Master Sommeliers. She is a Certified Specialist of Spirits and Certified Wine Educator with the Society of Wine Educators, Certified Bordeaux Educator with L'ecole du Vin de Bordeaux/SOPEXA and sits on the SWE Board of Directors. After becoming a Certified Wine Judge through American Wine Society, she became an instructor for the program. Lorraine enjoys attending and presenting at conferences as well as judging competitions around the world.

Holly grew up in a food-loving family in Pittsford, New York. Her family owned a Cooking School called “The Seasonal Kitchen” for over 45 years. She was the wine columnist for the Rochester Gannett Democrat and Chronicle newspaper for 13 years, and has been a wine consultant at Marketview Liquor since 2015. She often speaks at special wine events, judges at international wine competitions, and leads many educational wine seminars and programs in Rochester and the surrounding areas.

She is an enthusiastic supporter of the Finger Lakes wine region, and leads many tours to the local wineries, breweries, organic farms, cheesemakers, and other locavore destinations. She owns a business called “UNCORKED”, which focuses on wine education.

Since 2013, Holly has been an official Wine Host for AMAWaterways River Cruises in Europe. She has led wine-themed tours through some of Europe’s most picturesque wine regions, including the Rhine of Germany, the Danube of Austria, the Gironde of Bordeaux, and the Douro of Portugal. The cruises include winery visits and daily wine seminars aboard the ship presented by Holly.

Holly is a CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) through the Society of Wine Educators; a CS (Certified Sommelier) through the Master Court; and is currently pursuing her diploma through the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). Holly loves to teach and has an enthusiastic and fun approach to learning!

Linda is retired as winemaker from RagApple Lassie Vineyards in NC. She has been a winemaker for 45 years. She is an internationally certified wine judge and has judged all over the United States and Canada. As a lifetime member of over 35 years in the American Wine Society, Linda has served on the Board of Directors, run the AWS Wine Judge Certification Program, and was voted Most Outstanding National Member in 1993.

• Retired from United States Navy, Submarine Service
• Graduate of St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA - BS Biology
• Retired from West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, Neurosurgical Research
• Member of American Wine Society, 1983 - Present
• American Wine Society Outstanding Member, 1998
• Chair, American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition, 1989 - 2006
• Chair, Festa Italiana Amateur Wine Competition, Vandergrift, PA 2004 - 2016
• Judge, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Rochester, NY, 2004 - 2016
• Judge, Great American International Wine Competition, Rochester, NY, 2017 - present
• Judge, North Carolina State Wine Competition, 2018 - 2020
• Judge, Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, 2013 - present
• Judge, Pittsburgh Amateur Wine Competition, 1989 - 2019
• Presents wine education/seminars for the Alle-Kiski and Pittsburgh Chapters of the American Wine Society

Ellen is a published Wine Writer, Certified Sommelier, Certified Wine Specialist, Wine Educator and Professional Wine Judge.  She is the author of the blog EllenOnWine.com and writes for the AWS Wine Journal (AmericanWineSociety.org) among other publications.

Ellen is a moderator for the highly acclaimed Vintner’s Holidays annual event at the Majestic (formerly Ahwahnee) Hotel in Yosemite, and participates as a key speaker, moderator and panelist at various other wine events. For sixteen years, she and husband Ken co-owned award winning Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn where Ellen served as Wine Director and Sommelier. They recently sold their Inn to devote more time to the world of wine.  Ellen was also a Sommelier at the Ritz Carlton for several years.

In addition to an MBA, Ellen’s wine education includes UC Davis viticulture course work, CSW certification from the Society of Wine Educators program, and holds the credential of Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers.  Ellen serves as a judge at numerous national and international wine competitions including the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, Mid-American Wine Competition, The Great American International Wine Competition, California State Fair Wine Competition, American Fine Wine Competition, North Coast Wine Challenge, Amador County Fair Wine Competition, Sonoma Harvest Fair Wine Competition, East Meets West Competition, Harvest Challenge International Wine Competition, The Cascadia Wine Competition, Savor Northwest Wine Competition, Dan Berger International Wine Competition, Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition, Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition, Mendocino County Wine Competition, Monterey Wine Competition, Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging, and the Central Coast Wine Competition.

Annemarie Morse has a Master's Degree in Oenology from Cornell University and has worked through harvest and blending as an assistant winemaker. She is the Director of Education for the American Wine Society, an organization dedicated to consumer wine education with a program in wine judge certification, having over 7000 members nationwide. Annemarie is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers and writes for various publications. She has taught as a wine studies and marketing Lecturer, at a college level and guest lectured at Cornell University for more than 8 years in various classes. Annemarie is a certified wine judge with Merit and has judged internationally and nationally for wine competitions for over 11 years. She is a trained member of the Cornell University Sensory Evaluation Panel, evaluating research and client wine, spirits, and cheeses. Annemarie has tested out of WSET Level 1&2 and is preparing for the Level 3 exam. She has passed the Court of Master Sommeliers First level exam and studied at the certified level. Annemarie has hosted wine tours nationally and internationally.

Her company, Wine By Annemarie, LLC, http://winebyannemarie.com/ provides consulting services to restaurants, as well as classes and events for staff, students, alumni and the community. Her passion for wine and increasing her wine knowledge has led to continued wine education opportunities, including certifying as a specialist in the Wine and Food of Central Italy, with Ian D'Agata.

Steve grew up with wine on the dinner table and to this day it’s rare that he doesn’t enjoy a glass or two with his evening meal.  After starting a career at Eli Lilly & Company he joined several wine and food appreciation groups to further his wine knowledge and began visiting California wine countries which has spread to include winery visits on 5 continents.   After early retirement from corporate life he became one of the wine makers at a leading Indiana winery and assumed the lead role during blending trials.  This role lasted 16 years until the owner died and the winery was sold to a larger northern Indiana winery where the production was moved to.  Steve and wife Kim started a small commercial vineyard in central Indiana in 2014 which continues today.

He started judging wine over 40 years ago and, except for the COVID interruption, judges at 4-6 competitions across the country annually.  Steve always feels that he expands his wine knowledge at every competition tasting different varietals and blends while learning from fellow judges’ perspectives.