Elaine Chukan Brown
Elaine Chukan Brown serves as a writer, speaker, and global wine educator. Brown is the Napa Valley specialist for Wine Enthusiast and previously served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter Magazine, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits Magazine. They contributed to both the 4th and 5th editions of the Oxford Companion to Wine, the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compilations On Burgundy and On California from Academie du Vin Library.
Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries.
Brown serves as a judge for the Texsom Awards, chair of judges for the 67 Pall Mall Communicator Awards, and is a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium.
Elaine Chukan Brown serves as a writer, speaker, and global wine educator. Brown is the Napa Valley specialist for Wine Enthusiast and previously served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter Magazine, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits Magazine. They contributed to both the 4th and 5th editions of the Oxford Companion to Wine, the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compilations On Burgundy and On California from Academie du Vin Library.
Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries.
Brown serves as a judge for the Texsom Awards, chair of judges for the 67 Pall Mall Communicator Awards, and is a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium.
Sam Kim (Deputy Chair)
Sam has been involved for the past 35 years in New Zealand hospitality, wine retail, importing and distribution, as well as running wine courses and master classes.
Sam holds a Certificate in Winemaking from EIT (Hawke’s Bay), and has been judging wine for the last 26 years at various wine competitions and magazines, including the New Zealand International Wine Show, The Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, the Spiegelau International Wine Competition, The Air New Zealand Wine Awards, The New World Wine Awards, New Zealand Aromatic Wine Competition, Marlborough Wine Show, Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Cowra Wine Show and Cuisine Magazine.
He is the writer and publisher of wine review website, Wine Orbit (www.wineorbit.co.nz).
Sam has been involved for the past 35 years in New Zealand hospitality, wine retail, importing and distribution, as well as running wine courses and master classes.
Sam holds a Certificate in Winemaking from EIT (Hawke’s Bay), and has been judging wine for the last 26 years at various wine competitions and magazines, including the New Zealand International Wine Show, The Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, the Spiegelau International Wine Competition, The Air New Zealand Wine Awards, The New World Wine Awards, New Zealand Aromatic Wine Competition, Marlborough Wine Show, Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Cowra Wine Show and Cuisine Magazine.
He is the writer and publisher of wine review website, Wine Orbit (www.wineorbit.co.nz).