Chuck Keagle of Upland, California, was the founder, owner, and CEO of Cask & Cleaver restaurants and the Sycamore Inn. Chuck is a former board member of the Collins School of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona, and the California Avocado Commission and the California Restaurant Association. Chuck is an avocado grower and former wine grape grower. Chuck was a valued judge at Pacific Rim Wine Competition for many decades. He will be missed.
Pacific Rim Wine Competition Judges
Nicole Varner Orue, Director
Pacific Rim Wine Competition
Brian Orue, Director & Chief Steward
Pacific Rim Wine Competition
Spreti Valente, CS, Chief Judge
Wine Buyer, Professional Wine Judge, Anne’s Boutique WinesCosta Mesa, California
Ellen Landis, Judge
Wine Journalist, Ellen on Wine, Certified Sommelier, Wine Educator, International Wine Judge
Dr. Fred Nury, Judge
Emeritus Professor of Enology, California State University FresnoFresno, California
Gricelda Lopez Gonzalez, Judge
Founder/Winemaker: Ugarte Vinos, Enology Professor: Universidad AutonomaBaja California, Mexico
Heidi Peterson Barrett
Heidi Peterson-Barrett, Judge
Winemaker, Amuse Bouche & La Sirena Wines
Laurie Sutton, Judge
Wine Director, The California Club
Dr. Robert Small, Judge
Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly Pomona, School of Hospitality, Author, European Travel ConsultantCalifornia
Tim McNally, Judge
Host of The Dine, Wine and Spirits Show WGSO, Columnist and Feature Writer for Wine and Spirits, Editor New Orleans MagazineNew Orleans, Louisiana
In Memoriam
Chuck Keagle
Harry McWatters - Winemaker
Mr. Harry McWatters was the president of Encore Vineyards Ltd., Vintage Consulting Group Inc. and Harry McWatters Inc. In 1980, Mr. McWatters was Chairman of the Board for Viridium Pacific Group Ltd. since June 4, 2018. He founded Sumac Ridge Estate Wine Group, in 1995 he founded See Ya Later Ranch Estate Winery (both acquired by Vincor Canada), he acted as president to both companies and was Vice President of Vincor until 2008.
Since 2008, Mr. McWatters has launched TIME Estate Winery and the McWatters Collection. Mr. McWatters was instrumental in founding the VQA Canada and served as its first chairman, and was also the founding chair of the BC Wine Institute and many other foundations and societies in the wine industry. Mr. McWatters received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the Okanagan University college and in 2003 received the prestigious Order of British Columbia for his services in the BC wine industry.
He has been the recipient of both the Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals from his Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Harry passed on in 2019 and he was a valued judge and fierce supporter of Pacific Rim Wine Competition. He is sorely missed.