Industry Expert Judges

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Marshall Stuart is a Southern California entrepreneur with nearly 50 years of experience spanning construction and winemaking. He began his career in 1976 in construction, eventually founding Marshall Stuart Contracting in 1985.

His pivot into wine started in 1988 through hands-on work at a Temecula winery, followed by formal studies at UC Davis. He opened Stuart Cellars in 1998, which became one of Temecula Valley's most respected wineries before he sold it in 2010. He later launched Off the Vine Into Wine (2013), a custom crush and vineyard services company, and his personal label Marshall Stuart Fine Wines (2015), which opened a tasting room in 2024.

He also founded Stuart Ryan, Inc. in 2020, a construction firm focused on wine and agriculture projects, and continues to consult in general engineering.

At his core, Marshall is a builder — of structures, vineyards, and brands — guided by the belief that wine and construction share the same principles: structure, balance, and attention to detail.
Now with decades of experience behind him and more projects on the horizon, Marshall Stuart continues to shape the landscape of Temecula Valley—one barrel, one building, and one bold idea at a time.

Tami Wong is one of San Diego's most respected wine professionals — a Certified Sommelier, educator, entrepreneur, and champion of women in the wine industry.

Tami's roots in the hospitality world run deep, with early memories of working in her family's restaurants — from her grandmother's Rainbow Café in Brookings, South Dakota, to her father's Windsong in Colorado Springs. She eventually planted roots in San Diego, passing her Certified Sommelier exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers in December 2007.

A lifelong veteran of restaurants, Tami was the second San Diegan to be chosen by Wine & Spirits Magazine as one of the six Best New Sommeliers in 2014, and in 2015 she received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for her wine list at Juniper and Ivy. 

She is known for her roles as Wine Director at La Valencia Hotel and Juniper & Ivy, and for founding Stay Classy Selections, the first wholesale distributor dedicated to San Diego County wine and cider. She also serves as a wine judge for multiple competitions, including the San Diego International Wine Competition and the Sommelier Challenge.

From Chef to Advanced Sommelier to Leading Wine Professionals

Lisa Redwine brings a whole new level of food and wine knowledge to the San Diego community. Lisa passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Exam in 2010 and is pursuing her Master Sommelier certification. She is one of four women in San Diego to hold Advanced Sommelier accreditation. And having worked as a professional chef and general manager for some of the finest restaurants in San Francisco, Lisa elevates the dining experience to an art form, where service, atmosphere, food and wine intermingle to form a feast for all the senses.

Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, Lisa was exposed at a young age to farmer’s markets, freshly baked breads and delicious home cooking. The granddaughter of a butcher and a cheese maker, Lisa learned the importance of fresh handcrafted foods. She enrolled at the University of Wisconsin Stout, where she received a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and then attended the Culinary Institute of America, where she graduated with honors with a degree in Culinary Arts.

Lisa went from New York to San Francisco, as she was General Manager at the renowned Cypress Club under restaurateur extraordinaire, John Cunin. Lisa then joined the Grand Cafe as assistant General Manager where she worked with General Manager Umberto Gibin. There, she developed a wine program that garnered awards from Wine Spectator and Sante magazines. After relocating to San Diego, she served as General Manager and Hotel Wine Director at Molly’s Restaurant & Bar at the Marriott Hotel.

As the Director of Restaurants and Beverage Operations of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, Inc., Lisa was responsible in creation of an innovative seasonal beverage programs that encompassed wine, cocktails and beer, staff training, revenue generation and service standards for The Marine Room, The Shores Restaurant, La Jolla Shores Hotel Catering, and La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club Catering and Club Dining. 

Lisa also has worked with the prestigious Regal Wine Company as a sales representative, conveying her passion for the fine wine labels she will be presenting to wine professionals in San Diego. 

She returned to her passion for hospitality after Covid in 2021. Lisa joined the team at Market Restaurant and Bar. This iconic restaurant is synonymous with excellence. Lisa will bring her passion for food and wine to the service team and guests. This restaurant is the heart and soul of Chef Carl Schroeder and Lisa will bring her knowledge to create a program that pairs with the culinary magic that represents Market. 

 Her latest adventure brings her experience full circle. She is joining the Burtech Family Vineyard Winery as the General Manger and Wine Director. She will curate unique wine events, build brand recognition, focus on food and wine pairing events, educate, and expand her horizons in the realm of the winemaking process. This family owned winery produces world class wines, has a heart of hospitality, and has a long term innovative vison. 

She brings with her multiple food and beverage certifications, including: Advanced Sommelier from Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine from Society of Wine Educators, Certified Wine Professional and an AOS Degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America. 

Lisa is a leader in the wine industry and in her hometown of San Diego, she has trained hundreds of individuals to become better beverage professionals. In 2006, she began teaching "Exploring Wine" in San Diego State University's Business of Wine Program. She has expanded her role at SDSU as she serves as an Advisor and teaches multiple wine classes each year. She has been involved for more than a decade with the San Diego Wine & Food Festival and serves as an advisor and Head Lead for SommCon USA. She is a wine judge for the San Diego International Wine Competition, Sommelier Challenge, Toast of the Coast and Lum Eisenman San Diego County Wine Competition. In 2011, after seeing a need for educational opportunities for women wine professionals she created the nonprofit organization, Women’s Wine Alliance. She currently serves as the organization’s President and leads seminars for its members. 

Christian Garcia is a San Diego native. He was raised in North County San Diego and has always called this area home.
After graduating high school, Christian attended UC Irvine where he received his bachelors  After college, Christian served in the United States Peace Corps in Cambodia for two years where he served as a teacher for two years. After coming back home, Christian received his masters degree in public policy from USC. 
In 2020, he got elected to the board of Palomar College. In Janaury 2023, he was was appointed onto the city council and elected to serve in 2024.
His hobby and passion has always been in the culinary arts. In 2017, Christian moved to Costa Rica to work on a coffee farm and learn about the industry. From 2018-2020, Christian and his wife visited nearly 100 vineyards in California and Mexico to take tours, classes and tastings. He has been a member of several wine clubs and has taken certified wine courses to grow is knowledge for his passion. 

Darryl Carson is a people-development leader, mentor, and learning experience designer with more than 40 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. He began his career in Sales and Marketing roles at Intel and Cypress Semiconductor, where he discovered his enduring commitment to helping others grow technically, professionally, and personally.

Over the past 30 years, Darryl has led a wide range of talent development, mentoring, executive leadership, early career, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. At Synaptics, a leading supplier of human interface products for mobile phones, PCs, smart speakers, and other connected intelligent devices, he managed Learning and Development and Corporate Social Responsibility programs, including a CSR initiative recognized twice among the top 50 programs in Silicon Valley. He later continued this work in People Development roles at Maxim Integrated and Analog Devices, helping leaders and emerging professionals build confidence, capability, and career momentum.

While living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Darryl developed a second passion: wine. His curiosity took him through many of California’s wine regions, including Napa, Sonoma, Amador County, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Temecula, and San Diego. He began his wine career pouring at a small Northern California winery, where he expanded his knowledge of winemaking and created approachable learning experiences for others to enjoy wine. In retirement, Darryl continues that work with small boutique wineries in San Diego County and rarely misses an opportunity to visit local wineries during his travels around the world.

Jaime Rueda is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in wine retail, corporate training, and management. His extensive expertise in the industry is backed by prestigious certifications, including:

• Certified Sommelier – Court of Master Sommeliers• Certified Specialist of Wine – Society of Wine Educators• Level III Advanced Certificate in Wines & Spirits – WSET

As a Corporate Trainer and Manager for one of the West Coast’s largest wine retailers, Jaime has played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of wine professionals. He has co-authored and facilitated Basic Wine Fundamentals, along with advanced courses in French and Italian wine studies, educating hundreds of students each year.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jaime is deeply committed to giving back to the community. He organizes charitable wine events benefiting Toys for Tots and the Escondido Police Athletic League (PAL), using his passion for wine to support meaningful causes that uplift children and local communities.