2026 Judges

Billie Joyce is an educator and student of wine. After an extensive background in both front and back-of-the-house in Fine Dining and Catering, Billie moved into wine retail as GM and buyer of several large stores. She also spent the past seven years with BonusBev, a small wine and Spirits Distributor in Nashville TN, in sales and the last two years as Director of Operations and Portfolio Manager. Ms. Joyce received the WSET DIPLOMA in January 2016, followed with two years studying in the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine. She spent 3 harvests assisting the original winemaker at City Winery Nashville and holds a certificate in viticulture. In 2020, After years of running a wine education company called Thru the Vines on the side, Billie decided to commit all her energy to her company where she focused on consumer and industry education, consulting in the retail and restaurant space, as well as vineyard management. After almost 20 years working in the ‘business of wine', Billie recently moved to the Okanagan Valley BC, with the desire to keep learning; wanting to experience working in a wine-growing region. She currently works at Peak Cellars in Lake Country BC.

Mike is a Kelowna-based wine educator. He completed his WSET Diploma in 2011 and teaches the WSET wine programs as well as many other courses for Fine Vintage. He also teaches the Wine Ambassador Level 2 program for the Wine Growers of BC. Mike has extensive knowledge of the Okanagan wine industry having previously worked for both Mission Hill and Quails' Gate as part of their sommelier teams. He has judged at Okanagan wine competitions and has visited many of the world's great wine regions.

Rhys is a Master of Wine who combines his time writing, judging, teaching, presenting, consulting, curating wine lists and dirtying his boots at his 4 acre vineyard and winery – Little Farm Winery – in the Similkameen Valley of BC, Canada. He runs a wine school, Wine Plus+, judges wine competitions nationally and internationally such as the Decanter World Wine Awards, Calgary Stampede Wine Competition as well as the National Wine Awards of Canada for WineAlign. In 2018, Rhys’s contribution to the industry was acknowledged as one of just five global nominees for the WSET Outstanding Alumni Award. In 2026, Rhys was the recipient of the BC Wine Industry Leadership Excellence Award. To make sure he eats well he has also completed a Professional Culinary Diploma and has been named by Western Living magazine as one of the “Top 40 Foodies Under 40” in Western Canada. 

John is a BC-based wine professional and Co-Founder of Somm Zero, a company dedicated to premium non-alcoholic wines and spirits. He recently completed his diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), he also had the pleasure of travelling extensively through many of the world's most renowned wine regions, deepening his knowledge of global viticulture and winemaking practices. Over the past 4 years he has been actively involved in the British Columbia wine industry and can bring a unique and inclusive perspective to his role as a judge at the BC Wine Awards. He has had the pleasure of working as a volunteer at the awards over the past 2 years, tasting through some of BC's finest wines. He enjoys bridging traditional wine expertise with a modern approach to beverage appreciation, along with an experienced pallet for both BC and International wines. He is am honoured to be a part of the awards for 2025!

Barb fell in love with wine in 2009 during her extended career in specialty food and product commercialization in the grocery channel. In 2011, she completed the Award of Excellence in Sustainability Management at UBC (Continuing Studies) followed up with WSET Level 2 & 3 completing Level 3 in 2012. After years working within the liquor store world, in January 2018, she shook hands with Steven Spurrier at Guildhall in London where she received the WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Diploma after passing one of the most challenging wine courses in the world. She now dedicates most of her time to writing, travelling and hosting blind tasting events like the BC Wine Tasting Challenge (TM).