Chaplin Faculty Invited to Return as Judges at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Professors Barry Gump and Patrick “Chip” Cassidy served as professional wine judges for the 41st annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair. The Professional Wine Competition took place on September 15 and 16, followed by the sweepstakes selection on September 17. Dr. Gump and Professor Cassidy joined fellow educators, enologists, and wine professionals tasked with judging more than 1,000 wines in just two and a half days.

Both Dr. Gump and Professor Cassidy are sought after wine judges and experts, serving on panels in the past at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in California, American Fine Wine Competition in Florida, Atlantic Seaboard Competition in Virginia, and the International Eastern Wine Competition in New York, to name a few.

During this trip, the two professors had the pleasure of reconnecting with Chaplin alumnus Mike Faulk, the winemaker of Engracia Wines, a gold medal winner at this year’s competition.

Photo:
FIU hospitality management professors Dr. Barry Gump and Patrick “Chip” Cassidy with Katie Young of Sonoma County Harvest Fair (right) on the Frei Brothers E. & J. Gallo Ranch in California.