About Dan

Greetings fellow wine lovers!

I’m a lifetime resident of Washington whose interest in wines began in the early 1980’s as Northwest wines also began their rise in popularity. I’ve traveled extensively to wineries in the Pacific Northwest, attended countless wine festivals, and judged a number of competitions, including the Great Northwest Wine Platinum Awards in 2021, 2022 and 2025.

I wrapped up a nearly 16-year tenure as writer of a weekly wine column for The Bellingham Herald in 2015. I’ve also contributed to several Northwest publications including Great Northwest Wine and Bellingham Alive magazines as well as DiscoverWashingtonWine.com.

I retired from my day job after 40+ years as a CPA and Controller in 2023, and my husband, Zacchoreli, and I moved across state to one of Washington’s top wine regions: Walla Walla, Washington.

I’m currently president of the Whatcom Beer & Wine Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes Pacific Northwest wineries while raising funds for human and social service agencies and providing scholarships for the Enology & Viticulture program at Walla Walla Community College. 

The Foundation’s major event is the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, which is held each year in late June. Our 11th Annual event in 2026 attracted 644 entries from 153 wineries in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. With the funds we raised from this year’s event, we’ve exceeded the $125,000 mark in total donations since the Foundation’s inception in 2016.

I began teaching wine classes at Bellingham Technical College in 2004 and “retired” from the adjunct faculty in 2020. And while time in the classroom is great, by far, the best way to learn about wine is simply to get out there and start tasting!  The Northwest is blessed with all the ingredients for world class wine…geography, climate, and talented winemakers. So make it a point to go visit wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms!

My philosophies about wine: Drink what you like, don’t be afraid to share with others what you taste, and above all…have fun!

Cheers!
Dan Radil

Contacts: dan@danthewineguy.com
dradil@whatcombeerwine.com