Patricia Gastaud-Gallagher was a director at the l'Academie du Vin and one of the 11 judges at the historic Judgment of Paris wine tasting event. She was also on the COPIA panel that oversaw the rematch on The Judgment of Paris 30th Anniversary. She is one of the few, non-French natives to have won the distinguished Chevalier du Mérite Agricole given for distinguished service to the French Wine industry. She was also academic director and director of the wine department of the famous LE CORDON BLEU school of cuisine and pastry. She is a co-author of the book Le Cordon Bleu Wine Essentials: Professional Secrets to Buying, Storing, Serving, and Drinking Wine. [1]