Marybeth Williams, Esq., was named Wine Person of the Year by the Virginia Wineries Association at its annual Governor’s Cup awards ceremony last month.

Williams, a beverage alcohol attorney and founder of Williams Compliance and Consulting Group, provides compliance services to wine producers on the east coast and in the mid-west. She and her husband, Jeff Williams, also own Five Dogs Vineyard in Hanover, VA.

“Marybeth was recognized for helping numerous wineries, vineyards and future winery owners navigate the unique paper requirements for our industry,” said Mitzi Batterson, President of the Virginia Wineries Association, who presented her with the award. “She has become a go-to person for the Virginia wine industry.”

Williams volunteers her time by giving quarterly educational sessions, “Regs and Rules Round-ups,” that provide association members with updates about regulatory matters. She is also in frequent communication with agency officials on the industry’s behalf. Working directly with the Virginia ABC, she was instrumental in streamlining the reporting process for Virginia wineries and helping the wineries minimize the amount of time they spend satisfying regulatory requirements.

Williams was genuinely surprised and honored to receive the award. “I feel very lucky to be part of a group that is so passionate about what they do and so committed to doing their best, regardless of how difficult it can be,” Williams said. “I am touched to be acknowledged in this way.”

Prior to joining the wine industry, Williams served as a felony prosecutor in Colorado for six years and as a civil litigator for two years. She also worked as a regulatory attorney in Virginia, specializing in trade practice law. She graduated in 1996 from the University of Denver College of Law. Williams Compliance is the east coast affiliate of Compli, Inc., an industry leader in beverage compliance since 1997.