Beth Willard

Beth Willard

Australian-born Beth Willard entered the wine world through her love for languages and travel. She began her journey at the cellar door of Hardy’s winery in Canberra, followed by work with a small family producer in the same region. A move to Europe led her to a position with the Syndicat des Vins de Bordeaux, after which she settled in the UK, where she held several buying roles, including nearly a decade as Buying Manager for Direct Wines’ Global Buying Team.

During this time, Beth developed a deep expertise in Spanish wines, which has since become a cornerstone of her career. Now based in Spain, she is a prominent figure in the Spanish wine industry, leading presentations and tastings in both English and Spanish. She also collaborates with Tim Atkin MW to produce detailed reports on Spanish wine regions and producers.

As a writer for Decanter, Beth is recognized as a key specialist in Spanish and Eastern European wines. She has been a DWWA judge since 2015, serving as Regional Chair for the Eastern Europe panel and, more recently, for the Spain panel. Beth’s contributions to the wine industry have earned her a place in the prestigious Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.

Beth was officially appointed as a DWWA Co-Chair in 2024.

Ines Salpico tasting white rioja for the Rioja Report 2026
Rioja Report 2026: Vino de Municipio & Viñedo Singular: A sense of terroir unfolds

Rioja's single-site excellence...

1 2 Archives