
Shivani Tomar
Born and raised in India, Shivani is the awards manager at Decanter, managing the 300-strong cohort of worldwide judges for the world's largest wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Awards, ensuring a seamless judging process and driving the competitive integrity of the awards. After earning a master’s in wine management from the Burgundy School of Business, she moved to London in 2016 and completed her WSET diploma. While Burgundy holds a special place in her heart, Champagne is her go-to bottle. Alongside her full-time role, she has been dipping her toes into wine writing, relishing the opportunity to bring wine stories to the surface. She serves on the Drinks United Advisory Council board, an organization dedicated to fostering a united UK drinks industry where all individuals feel supported, included, and safe.
-

DWWA judge profile: Ágnes Csiba Herczeg (Dr.)
Award-winning wine strategist and international wine consultant. Based in Hungary.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Asia: Dr Edward Ragg MW
Award-winning wine educator, writer, presenter and master of wine. Based in China.
By Shivani Tomar Published
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Southern Italy: Jason Millar
Writer, communicator, judge, and consultant with a focus on Italy and South Africa. Based in the UK.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Portugal: Beatriz Machado
Portugese wine expert, currently serving as the head of marketing and wine tourism at Niepoort. Based in Portugal.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Tuscany: Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW
Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW is the Regional Chair for Tuscany at the DWWA and a consultant tutor at the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in London.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Resident Co-Chair for 2026: Caro Maurer MW
Caro Maurer MW is a wine writer based in Bonn, Germany, with a writing career spanning almost 30 years.
By Shivani Tomar Published
-

DWWA Acting Regional Chair for Germany: Regine Lee MW
Industry-recognised master of wine, in the UK importer/distributor sector. Based in the UK.
By Shivani Tomar Published
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Veneto: Alessandra Piubello
Journalist, writer and expert wine taster, specialized in wine and food; co-editor of the I Vini di Veronelli Guida Oro wine guide. Based in Italy.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Loire: Matthew Wilkin MS
Award-winning Master Sommelier specialising in Loire, Burgundy, Rhône, Spain & South African wines. Based in the UK.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Pierre Mansour
Pierre Mansour is Head Buyer at The Wine Society.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for South Africa: Fiona McDonald
Fiona McDonald, trained news journalist turned wine writer, is Regional Chair for South Africa at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2026.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Ferran Centelles
Ferran Centelles is a wine writer specialising in Spanish wine for JancisRobinson.com.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Almudena Alberca MW
First female master of wine in Spain, accomplished winemaker, sustainability advocate, and global consultant. Based in Spain.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for the USA & Central America: James Tidwell MS
James Tidwell MS consults for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and founded the TEXSOM conference and awards.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Provence: Rod Smith MW
Rod Smith MW is a wine educator, marketer and salesman, based in the South of France.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Greece & Cyprus: Terry Kandylis
Terry Kandylis is the Group Head Sommelier at the Noble Rot Restaurant & Wine Bar.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Co-Chair: Andrew Jefford
Andrew has been writing and broadcasting about wine since the 1980s, winning many awards for his work.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Co-Chair: Michael Hill Smith AM MW
Michael, wine producer, international wine judge, wine consultant, and occasional wine writer, is a DWWA Co-Chair.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Co-Chair: Beth Willard
Beth Willard, former wine buyer and now a key figure in Spanish wine industry, is a Co-Chair at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2026.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Co-Chair: Ronan Sayburn MS
Ronan Sayburn MS, CEO for the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, is a Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for the Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, and Croatia & Slovenia: Dr Wojciech Bońkowski MW
Wojciech Bońkowski is a wine writer, writing articles, blogs and books as well as being President of the Polish Wine Trade Association.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, and Caucasus Region: Simon J Woolf
Simon J Woolf is an award-winning English author and wine writer, currently based in The Netherlands.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Canada: Barbara Philip MW
Barbara Philip MW is category manager at BC LIQUOR in Canada, as well as a lecturer, radio columnist and consultant.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
-

DWWA Regional Chair for Burgundy & Champagne: Charles Curtis MW
Charles Curtis MW writes regularly for a number of magazines.
By Shivani Tomar Last updated
