DWWA Regional Chair for Portugal: Beatriz Machado
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Beatriz Machado is the new Regional Chair for Portugal at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2026.
Beatriz Machado
Beatriz Machado, head of marketing & wine tourism at Niepoort in Portugal, has been appointed the new Regional Chair for Portugal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026. Named Best Wine Tourism Specialist in Portugal and a TEDx Speaker, Beatriz has been leading Niepoort’s award-winning branding, marketing and wine tourism strategy, blending heritage, innovation and storytelling, since 2021.
After studying viticulture and enology at UC Davis in California where she received Wine Spectator’s non-resident tuition grant for her studies, Beatriz returned to her native Portugal in 2010 and was appointed to wine director at The Yeatman, the award-winning luxury wine hotel in Porto in 2010. There she oversaw the development of a remarkable 26,000 bottle cellar featuring,1,300 references, recognized as the world’s most comprehensive collection of Portuguese table wines and Ports. Under her leadership, The Yeatman’s wine programme gained international acclaim, earning Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for several consecutive years.
Under Beatriz’s guidance, The Yeatman received international recognition for its wine programme, winning the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator for many years.
A long-standing DWWA judge since 2013, Beatriz has led the Portugal panels as a Senior Judge in recent years. 2026 marks her first year serving as Regional Chair, bringing her extensive knowledge of Portuguese wines and deep industry experience to this new leadership role.
Follow Beatriz on Instagram.
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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.