DWWA Regional Chair for Burgundy & Champagne: Charles Curtis MW

Charles Curtis MW is the Regional Chair for Burgundy and Champagne at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Charles Curtis MW

Charles Curtis MW is a veteran of more than 20 years in the wine trade and has held a variety of posts over this time. His professional career began as a chef, trained in Paris, after which he worked in restaurants around the world. In October 2004, Curtis became the 22nd Master of Wine in the United States and he has held the role of head of wine for Christie’s in both the Americas and Asia. Curtis writes regularly for a number of magazines and his book, The Original Grand Crus of Burgundy, appeared in 2014.

He has been a featured speaker at dozens of wine and food festivals and currently advises private, trade and institutional clients on fine wine and the auction trade through his company WineAlpha.

Charles Curtis MW began judging at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) in 2014. Having served as the Regional Chair for Burgundy since 2023 and Acting Regional Chair for Champagne, he officially expanded his role as the Regional Chair for both Burgundy and Champagne at the DWWA 2025.

Follow Charles on Twitter @CurtisMW

See more 2026 Regional Chairs.

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.