DWWA judge profile: Matthew Hemming MW

Matthew Hemming MW is a judge at the 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Matthew Hemming MW profile:

Matthew Hemming MW has spent his whole working life in the wine trade, following the traditional UK ‘apprenticeship’ that starts in retail – driving vans and stacking shelves for Averys of Bristol. In 2005 he was the sole UK student on the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in Australia. A subsequent letter from Len reminded Hemming, ‘don’t forget to do the MW’ so he enrolled in the programme in 2007. Hemming became a Master of Wine in 2013, by which point he was still working at Averys but had progressed to become the Fine Wine Manager.

Last year Hemming left Averys, after 15 years, to join Vinum Fine Wines – one of Singapore’s leading merchants, who also have a European business based in the UK. Working across both the Asian and European businesses, dealing with trade, private clients and managing relationships with a number of the world’s top wine estates – Vinum holds Singapore agencies for Petrus, Leroy and Vega Sicilia amongst others – ensures Hemming is kept abreast of global fine wine trends. He travels and tastes regularly across both markets, as well as visiting the producers in Europe. His career path has led him to specialisms in the classic fine wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy but he retains a keen interest in Australia and its fermented grape juice.

When not working, travelling or tasting, Hemming likes riding mountain bikes up and down big hills as well as the traditional wine trade pursuits of cooking and eating. He and his wife live in rural Somerset with their dog.

Matthew Hemming MW was first a DWWA judge in 2013.