DWWA judge profile: Philip Rich

Philip Rich is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Philip Rich

Philip Rich has more than 25 years’ experience as a wine retailer, educator, show judge and writer.

In 1996, Philip joined the van Haandels at The Prince of Wales and Stokehouse in Melbourne, where he was responsible for the wine buying, developing award-winning wine lists and sommelier training. Philip co-founded Melbourne’s Prince Wine Store and Bellota Wine Bar and wrote the monthly wine column for The Australian Financial Review Magazine for 17 years.

Philip has chaired various wine shows in Australia, including the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge, Yarra Valley Wine Show, Margaret River Wine Show, Mornington Peninsula Wine Show and The Australian Pinot Noir Challenge.

In addition to tasting for the James Halliday Wine Companion, Philip is the chair for the Limestone Coast Wine Show and divides his time between helping look after France Soir’s 6000 bottle cellar, consulting work and conducting yearly consumer tours to Burgundy.

See more judges for 2025 DWWA.

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.