DWWA judge profile: Yuri Shima
Yuri Shima is a new judge at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).
Yuri Shima
Yuri Shima is a Japanese wine journalist and educator based between the San Francisco Bay Area and Tokyo. She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma and was a recipient of an IWSC award in 2018. A certified WSET educator and Dame Chevalier of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, her work spans all areas of wine, with a particular focus on Champagne.
In addition to her wine career, Yuri is a licensed attorney, admitted to the New York State Bar. She joins the Decanter World Wine Awards judging panel for the first time in 2026
Follow Yuri on Instagram and see her website here.
See more judges for the 2026 DWWA.
Get our daily fine wine reviews, latest wine ratings, news and travel guides delivered straight to your inbox.
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.