DWWA Co-Chair: Sarah Jane Evans MW
Sarah Jane MW, award-winning journalist, is one of four Co-Chairs at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
The DWWA Judges
Read the profiles of the world’s best wine tasters, and find out which judges sit on which panels.
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DWWA Regional Chair for Asia: Poh Tiong Ch'ng
A lawyer by training, Poh Tiong Ch'ng published the world’s first Chinese Bordeaux Guide in 2000 and is the author of 100 Top Chinese Restaurants of the World.
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DWWA Co-Chair: Andrew Jefford
Andrew has been writing and broadcasting about wine since the 1980s, winning many awards for his work.
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DWWA Regional Chair for Loire: Jim Budd
Jim Budd is a wine writer, having written for Decanter since 1989. He is the former editor of the newsletter of the Circle of Wine Writers, and writes the award-winning Jim’s Loire blog.
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DWWA Regional Chair for Argentina: Paz Levinson
Argentine Paz Levinson is Executive Head Sommelier for Groupe Pic and a wine educator.
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DWWA Regional Chair for Central Italy: Andy Howard MW
Andy Howard MW became a MW in 2011 and runs his own consultancy business, Vinetrades Ltd, which focuses on education, judging, investment and sourcing.
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DWWA Regional Chair for Alsace: Thierry Meyer
Thierry Meyer is the Regional Chair for Alsace at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2023.
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DWWA judge profile: Marco Iaccarino
Marco Iaccarino has been a professional sommelier for over 15 years, working in various prestigious hotels in Italy and England. Now he is Head of Wine at the Berkeley hotel.
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DWWA judge profile: Beatrice Bessi
Beatrice Bessi works as Head Sommelier at the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone and is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
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DWWA judge profile: Amaya Cervera
Amaya Cervera is a freelance wine writer and the founder and editor of the bilingual website, Spanish Wine Lover.
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DWWA judge profile: Anne Burchett
Anne Burchett is a wine marketing and communications specialist, a writer and a lecturer on the business of wine.
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DWWA judge profile: Salvatore Castano
Salvatore Castano is Head Sommelier & On Trade Advisor at Friarwood, a famous boutique in the London. In 2021, he won the Best Sommelier of Europe and Africa Competition organised by ASI.
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DWWA judge profile: Stefan Kobald
Stefan Kobald is an executive head sommelier at the Biltmore Hotel, Jason Atherton’s newest project opening in Mayfair. He is also working towards the Court of Master Sommelier Master Diploma.
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DWWA judge profile: Shane Jones
Shane Jones is a wine and sake educator who can be found teaching accredited programmes in the UK, France and Germany.
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DWWA judge profile: Melania Battiston
Melania Battiston is Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer at Medlar restaurant, in Chelsea, London.
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DWWA judge profile: Michele Fazari
Michele Fazari is Head Sommelier at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square Private Club, where he is committed to helping others develop a passion for wine.
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DWWA Acting Regional Chair: Michaela Morris
Michaela Morris is an international wine writer and educator, based in Vancouver, Canada. She is a regular contributor to Decanter Magazine.
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DWWA judge profile: Victoria MacKenzie MW
Victoria MacKenzie MW is Head of Product Development for Wine Qualifications at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
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DWWA judge profile: Cathy van Zyl MW
Cathy van Zyl MW is associate editor of the Platter's South African Wine Guide and an international wine judge.
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DWWA judge profile: Zsuzsa Toronyi
Zsuzsa Toronyi is an international wine marketing expert. Her wine communication work currently focuses on promoting Central and Eastern European wines to the UK market.
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DWWA judge profile: Dominic Smith
Dominic Smith embodies both music and wine, being a professional musician for over 20 years and working as a sommelier at the Clove Club in London.
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DWWA judge profile: Wieteke Teppema
Wieteke Teppema is Commercial Director and Wine Buyer for Drop Wine Shops and App. She spent 10 years working as a sommelier in some of London's best loved Michelin stared restaurants, including Trinity, The Square and The Ledbury.
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DWWA judge profile: Sumita Sarma
Sumita Sarma is an experienced wine buyer and consultant, who entered the wine industry through the broadcasting and journalism route nearly a decade ago.
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DWWA judge profile: Alastair Pyatt
Alastair Pyatt is Head of Buying at Jascots Wine Merchants.
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DWWA judge profile: Adam Porter MW
Adam Porter is a UK based Master of Wine with 15 years’ experience in the wine industry, gained in a variety of buying, marketing and retail roles. He is currently working as an independent consultant, wine educator and wine judge.
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DWWA judge profile: Yolanda Ortiz de Arri
Yolanda Ortiz de Arri is a freelance wine journalist and translator based in the Basque Country.
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DWWA judge profile: Luma Monteiro
Luma Monteiro works as Marketing Executive for Davy's Wine Merchants and runs Wineria, one of the UK’s most successful wine accounts on Instagram (@wineriaofficial).
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DWWA judge profile: Federico Moccia
Federico Moccia is assistant head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall. He is an expert in Italian wines and runs detailed masterclasses exploring the Italian terroir.
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DWWA judge profile: Alexandra Mawson
Alexandra Mawson is celebrating her 16th year in the wine industry where she has worked for independents and grocers in the UK and Australia. Since 2015, she has primarily been buying Australian and New Zealand wines for Waitrose.
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DWWA judge profile: Christopher Martin
Christopher Martin is head of educator training at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). He has over 16 years of teaching experience and has taught wine and spirit WSET courses all over the world.
