DWWA-2019-Judging-Week-table-set-up-for-tasting.jpg
Credit: Steven Morris
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

Decanter's managing director began DWWA judging week by welcoming and thanking all judges new and old.

The DWWA warehouse
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

The DWWA warehouse

All 16,500+ wines were kept in the warehouse during judging week before they were taken to their respective panels for tasting.

The DWWA Co-Chairs
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

The DWWA Co-Chairs

The 2019 DWWA Co-Chairs, who were responsible for overseeing the competition were Michael Hill Smith MW, Andrew Jefford and Sarah Jane Evans MW.

All wines are tasted blind
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

All wines are tasted blind

Before the wines were taken into the room where they were judged, Decanter staff covered the bottles in a white bags to prevent the Judges from recognising any labels or branding.

DWWA panels
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

DWWA panels

Judging was organised by region, with each panel judged by experts in that region.

DWWA judges at work
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

DWWA judges at work

Judges were told the region, style and price bracket of the flight of wines they were tasting. After tasting the wines individually they then compared notes and reached a consensus on each wine’s medal.

New DWWA Regional Chair for DWWA
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

New DWWA Regional Chair for DWWA

Jeannie Cho Lee MW joined the DWWA team as Regional Chair for Burgundy at this year's competition.

Gold medals at DWWA
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

Gold medals at DWWA

Gold medal-winning wines went on to be re-categorised by grape or style and re-tasted by a panel consisting of Regional Chairs and Co-Chairs and if deserving awarded a Platinum or Best in Show.

The warehouse team
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

The warehouse team

The DWWA warehouse team were in charge of organising the wines, keeping them in a good condition as well as opening and bagging the bottles before they were delivered to the panels for tasting.

The DWWA runners
(Image credit: Steven Morris)

The DWWA runners

Runners were located in all the panel rooms to assist in pouring the wines.

Bella Callaghan
Bella Callaghan
Marketing Manager - Digital, Social & Print

Bella Callaghan is digital, social and print marketing manager at Decanter.

She has worked at Decanter since 2016, when she joined as marketing assistant. During her time at Decanter she has worked on various areas of the business including Decanter's international awards and iconic events. In her current role she oversees marketing for Decanter Premium, the magazine and social for the events.

Bella holds her WSET level three in wine. She is particularly fond of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and would never say no to a glass Champagne.