DWWA 2013 Burgundy Judging Panel

Michael Schuster DWWA 2013 Regional Chair Michael Schuster studied wine tasting in Bordeaux, where he gained the University Tasting Diploma, and after creating an award-winning retail business in the early 1980s, he went on to work independently as a wine writer and lecturer. He currently runs his own wine school at Bordeaux Index, lectures to both amateurs and professionals throughout the UK and abroad, and is on The Wine Societyâs management committee. In 2002, Michael was elected as a member of the Academie Internationale du Vin. Writing regularly for The World of Fine Wine , and occasionally for Decanter , his books include a translation of Emile Peynaud's Le GoÃ»t du Vin , Understanding Wine and the award-winning Essential Winetasting . Alison Buchanan DWWA 2013 Judge Alison Buchanan supplemented her undergraduate income as a chef and initially studied wine to complement her love of cooking. Her wine career began at the sharp end, managing a store for one of the multiples, before she joined Scotlandâs oldest wine merchants, Whighams of Ayr, in 1989. When Corney & Barrow bought Whighams in 1994, Alison continued in Scotland before moving to London as Associate Director of Buying in 1998. Passionate about wine, Alison recognises the need to see it in a wider business context, and to this end, she studied for an MBA which she completed in 2005. Today Alison looks after the top relationships in the Corney & Barrow portfolio, heading up their Prestige Buying department. Sebastian Thomas DWWA 2013 Judge Sebastian Thomas found his way into wine after a career in book publishing. He started out selling wine to New York restaurants, and was fortunate to find that sommeliers at the time "knew even less than he did". He moved to England in 1995, working for Laytons before joining Burgundy specialist Howard Ripley in 2000, whose portfolio has grown to include Pinot Noir from New Zealand, Oregon and Switzerland, as well as a broad selection of fine German wines. Gearoid Devaney MS DWWA 2013 Judge Gearoid Devaney MS works at Flint wines, an independent merchant based in London. He was voted UK Sommelier of the Year 2008, Restaurant magazineâs Sommelier of the Year 2007 and is now a Master Sommelier. He was Head Sommelier at Londonâs Capital Hotel and has additionally worked at Londonâs l'Oranger and the three-Michelin starred Pierre Gagnaire in Paris. In 2003 he assisted Tom Aikens in opening his signature restaurant and was part of the team instrumental in the restaurant winning a Michelin star. Andy Howard MW DWWA 2013 Judge Andy Howard MW has over 30 years experience as a buyer at Marks & Spencer. Within the wine category he was responsible for Burgundy, Bordeaux, Loire, Italy, North and South America, South Africa, Portugal, England, Port & Sherry. Andy became a MW in September 2011, following his MW dissertation on the UK wine tradeâs attitude to Premier-Cru Chablis. His key areas of expertise are Burgundy and Bordeaux but, from his buying experience, he has a great respect for the wines of Chile, Argentina and South Africa. Andy lives in London but also has a house in Gaillac, where he made wine for 6 vintages. Closer to home, he has chaired the judging at the annual SEVA awards for the past 7 years and sits on the Plumpton College Curriculum Advisory Panel. Andy has recently retired from M&S to focus on consultancy through his new business â Vinetrades. David Vareille DWWA 2013 Judge David Vareille was raised in Chablis, and his career began at the age of 16, when he worked in the Michelin starred La Salamandre, spending much of his time in the cellars establishing a love for fine wine. A career working with some of the best Chefs in Burgundy, Bordeaux and Spain followed. David moved to the UK in 2004 as Head Sommelier at LâEnclume in the Lake District and has since worked at the Hotel du Vin group and the Bleeding Heart before, in 2010, joining Bar Boulud as Head Sommelier for the opening of Chef Daniel Bouludâs first UK restaurant. With a focus on Burgundy and the RhÃ´ne Valley, as well as new world selections, this was a natural move for David, taking him back to his roots. David believes Bar Boulud is a combination of his three great passions: fantastic food, fantastic wines and the best guests you can dream of. Jeannie Cho Lee MW DWWA 2013 Judge Jeannie Cho Lee MW is an author, wine critic, judge and educator as well as the first Asian Master of Wine. She is Contributing Editor for Decanter and weekly columnist for Hong Kongâs South China Morning Post and mainland Chinaâs China Business News . She is also a Wine Consultant for Singapore Airlines, and Galaxy Macau. Jeannieâs love for Asian cuisine and wine inspired her to write the award-winning book, Asian Palate , and to found AsianPalate.com . Mark Savage MW DWWA 2013 Judge Mark Savage MW was born in Uganda and classically educated at University College, Oxford, where he was also president of the universityâs Wine Circle. He gained early wine trade experience with MoÃ«t & Chandon, Harrods, O.W.Loeb, and Tanners and, in 1975, was awarded The Vintners Scholarship, as well as winning the Ruinart Champagne Bursary to research the wine industry of the US Pacific Northwest. Mark passed his MW in 1980, and is currently the Owner and Managing Director of Savage Selection, a company which imports wines from small family estates in 16 countries. Occasionally contributing to wine journals, including The World of Fine Wine , Mark is the author of The Red Wines of Burgundy . Nick Adams MW DWWA 2013 Judge Nick Adams MW found himself in the wine trade after graduating with a Business Studies degree in 1982, and passed the MW exam ten years later. After having the very good fortune to work with a number of the worldâs leading producers â especially in France, Italy and California â Nick now runs his own wine consultancy company, First Glass Wine Services. Working with a cross-section of both producers and retailers, as well as private individuals, he is revelling in both the challenges and rewards that running his company brings. Laurent Chaniac DWWA 2013 Judge Laurent Chaniac is food and wine consultant to The Cinnamon Club and Kitchen in London, exercising his expertise in matching wines to Indian cuisine. He has been described as a sommelier who âhas pioneered some revolutionary ideas on pairing wine with the constantly evolving Indian flavours". He has also worked in various managerial positions with some of London's finest dining experiences, including L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, The Square Restaurant and The Stafford Hotel.

DWWA 2013 Burgundy Judging Panel

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