DWWA 2013 Champagne Judging Panel

Essi Avellan MW DWWA 2013 Judge Essi Avellan MW is Finlandâs first Master of Wine. During her studies she won both the Lily Bollinger Medal for best taster and the Tim Derouet Memorial Award for best overall student. She is currently editor of FINE Champagne , the world's only magazine dedicated solely to Champagne, and has previously written wine buying guides as well as a book on Champagne, entitled Matka Champagneen . At the moment, Essi is in the process of revising the 3rd edition of Tom Stevenson's award-winning Christie's World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine , due out in autumn 2013. Simon Field MW DWWA 2013 Judge Simon Field MW joined Berry Brothers & Rudd in 1998, having spent several misguided but lucrative years working as a Chartered Accountant in the City. His passion for opera and travel is well suited to buying trips down the Rhine and into the darker recesses of Andalucia. In addition to buying the Spanish and fortified ranges, Simon is also responsible for purchasing wines from South America and England. He gained his Master of Wine qualification in October 2002. Xavier Rousset MS DWWA 2013 Judge Xavier Rousset MS started working as Assistant Chef Sommelier at GÃ©rard Basset's Hotel du Vin in Bristol at the age of 20, after studying to become a sommelier in Saumur. 2002 saw Roussetâs career take off when he was promoted to Head Sommelier, won the Ruinart UK Sommelier of the Year competition, and became the youngest Master Sommellier in the world at the time. Two years later, Xavier was appointed as Head Sommelier at Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, a position which introduced him to Head Chef Agnar Sverrisson. Xavier and Agnar launched Texture restaurant in 2007, which added a Michelin star to its list of awards in 2010, and their latest venture, 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen, lanuched a second site last year. In January Xavier was named Imbibe Restaurant Personality of the Year 2013. David Allen MW DWWA 2013 Judge David Allen MW discovered a love of wine when he worked for Oddbins before University, and after graduating in 1990, he spent 10 years running wine shops in South London for the company. Following this, he moved to Oddbinsâ Head Office to work in marketing and logistics roles, and began studying for the MW, a journey which took him around the world several times. In 2004, David left Oddbins to join Uvine, and from 2006 to 2008, he worked for wine distributers Top Selection. David was appointed to his current role of Fine Wine Manager at Coe Vintners in 2010, and although his areas of interest are varied, he particularly loves Claret, Champagne, Riesling along with the wines of Australia, Greece and New Zealand. Michael Edwards DWWA 2013 Judge Michael Edwards originally trained in Law, reading the Bar at Gray's Inn, London, before joining Laytons in 1968. During the seventies, he represented several top estates in Burgundy and Alsace. Michael has also been a restaurant reviewer, is a former chief inspector of the Egon Ronay Guide and during his 20 years as a freelance writer, Michael has specialized in Champagne and gastronomy. For his most recent book The Finest Wines of Champagne , Michael won the Louis Roederer award for the International Wine Book of the Year 2010. His blog, michaelbulles.blogspot.com , ranges well beyond Champagne. Dr Tony Jordan DWWA 2013 Judge Dr Tony Jordanâs early career spanned scientific research, lecturing in Oenology at Charles Sturt University, and winemaking consulting as a partner in Oenotec Pty Ltd. Tony then joined the MoÃ«t Hennessy group, first as Managing Director/Winemaker for Domaine Chandon Australia, before becoming CEO of Domaine Chandon Australia, Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay NZ in 2003. After 21 successful years, Tony revived Oenotec Pty Ltd in 2008, and currently consults on winemaking, viticulture and wine business to wine companies in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, China and India. He is also a board member of the Wine Australia Corporation and a past President of both the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association and the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology. In his spare time he looks after his small Yarra Valley vineyard and mini arboretum. Jean-Michel Valette MW DWWA 2013 Judge Jean-Michel Valette MW is Chairman of Vinfolio, a US-based internet retailer and seller of fine wine. He has also been chairman and MD of Robert Mondavi Winery, as well as CEO of Franciscan Estates. Outside of wine he is a Director of the Boston Beer Company, maker of Sam Adams beer, and the Chairman of Peet's Coffee & Tea. His interest in vines and wine started at an early age during summers spent with his grandparents in Vouvray, and since becoming one of North America's early Masters of Wine, he has been active in education, examination and governance of the Institute of Masters of Wine, where he is currently Chairman. 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. Nancy Gilchrist MW DWWA 2013 Judge After some useful wine tasting experience at Cambridge University, Nancy Gilchrist MW spent a few years in America balancing wine with other careers, including publishing and a small business in a double-decker bus. In Washington she ran a wine bar close to the White House and later became wine columnist for The Boston Globe . On returning to England, she ran Grants of St James's School of Wine before leaving to work as a freelance wine educator and consultant. She passed the Master of Wine exams in 1995, winning both the Rosemount and the Listel scholarships. Nancy now leads Christieâs Wine Education and lectures widely to both the trade and the general public, including at Leith's School of Food & Wine and Cordon Bleu. She is the current UK Champagne Ambassador. Nicolas Clerc MS DWWA 2013 Judge Nicolas Clerc MS has been working with D&D London since 2009, and is currently the restaurant groupâs Beverage Manager. From 2009 to 2012 he looked after Le Pont de la Tourâs restaurant and wine shop, as well as the wine lists at neighbouring restaurants The Blueprint CafÃ©, Cantina del Ponte and Butlers Wharf Chop House. In 2012, he added Fish Market, Old Bengal Bar, New Street Grill and New Street Wine Shop to his portfolio of restaurants. Nicolas started his career in 2000 at Michelin-starred restaurants in his native France, and in the UK he has worked at Waldoâs in Cliveden House Hotel in Berkshire, Summer Lodge Hotel in Dorset, and the Milestone Hotel and Apartments in Kensington, among others. Nicolas was named UK Sommelier of the Year 2007, won Best Sommelier and Best Wine List at the Tatler Awards in 2010, and in 2011 he was awarded Champagne List of the Year at the Louis Roederer Wine List of the Year Awards. Christy Canterbury MW DWWA 2013 Judge Christy Canterbury MW is a journalist, speaker, judge and educator based in Manhattan, New York. Her articles have been published in Decanter , Wine Enthusiast , Food Arts , Beverage Media and TASTED , among other magazines and blogs, and she is the Italy Editor for the Professional Wine Reference and Consulting Editor of recently released book Rock and Vine . As a frequent public speaker, Christyâs 2012 appearances included the European Wine Bloggersâ Conference in Izmir, the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, the Women in Wine Leadership Symposium, TEXSOM, and the Mediteraneo Festival in Belgrade. Upon becoming a Master of Wine, Christy received the Villa Maria Award for Outstanding Performance in the Viticulture Examination. Ken MacKay MW DWWA 2013 Judge Ken Mackay MW has worked in the wine trade since graduating from Oxford in 1999. In 2006, he passed his Master of Wine exams at age 28, becoming one of the youngest people ever to do so and during his studies, Ken was the recipient of several scholarships. Joining Waitrose in 2008 as a Wine Buyer, Ken has been responsible for sourcing wines from Bordeaux, the Loire, RhÃ´ne, Alsace, Germany, Austria, South Africa and the USA, and he is currently the company's Wine Buying Manager. Sue Daniels DWWA 2013 Judge Sue Daniels is Marks & Spencer's winemaker for Champagne/Sparkling, Fortified, Spain, Portugal, England, Burgundy and South Africa. She has looked after sparkling and fortified wines for Marks and Spencer since 1996, and is currently studying for her Master of Wine while simultaneously bringing up three children.

DWWA 2013 Champagne Judging Panel

Latest Wine News

Kelby James Russell launches winery in New York’s Finger Lakes region

Rathfinny unveils English sparkling wine aged on the Arctic Ocean seabed

Outstanding and iconic special wines on show at the DFWE NYC