DWWA Regional Italy Judging Panel

Ian D'Agata.jpg an DâAgata is one of Italyâs best known wine experts and was named Italyâs best wine journalist 2012 by the Comitato Grandi Crus dâItalia. Ian writes on the wines of Italy, Bordeaux and Canada for Stephen Tanzerâs International Wine Cellar, and is a regular Decanter contributor. He is the author of The Ecco Guide to the Best Wines of Italy and an annual, bilingual Guide to Excellence in Italian Wines, published in Italy. He is Co-Director of the Rome International Wine School, and lectures on Italian food and wine cultural history for New York Universityâs Food Sciences Masterâs program. He also directs the Italian language New Wine Journal and is regularly invited to present on wine and health at international wine conferences. Prior to his wine career, Ian studied medicine, graduating in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. Robert Giorgione.jpg Robert Giorgione is a London-based, independent wine, food and travel writer, blogger and award-winning sommelier. He has been in the hospitality industry for more than 25 years, including 15 years as a top-flight sommelier for Oxo Tower Restaurant, La Tante Claire, Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols and Orrery Restaurant. He has won and been nominated for the best wine list many times. Since 2006, Robert has been writing for the Borough Market and Marylebone Journal magazines. In 2009, Robert went to New Zealand to research his first book An Epicurean Odyssey: A Road Trip Around New Zealand, which he self-published in 2011 via Lulu.com. Robertâs knowledge and experience has enabled him to set up his own consultancy and roving sommelier social media business. You can connect with Robert at www.robertgiorgione.com and follow his tweets and updates on Twitter @rovingsommelier. Theresa Paopao.jpg Theresa Paopao hails from the small town of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. She left island life to pursue a graduate degree at the Yale School of Drama in New Haven, CT and then moved to Boston where she fell in love with the restaurant business and the world of wine. In 2004, she joined Ana Sortun of Oleana in Cambridge, first as manager before expanding the role to include Wine Director. In 2010, she moved to New York City to take on the role of Wine Director for David Changâs Momofuku restaurants. Among other accolades and achivements, Paopao is certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers and is currently completing the Advanced Certification through WSET. Walter Speller.jpg Walter Speller started his career in wine as a wine buyer and sommelier in an Italian restaurant in the 1990s in Berlin. Before moving to London in 2003, he worked a vintage at ChÃ¢teau Haut-Bages-LibÃ©ral in Pauillac. In London, Speller worked for Terence Conranâs Le Pont de la Tour, first as a sommelier then as a buyer for its wine merchant, a role which involved looking after its 1,400-bin list and organising more than 150 master classes with winemakers from all over the world. In 2008, he set up his own consultancy and works with producers from Italy. Based in London and Padua, Walter also reports on all things Italian on www.jancisrobinson.com, and is currently researching for the Italian chapter of the new edition of the World Atlas of Wine. Elizabeth Ferguson.jpg Elizabeth Ferguson joined the UK wine trade in 2001 after spending three years living in Italy and Greece. She is currently Marketing and Wine Director at Metzendorff and has an incredible passion for Italy and its wines thanks to being married to an Italian and previously working as an Italian Brand Manager. Emily O'Hare.jpg Emily OâHare is the wine buyer at Londonâs River CafÃ©. She also consults for British restaurant chain, Canteen. Emily has been a finalist in the Circle of Wine Writersâ Young Wine Writer of the Year competition and has written for national newspapers and trade titles. Emily runs a Womens tasting group - âWomen! Know your Wines!â, and a wine-focused pop-up restaurant whizzbangpop.com. Massimiliano Jacobacci.jpg Massimiliano Jacobacci was immersed in the world of fine wines while growing up as both his father and grandfather were respected Oenologists. He studied Biology in his home town of Rome and then after serving as an officer in the Italian navy, he arrived in London. Intrigued by the changing palates of the city, Massimiliano joined a new generation of young chefs and cooked professionally for three years before returning to his roots in the wine industry. Inspired by the Hemingway novel, he set up âA Moveable Feastâ, running wine tasting dinners and consulting for food and wine dot coms. In 2004, Massimiliano founded FortyFive10Â° to import some of Italyâs finest and terroir specific wines, focusing on wholesale and retail markets. Nick Bielak.jpg After several forays to Italy, Nick Bielak emigrated in 1996 and inevitably became involved in wine, working for a Puglian winery until 2003. He then returned to London to work for Bibendum as an Italian specialist. Since 2006 he has had the privilage of working with Nicolas Belfrage MW, with whom he roams Italy's vast expanse of DOCs and DOCGs, consulting with producers and enologists in an attempt to synthesize the exponential and detailed world that is Italian wine. Nick currently spends half his time in Italy and half in London. Anne Forrest.jpg Anne Forrest is the Italian Buyer at Laithwaites Wine and is also responsible for Portugal, Argentina,fortified wine, and spirits. Before she got into wine, her first love was for languages and she speaks Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Her first wine job was with Arblaster and Clarke Wine Tours where she worked during university holidays. After graduating, she taught English in Rome for a year and then in Madrid for three years. She returned to the UK in 2005 and began working with Laithwaites Wine in its sales team. She quickly moved into the Buying Department and has looked after a number of different regions in that time. Bruno Besa.jpg Originally from Friuli, Bruno Besa has been living in London since 1986. After almost 20 years working in hotels and restaurants, he founded Astrum Wine Cellars in 2001, along with long term friends and former colleagues Max Folli and Stefano Benato from Stafano Cavallini Restaurant at the Halkin hotel in Belgravia. Bruno is currently Managing Director of Astrum Wine Cellars, representing around 50 wineries and distilleries from Italy and Central Europe. Chris Murphy.jpg Chris Murphy has worked at Marks & Spencer all his life and has spent the best part of the last three decades sourcing wines from around the world. For the past five years he has concentrated on the M&S Wine Club, âWine Onlineâ and has judged at wine competitions both at home and abroad. Chris has tried to adhere to the advice given him by Christopher Tatham when he was first starting out, that âthe first duty of a wine is to be deliciousâ. Andrea Sturniolo.jpg Italian Andrea Sturniolo moved to London in 1994 and studied for the WSET examinations whilst helping open the London section of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier. Heading back to Italy in 2002, he set up and taught the wine-culture/wine-tasting courses at the International Wine Academy of Rome as Vice-Director. During this time he began working with an Italian wine guide and various press and web publications. Andrea has been back in London since 2006 and now works for a catering company while continuing to contribute to magazines both abroad and in the UK. Angelo Sabbadin.jpg Angelo Sabbadin, Wine Director Angelo was born and raised outside the city of Padua in northeastern Italy. His interest in wine began when he was stationed to do military service in the hills outside Gorizia, close to the Slovenian boarder, where he fell in love first with the vineyards and consequently with the local wines. After working as a sommelier for twenty years in many of Paduaâs top restaurants, Angelo joined the wine team at Le Calandre in 2006. He gradually worked his way from cellar manager to wine buyer for all six restaurants of the Alajmo family restaurants, including Gran Caffe & Ristorante Quadri in St. Markâs Square, Venice. In January 2010, Angelo revolutionized the wine list at Le Calandre, organizing it by grape variety rather than region and formatting for Ipad. His hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. He was named Sommelier of the Year in 2011 in Italyâs Espresso Wine Guide.

DWWA Regional Italy Judging Panel

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