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(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

From 24 to 30 April, almost 300 international wine experts gathered in London for the first round of judging at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Already the world’s largest wine competition, this year saw the largest number of entries yet with almost 18,500 wines judged.

Summarising the first round of judging, Co-Chair Michael Hill Smith MW commented:

‘Outstanding wines, outstanding judges. Great to have the band back together.’

Sarah Jane Evans MW added, ‘It’s been a very, very exciting week. We’ve had all sorts of discoveries of wines from new varieties and regions to the classics. It’s been great working with experts – people who really know the places that they are judging, who can explain to you what you can find.

‘It’s been great to recognise and find wines that we can recommend to consumers. It’s inspiring.’

Second and third round judging to award Platinum and Best in Show medals commences this week. Scroll down to see photo highlights from the first week of Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 judging…

DWWA 2022 photo highlights

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

The four Co-Chairs address Regional Chairs each morning before judging

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

One of four full rooms of panels during judging week

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Co-Chairs Ronan Sayburn MS and Michael Hill Smith MW look around the judging rooms to offer assistance

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Each wine awarded a Gold medal by a panel is re-tasted by the Co-Chairs for confirmation before moving onto the next round of judging

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

New Regional Chair for Switzerland, Stefan Neumann MS discusses a wine's merits with judges Tamas Czinki MS and Emilio Del Fante

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Ferran Centelles and Beth Willard share a laugh on the Spain panel

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Ronan Sayburn MS confirms a Gold wine at the Provence panel

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Regional Chair Poh Tiong Ch'ng and judges Annette Scarfe MW and Peter Csizmadia-Honigh on the Asia panel

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Regional Chairs Dominique Vrigneau and Matt Walls discuss before a day of judging

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Hong Kong-based judge Corinne Mui judging on the Australia panel

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Past Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge Julien Boulard MW judges for the first time at DWWA 2022

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Senior judge Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW and Andres Ituarte judge on the Veneto panel, led by Regional Chair Richard Baudains

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Élyse Lambert MS and James John MW on the Bordeaux panel

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Team South America celebrates a successful week of judging at the DWWA judges' party

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

The DWWA judges' party was kindly sponsored by Champagne Billecart-Salmon, where judges' received a first taste of Cuvée Louis Salmon Brut, Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2008 from Mathieu Roland-Billecart

(Image credit: Nic Crilly-Hargrave)

Thank you to Riedel - the official sponsor of the Decanter World Wine Awards 2022

Olivia Mason
Olivia Mason
Head of Marketin

Olivia Mason is the Head of Marketing at Decanter, looking after Decanter World Wine Awards, Decanter Fine Wine Encounters, partnerships and the brand's involvement at international events