Devon Lochhead is a judge at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Devon Lochhead

Devon’s enthusiasm for wine began at 19, working evenings as a wine advisor in South Africa while at university.

After graduating, he moved to Hong Kong, immersing himself in the city’s buzzing wine culture. He joined Kedington wines in 2014, where he worked, studied and learned more about the industry.

Thereafter, he moved to Black Sheep Restaurants group and worked his way up to Head Sommelier.

Devon currently works for DGB Pty Ltd as the Regional Director for Asia and promotes a number of esteemed South African wineries across the region.

He passed the WSET Diploma in 2018, is a Certified WSET Wine Educator and a Stage 2 Master of Wine student.

Devon is also a regular judge for Decanter World Wine Awards, Asia Wine Challenge, Global Wine & Spirits Awards Asia and China Wine and Spirits Awards.

Follow Devon on Instagram.

See more judges at the 2026 DWWA.

Eddie McDougall is a judge at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Eddie McDougall

Eddie McDougall is an experienced CEO and investor that has 20 years of experience in the areas of winery and vineyard management, private equity investments, beverage distribution, brand building and board advisory. Highly credible as a winemaker, wine judge, TV host, and public speaker, Eddie is truly one of the wine industry’s great contributors.

In 2010, Eddie founded The Flying Winemaker; a collection of wines produced from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Eddie actively manages all the winemaking and distribution relationships across the globe with the support of his highly talented team of grape growers and winemakers.

With a winemaking CV that has been described as “Legendary” by credible industry sources, Eddie has built his winemaking credentials under some of the world’s most iconic producers. Eddie has worked with the likes of Vietti, Mas de Daumas Gassac, Giant Steps, Deep Woods Estate, and Silver Heights. In addition, Eddie’s innovative approach to winemaking led him to become the first winemaker for Hong Kong’s urban winery.

Eddie has a Bachelors in International Business majoring in International Marketing & Communications (Griffith University, Australia) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Wine Technology & Viticulture (The University of Melbourne, Australia). In 2013, he was awarded a scholarship to the Len Evans Tutorial which is regarded as one of the world’s most elite wine assessment programs. In 2018, Eddie was the recipient of The Drinks Business’s Young Achiever Award.

Outside the world of wine, Eddie is an active board member for the Australian Chambers of Commerce, a passionate whisky cask investor, rugby coach, husband and father to two boys.

Follow Eddie on Instagram, and see his website here.

See more judges for the 2026 DWWA. 

Daisuke Kawai is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Daisuke Kawai

Daisuke Kawai is an independent wine consultant and the founder of Daisuke Kawai Pte Ltd.

With 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Daisuke began his career at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo before moving to Singapore in 2010 to become the chief sommelier at Michelin 3-Star restaurant, Les Amis. He went on to found La Terre in 2015, a luxury wine bar in Singapore, before leaving to focus on his wine consulting business.

Throughout his career, Daisuke has won several accolades, including being named Best Sommelier of the Year three times in the Singapore World Gourmet Series Award in 2013, 2017, and 2019, as well as being inducted into the Hall of Fame for Best Sommelier. He was also the winner of the Gastromonth Favourite Sommelier by Robert Parker and Michelin 2017, the Asia Best Sommelier Competition in French Wines by SOPEXA 2017, and Singapore’s Best Sommelier for California Wines 2018.

Daisuke conducts wine education classes for professionals and enthusiasts alike and judges in the National Sommelier Competition of Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Asia’s Best Sommelier Competition by SOPEXA.

He was a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards for several years and joined the Decanter World Wine Awards as a judge in 2022.

Follow Daisuke on Instagram.

See more judges for the 2025 DWWA. 

Catherine Yen, a wine educator based in Hong Kong, is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Catherine Yen

Catherine Yen is a WSET diploma holder and won the McNie Tasting Trophy in 2013. Also a WSET wine educator, Catherine is qualified to teach up to Level 3. Catherine is a qualified wine expert in Japan and is a member of the Japan Sommelier Association.

Catherine is a Vinitaly International Academy Ambassador for Italian wines. Previously a Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Catherine joined the DWWA judging panel in 2024.

See more judges for the 2025 DWWA

Li Demei is a judge at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Li Demei

Demei Li is a professor and director of Enology Engineering at Beijing Agriculture College and a guest teacher at ESA Angers in France. Demei trained at Chateaux Palmer when he studied Viti-Oeno-Economie at ENITA de Bordeaux. He aims to visit all wine regions in the world and converse with Chinese consumers through the wines he has made.

Demei is the vice-director of the Chinese Wine Technology Committee and a member of the National Wine Judge Board. He is also the vice-president of the Chinese Viticulture Society, and he consults for several vineyards in China, including Helan Qingxue in Ningxia and Tiansai and Silk Road Vineyard in Xinjiang. The wines on which he consulted have won over 500 medals from the most prestigious competitions, including the International Trophy in the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2011, the highest award ever given to the Chinese wine industry.

Having judged extensively in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Europe, Demei also speaks at Wine for Future, Wine Business International, and regional associations, sharing his insights on Chinese consumer preferences. He has been the chairman of the Industry Forum at Prowine Shanghai since 2014.

Demei started writing for the Wine Review of Singapore 18 years ago. Today, he contributes to many prestigious wine publications, including DecanterChina.com. He is the author of the books Wine Communication from a Chinese Winemaker and Wine Grape Varieties and a contributor to the 4th edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine.

Among his personal achievements are the RVF Man of the Year in the Chinese Wine Industry 2012, French Mérite Agricole 2015, and Vinitaly International Award 2019.

He has previously judged at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards and joins the Decanter World Wine Awards for the first time in 2024.

See more judges for the 2024 DWWA. 

Marcus Lai is a judge at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Marcus Lai

Having left his career in the healthcare industry, Marcus Lai chose to pursue his passion in the wine business, which came about after he won a black glass wine tasting held by The Local Nose.

He then went on to set up a wine auction house based in Singapore for the Asian market which specialises in fine and rare wines and spirits.

After gaining adequate momentum in the auction circle, he took the decision to step out, seeking a change to focus more on the luxury market. He set up the company Asia Wine Cellar to have better control of the supply chain of niche wines with the best provenance.

Marcus has travelled to numerous wine regions, writes articles for The Local Nose and is currently studying the Master of Wine programme. He is also a member of the La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin & Confrérie du Sabre d’Or and is serving for both the roles as Maître de Vinothecaire.

Follow Marcus on Instagram.

See more judges for the 2024 DWWA.

Ken Man is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Ken Man

Ken Man is the Fine Wine Specialist at Ginsberg+Chan, Hong Kong. On behalf of his clients, he sources rare, distinctive and mature fine wines from the classic regions, especially from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne and Rhone.

He began his career in the UK at Majestic Wines, before becoming an on-trade specialist for Coe Vintners.

He relocated to Hong Kong in 2016 to work at a luxury fine wine and lifestyle magazine, organising major events for the publication before moving into his current role.

Ken was judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 and joined the Decanter World Wine Awards for the first time in 2022.

See more judges for the 2023 DWWA.

Nikhil Agarwal is is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) and the Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA).

Nikhil Agarwal

Nikhil Agarwal is a renowned wine and spirits expert, writer, and judge.

He represents The Edinburgh Whisky Academy in India and is the co-organiser of ProWine Mumbai. Nikhil is the brainchild behind All Things Nice, India’s leading wine, spirits, and luxury marketing & consulting agency. He has raised the bar for wine, spirits, and luxury gastronomical events with the world’s best chefs, not only in India but also internationally.

Nikhil has pioneered The Indian Wine Consumer’s Choice Awards, providing a platform for consumers to rank Indian and international wines according to their choice, irrespective of brand and price. Additionally, he is a wine and spirits retailer and importer of wines and spirits from across the world.

Nikhil Agarwal has judged extensively at international wine competitions such as Decanter, Hongkong International Wine & Spirits Competition, Frankfurt International Wine Trophy, Diageo World Class, Living Foods Epicurean Guild Awards, and more. He has spoken at masterclasses conducted by Sial China and HKTDC Wine tradeshows.

In 2020, Nikhil launched The Wine Cellar by All Things Nice to retail bespoke wines and spirits in India. Subsequently, he became a partner at Anggel’s Share LLP and is responsible for bringing in over 100 brands by the end of 2021. He won the Wine Australia scholarship, and Wine Australia subsequently made him their A+ Wine Educator in India. Nikhil was also one of five contenders shortlisted by the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London for The Julian Brind Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Wine and Spirits Industry from contenders from 90 countries. The ultra-luxury BlackBook magazine listed Nikhil Agarwal as one of their TOP 100 – Indian Luxury’s Most Influential.

Nikhil lends his written expertise to eminent publications, has been covered by most publications, and has featured on TV channels such as NDTV Profit, Times Now, Bloomberg TV, and ET Now. CNBC did a feature on Nikhil as part of the show ‘Young Turks’. Discovery TLC features Nikhil in the show The Flying Wine Maker. Nikhil was voted as one of India’s TOP 10 Movers & Shakers in Verve magazine and is a judge on the Living Foodz Epicurean Guild Awards.

Nikhil has been in the wine, spirits, and luxury business for over 19 years, working with companies such as Sula Vineyards, LVMH, and Diageo. He was appointed as Program Director of the Wines Of India Program, an industry initiative. He has conceptualized path-breaking event properties like Wine Week, Cognac Week, and Malt Week.

In 2019, ProWein made Nikhil their official Advisor in India. All Things Nice has been appointed as the co-organizer for Prowein Mumbai. He joined the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) as a judge in 2022.

See more DWWA 2023 judges.

Ying Hsien Tan, owner of Taberna, a wine academy and bar in Singapore, is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

Ying Hsien Tan MW

Ying Hsien Tan qualified as the first Singaporean Master of Wine in 2015. He was one of the first two Asian men to attain the qualification that year. He won the Institute of Masters of Wine Champagne Trinity Scholarship 2010 and was nominated to attend the Master Napa Programme in September 2013. He also won a French Wine Society scholarship for the Sud de France Master Level Program in 2013 and the 2013 AXA Millésime Scholarship for MW students.

A member of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and Commanderie de Bordeaux, Ying started tasting and studying wine as a hobby in 1983 while pursuing law studies at university in the United Kingdom. In 2009, after more than 20 years as a corporate and banking lawyer, he embarked on a different career path building on his enthusiasm for wine to become a wine journalist, speaker and educator. He owns Taberna Wine Academy where he conducts tastings, classes and wine dinners as well as hosting many leading wine producers.

As a speaker, Ying organized and hosted the Singapore Business Times Wine Night for senior business executives in 2010 and co-hosted the wine segment of the Wine & Dine TV series broadcast on Channel News Asia in the late 1990s. Outside Singapore, he has also spoken at wine events in Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, London, Ningxia and Perth

Ying judges at international wine competitions frequently. He was a judge at the 5th Singapore National Sommelier Competition in 2014 and 2016, Sopexa French Wine Sommelier Competition 2015 and at the Concours de Mondial 2016. He was on the tasting panel of Wine & Dine Singapore for several years and was a wine consultant to the World Gourmet Summit 2013 in Singapore. He was also a judge in the Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA).

He is currently researching a book on Champagne.

Sonal Holland MW, India's first and only Master of Wine, is a judge at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Sonal Holland MW

Sonal Holland is India’s first and as of yet, only Master of Wine. An award-winning media broadcaster and an in-demand speaker, she has diversified entrepreneurial ventures in education, international consultancy, events, retail and imports of wine.

Her eponymous Wine Academy has won the Domain Leadership award for its world-class online wine courses.

She is currently the Programme Ambassador for South Australian wines in India and consults the California Wine Institute on an India expansion programme.

Sonal has been featured among the Top 50 Most Powerful Women and the 100 Most Influential People in Indian Luxury, every year since 2016. Her wine columns have been featured in several newspaper, trade and lifestyle publications, both in India and overseas.

Her Youtube channel Sonal Holland Wine TV has been awarded for its pioneering work and most innovative content in wine education and entertainment.

Sonal has been a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards for several years and joins the Decanter World Wine Awards for the first time in 2022.

Judged by top wine experts from around the globe, Decanter World Wine Awards is pleased to announce its newest appointed Regional Chair for North, Central & Eastern Europe, Darrel Joseph.

Based in Vienna, Darrel has decades of experience and expert knowledge on wines from Austria and Hungary to Croatia, Serbia, Georgia, Russia and beyond. Joined by returning Regional Chair Caroline Gilby MW, wines entered in the 2022 competition can expect expert, specialist feedback, and readers – trustworthy results.

In our exclusive interview with Darrel, learn more about the countries and wine styles you should discover in 2022, his most valuable lessons in the wine industry, fascinating wine moments from the past decade and more…

Tell us a little about yourself – how did you get into wine?

I came to Europe from the United States in 1987 and settled in Vienna, where I began writing on many topics including culture and travel in Austria. Part of this included visiting wine regions in the country. At the same time, I began going across the border to Hungary and discovering some of its wines, including the one I fell in love with – Tokaji Aszú. Keep in mind that the Iron Curtain was still separating eastern and western Europe at that time, so there was a kind of special atmosphere that made everything seem rather mysterious and exotic.

All of this touched off my interest in wine (which, by the way, seemed like a natural progression without me even realising it; my grandfather had founded soft beverage production businesses in the US back in 1913, and my father eventually headed one of them until his retirement when I was a boy).

In the early 1990s, I started visiting all of Hungary’s wine regions, most of which very few people outside of the country knew about (other than Tokaj and Eger), such as Somló, Villány and Szekszárd. With the wine bug caught, I took some courses in London, and ultimately started to write about the wines of Hungary and Austria for British and American publications. Then other Eastern European wine countries and regions followed.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while working in the wine industry?

There are numerous valuable lessons, as this is a long journey in an ever-changing world. But one lesson that I feel strongly about is:

In Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus countries, so many producers, whether long-existing or recently established, have developed individual quality wines and styles that are a world – even worlds – away from the pre-1990s insipid, uniform plonk that resulted from Soviet-dominated production policies.

Today, these countries harbour treasures of indigenous grape varieties turned into stunningly crafted wines. Fortunately, some of the wines are able to be exported to fine restaurants and niche retailers abroad. But still, quite a number are not given the chance to be recognised by importers or publications in other markets because of their low-production volumes or assumptions that customers won’t warm to unfamiliar grape variety names.

But, to put it simply, the number of wine lovers, the wine-curious, and wine-adventurous, keep growing. And growing! And the smaller wineries with eclectic variety names, or even eclectic wines, deserve to be shown to this audience. It’s wonderful that some are making their mark abroad. But there are so many more that still need their knock-out secrets to be let out of the bottle!

What interested you to become an expert in the wines from North, Central & Eastern Europe?

I was becoming more and more immersed in what was right at my doorstep – the wines of Austria and Hungary. And the explosion of wines with such individual character along with their amazingly talented winemakers was simply irresistible. Vineyard after vineyard, winery after winery, the revelations were endless. I realised that this was a part of the world whose wines were virtually unknown outside of it.

As I love an underdog scenario, and love to help enlighten people of what the underdogs can produce, I continued over the borders of these countries – down to Slovenia and Croatia, and up to Czech Republic and Slovakia. And I kept meeting winemakers full of vitality and determination to break from the old mass production formulas of the Iron Curtain years and create wines that showed true regional beauty and definition. And their wines were indeed showing this!

So, with full throttle fascination, I continued further into neighbouring countries: Serbia, Macedonia (now North Macedonia), Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and on and on. Such a trove of vinous pleasures.

Are there any particular grape varieties or wine styles coming from these countries that you urge readers to try?

There is a plethora of varieties that should be tried! Croatia is loaded with indigenous grapes, and Pošip and Grk are two exciting white varieties. These are found mainly on the island of Korčula, off the Dalmatian coast, though Pošip is being planted in other areas as well. The Mediterranean fruit & herb character of Pošip, and the textured, saline beauty of Grk make these dry wines gorgeous by themselves or when paired with seafood.

For dry reds, Croatia has Plavac Mali, with its full red & dark fruit flavours and generous tannins. And throughout the Balkan countries is the mouthfillingly succulent Vranec (also spelled Vranac); North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina produce some excellent versions matured in steel or oak.

Other distinctive reds that need to be explored, in my book, are Fetească Neagră from Romania, Kadarka from Hungary, Prokupac from Serbia and, yes, one tongue-twister that I discovered many years ago, Krasnostop Zolotovsky from Russia.

In the Caucasus, there is Armenia’s beautiful Areni Noir; and Georgia, whose traditional qvevri-aged wines have become an international sensation, has the deep, chewy-rich red Saperavi. In fact, Georgia also boasts incredible white varieties that make stunning qvevri amber wines, such as Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Khikhvi and variations of Mtsvane.

Also not to be missed is Hungary’s white Furmint grape variety; although it is traditionally used as a prime component of sweet, luscious Tokaji Aszú, it has gained impressive momentum also as a single varietal dry wine.

What advice do you have for wine professionals looking to get into wine judging?

Taste. Taste. And taste. Again!

Which wine-producing areas do you think should be given more attention in 2022?

Eastern Europe as a whole… and then specifically top regions… It’s impossible to mention them all in one go!

In Slovenia, regions in the west, like Vipava Valley, have garnered major attention for superb wines. And now, the Štajerska region in the northeast is one to watch, especially as it is really a continuation of Austria’s Steiermark wine region. Before World War I, it was all one region anyway. Even with today’s border, what do you find in Štajerska? Laces of terraced vines producing lovely Sauvignon Blanc, Šipon (Furmint), Traminec (Traminer) and more. Just like in Steiermark.

In Croatia, there can never be enough attention on all of the regions, but three that simply must be spotlighted are Dalmatia with its red Plavac Mali (Pelješac peninsula) and Babić, and white Pošip and Grk; Istria, home to vivacious red Teran and the seductive white Malvasija Istarska; and the continental regions of Slavonia and Danube, where Croatia’s most widely planted grape, the white Graševina (Welschriesling), runs the style gamut from dry sparkling and still wines to sweet botrytised versions.

Other exciting top regions that should be given their due are Povardarie (Vardar River Valley) in North Macedonia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, both making excellent versions of Vranec. And there are Serbia’s regions of Fruška Gora (part of Srem), and Šumadija, which host several innovative, dynamic producers.

In Romania, indigenous grape varieties are abound, and the Drăgăşani region in the southern part of the country has some excellent versions of the white Crâmpoşie Selecţionată and the red Negru De Drăgăşani. The Czech Republic, which to me stands out for being a hotbed of innovative natural – or minimal intervention – wine production, boasts these as well as developed minerally traditional wines, especially around Mikulov in South Moravia.

This is just a glimpse at what is out there. Many wines from Bulgaria and Moldova are outstanding. And keep an eye on Turkey, Albania and the Krasnodar region of Russia.

What are your most memorable wine moments from the last ten years?

There have been so many, that I honestly can pick only a few. One of the most beautiful experiences was participating in the harvest of Plavac Mali grapes at the Plenković ‘Zlatan Otok’ winery on the Croatian island of Hvar. The steep hillside vineyards go right down to the sparkling blue Adriatic sea, and the view, while picking the ripe, dark fruit from the bush vines while a local donkey was moseying about, was tremendous.

Among several visits to Russian wineries and vineyards in the Krasnodar region, one of them comprised of exploring sleek, newly built 21^st century estates together with those dating back to Imperial Russia (Abrau Durso, the sparkling producer, and Myskhako, whose Soviet-era buildings still had a large statue of Lenin near its entry, and a preserved room where Brezhnev attended a conference). It was like a riveting time travel.

In Georgia, being able to visit one of the country’s few remaining qvevri producers and see what this art form involves was particularly thrilling. And “next door”, in Armenia, it was equally fascinating to explore the dramatically beautiful vineyards of the Vayots Dzor region – some soaring up to well over 1,000 meters – and to see the ruins of the world’s earliest known winery, dating back to more than 6,000 years, in a cave above the village of Areni.

It was particularly rewarding to conduct several masterclasses on wines from Tokaj, Georgia, Armenia and North Macedonia to wine trade professionals in South Korea. Many of them were tasting wines from these lands for the very first time. Their enthusiastic reactions said it all.

Finally, what are you looking forward to most about being the Regional Chair for North, Central & Eastern Europe at this year’s competition?

Judging at DWWA since 2007 (except for the special pandemic years), it has been wonderful to be a part of a specialist team that looks closely at the wines from these regions and provides the best possible, carefully considered feedback for each one.

And now, I am looking forward to continuing this, as well as tasting and discussing even more intricately with the Co-Chairs the merits of the wines that could potentially take them to Platinum or Best in Show.

You may also like:

Meet the judges: Q&A with Simon Field MW

Best Tokaji wines for Food – Thinking Outside the Box

Hungarian red wines: expert’s choice

Beyond Furmint: Hungary’s other key grape varieties

Incorporating the strengths of DAWA into the Decanter World Wine Awards, and with additional resources focused on one global entity, the merge will see further positive developments and growth for DWWA. 

Beyond increased benefits for entrants looking to increase sales, break into new markets and improve brand awareness, the merger will see an added focus on the Asian wine market for DWWA medal winners only – previously reserved for both DWWA and DAWA medal winners. This will include DWWA-focused events and retail partnerships across Asia, as well as collaborations with past DAWA vice-chairs and judges. 

In addition to these exclusive events and partnerships, Decanter will be devoting more editorial resources to covering Asia, further highlighting the importance of this market.

Rooted in insight, this decision means the Decanter World Wine Awards confirms its position as a truly global wine competition with worldwide recognition and the largest reach of any wine competition worldwide. 

The trusted relationship that Decanter – the world’s leading wine media brand – has with an international audience of both consumers and trade sets DWWA apart from other competitions. 

Introduced in 2012 as the sister competition to the Decanter World Wine Awards, Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA) was launched in response to the growing Asian wine market. 

Held in Hong Kong for eight consecutive years until 2019, DAWA grew to become Asia’s most prestigious and trusted wine competition.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak the 2020 competition was postponed with all efforts focused on completing Decanter World Wine Awards 2020. Subsequently, Decanter was able to reach record-breaking audience numbers globally, as well as secure exclusive and high-profile retail partnerships in Asia to promote DWWA 2020 medal winners.

Paul Newman, Decanter Managing Director said, “The Decanter World Wine Awards is the world’s biggest and best wine competition and has a truly global remit. Asia remains one of the world’s fastest-growing wine markets so it therefore makes complete sense to incorporate DAWA into the main awards programme, further strengthening it in the process.” 

Entries to the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 open on 14 January 2021. Click here to learn more about the competition and enter now.

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On 22 November, more than 80 wine enthusiasts and members of the Asian wine trade gathered at Jungsik Cafe, part of the renowned two-Michelin-star restaurant Jungsik in Seoul to discover top-awarded wines from this year’s Decanter Asia Wine Awards.

Of the 2,202 wines awarded a medal in this year’s competition, 60 were available to sample in the restaurant’s newly-opened café. Organised by wine style and body, the award-winning wines were laid out across the open-space floorplan to allow attendees both space and time to enjoy, concentrate and confirm the high quality of this year’s medal winners.

Event organiser and DAWA 2019 judge Moonsong Bang commented on the event:

Wine lover and event attendee Lee Jung-gu agreed, stating, “One of the great things about the DAWA Tasting is that you can taste a wide variety of wines from a wide variety of countries, including the UK, Georgia, and Greece, as well as the usual producers.”

From the producers’ perspective, having a DAWA-focused tasting in Korea is beneficial to a market that does not yet have access to all these wines. As Decanter’s Head of Marketing Alex Layton stated,

In total, the tasting, hosted in partnership with Mashija Magazine, included eight sparkling wines, 14 white wines, 32 red and six sweet/fortified wines.

See below to view the full list of award-winning wines available to sample at the event.

DAWA 2019 Tasting Line-up

García Carrión, Jaume Serra Brut Nature, Cava, Spain NV

40% Macabeo, 30% Parellada, 30% Xarello

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 11.5%

Ajimu, Chardonnay Extra Brut, Oita, Kyushu, Japan 2017

100% Chardonnay

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 11%

Piper-Heidsieck, Essentiel Cuvée Réservée Extra Brut, Champagne, Champagne, France NV

55% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 15% Chardonnay

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 12%

Nyetimber, Blanc de Blancs Brut, England, United Kingdom 2013

100% Chardonnay

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 12%

Dominio de la Vega, Idilicum Brut, Cava, Spain NV

100% Macabeo

Award: Silver, 91 points | Alcohol: 11.5%

Foss Marai, Guia Brut, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2018

100% Glera

Award: Silver, 90 points | Alcohol: 11%

Foss Marai, Dry, Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze, Veneto, Italy NV

100% Glera

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol: 11%

Villa Sandi, Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza Dry, Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Superiore Rive, Veneto, Italy 2018

100% Glera

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 11.5%

Maison Castel, Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France 2018

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 12.3%

Castelo de Medina, Sauvignon Blanc, Rueda, Spain 2018

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 13.5%

McGuigan, Bin 9000 Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia 2014

100% Sémillon

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 10.9%

Mount Pleasant, Lovedale Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia 2013

100% Sémillon

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 10.5%

See all DWWA 2019 results

Brokenwood, ILR Reserve Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia 2013

100% Sémillon

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 11%

Jacob’s Creek, Lyndale Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia 2018

100% Chardonnay

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 13.2%

Bird in Hand, Nest Egg Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia 2017

100% Chardonnay

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 13%

Castello di Buttrio, Torre Butria, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy 2013

70% Tocai Friulano, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc

Award: Bronze, 86 points | Alcohol: 13.5%

Moulin de Gassac, Antozonita, IGP Pays d’Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2018

90% Terret Blanc, 10% Carignan Blanc

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 11.5%

Ogier, Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France 2018

30%Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 30% Roussanne

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 13.5%

Grover Zampa, Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection, Nashik, Maharashtra, India 2018

100% Viognier

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 13.5%

Gatt, Riesling, High Eden (Eden Valley), South Australia, Australia 2014

100% Riesling

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 11.5%

Shalva Gvaramadze, Qvevri Khikhvi, Kardenakhi, Kakheti, Georgia 2018

100% Khikhvi

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 13%

La Cave des Vignerons de Pfaffenheim, Gewurztraminer, Grand Cru Steinert, Alsace, France 2017

100% Gewurztraminer

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 13.2%

Bream Creek, Reserve Pinot Noir, East Coast, Tasmania, Australia 2017

100% Pinot Noir

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14.4%

Nicolas Potel, Les Vaucrains, Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru, Burgundy, France 2016

100% Pinot Noir

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 13%

Cantina Bolzano, Prestige Line Lagrein Riserva, Alto Adige / Südtirol, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy 2016

100% Lagrein

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14%

Marchesi Alfieri, Alfiera, Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Piedmont, Italy 2016

100% Barbera

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

Cantine Romagnoli, Caravaggio, Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy 2017

60% Barbera, 30% Croatina, 10% Merlot

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol: 13.5%

Château Liouner, Listrac-Médoc, Bordeaux, France 2016

60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Award: Silver, 90 points | Alcohol: 14%

Fattoria di Magliano, Heba, Morellino di Scansano, Tuscany, Italy 2016

95% Sangiovese, 5% Syrah

Award: Silver, 92 points | Alcohol: 13%

Casa Raia, Bevilo, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy 2015

90% Sangiovese, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Canaiolo

Award: Bronze, 89 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

Read more about the DAWA Tasting from event partner, Mashija Magazine

Ridolfi, Donna Rebecca, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy 2014

100% Sangiovese

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14%

Bodegas y Viñedos Heras Cordón, Vendimia Seleccionada, Crianza, Rioja, Spain 2016

80% Tempranillo, 10% Marzuelo, 10% Graciano

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 14%

Bodegas Sobreño, Finca Sobreño Tempranillo, Reserva, Toro, Spain 2014

100% Tempranillo

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

Alejandro Fernández Tinto Pesquera, Millenium, Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2009

100% Tempranillo

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14%

Berselli & Solferino, Signature Collection Primitivo, Salento, Puglia, Italy 2017

100% Primitivo

Award: Bronze, 89 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

Clementi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy 2009

65% Corvina, 30% Rondinella, 5% Molinara

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 16.5%

Dos Almas, Reserva Carménère, Colchagua, Chile 2016

100% Carmenère

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 13%

Barton & Guestier, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, Médoc, Bordeaux, France 2018

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 14%

Luna Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 2016

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14.4%

Shottesbrooke, Single Vineyard Bush Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia 2017

100% Grenache

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

Joseph Castan, Château Croix d’Aumèdes Cuvée Réserve, Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2018

40% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 30% Grenache

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

St Hugo, Grenache-Shiraz-Mataro, Barossa, South Australia, Australia 2018

69% Grenache, 25% Shiraz, 6% Mataro

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol: 14.4%

Domaine Baquière, La Massia, Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2018

80% Grenache, 20% Syrah

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14%

Fortant Skalli, Grands Terroirs, Saint-Chinian Berlou, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2016

50% Carignan, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14%

Soliterra, Priorat, Spain 2016

60% Cariñena, 20% Garnacha, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Award: Platinum, 96 points | Alcohol: 15%

Viticultors del Priorat, Morlanda, Priorat, Spain 2016

50% Garnacha, 50% Carignan

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 15%

Avantis Estate, Agios Chronos, Evia, Central Greece, Greece 2015

92% Shiraz, 8% Viognier

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14%

Capel Vale, Whispering Hill Single Vineyard Shiraz, Mount Barker, Western Australia, Australia 2018

100% Shiraz

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14%

Wirra Wirra, Woodhenge Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia 2016

100% Shiraz

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

John Duval, Eligo Shiraz, Barossa, South Australia, Australia 2016

100% Shiraz

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

See more highlights from DAWA 2019

Monte da Ravasqueira, Reserva da Familia Touriga Nacional-Syrah, Alentejano, Portugal 2016

70% Syrah, 30% Touriga Nacional

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 14%

Stobi, Veritas Private Reserve, Tikvesh, Povardarje, Macedonia 2015

100% Vranac

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol: 14%

Chelti, Qvevri Saperavi, Kakheti, Georgia 2015

100% Saperavi

Award: Best in Show, 97 points | Alcohol: 14.5%

Ningxia Jiuximing Huang Co., Yuyue Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China 2018

95% Marselan, 5% Merlot

Award: Gold, 96 points | Alcohol: 15.8%

Dominio de la Vega, The End, Utiel Requena, Spain 2018

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Award: Bronze, 87 points | Alcohol: 14%

Monemvasia, Monemvasia-Malvasia, Monemvasia, Peloponnese, Greece 2012

60% Monemvassia, 20% Assyrtiko, 20% Kydonitsa

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 13.5%

Liaoning San He, Cai Long Ling Jin Ding Icewine, Huanren, Liaoning, China 2014

100% Vidal

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 12%

Isabella Winery, Little Beaver Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 2018

100% Riesling

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 10.5%

Schloss Gobelsburg, Grüner Veltliner Eiswein, Niederösterreich, Austria 2018

100% Grüner Veltliner

Award: Platinum, 97 points | Alcohol 8.5%

Florio, Donna Franca, Marsala Superiore Riserva, Sicily, Italy NV

100% Grillo

Award: Gold, 95 points | Alcohol: 19%

Now in its 7th year, ProWine China has firmly established itself in Shanghai. From 12-14 November 2019, more than 20,500 trade visitors attended the three-day event, which included a showcase of DAWA medal winners both on the Decanter stand and in a DAWA-focused masterclass.

Attendees from provinces and cities like Beijing, Guangdong, Xinjiang, Hainan, Shandong, Liaoning and Fujian gathered at ProWine China to network, discover and taste a wide variety of wines and spirits, including top-awarded wines from this year’s Decanter Asia Wine Awards.

Visitors to the Decanter stand had the opportunity to sample 23 DAWA 2019 award-winning wines including five Best in Show, four Gold, ten Silver and four Bronze medal winners. Spanish and Australian wines were well represented at the table, alongside wines from Italy, France, Canada and Georgia.

DAWA 2019 award winners were also showcased in a masterclass led by DAWA 2019 Vice-Chair Li Demei, a DecanterChina.com columnist, associate professor of wine tasting and oenology at Beijing Agriculture College, invited teacher at ESA Angers in France and consultant for several vineyards in China.

The full masterclass, attended by 80 members of the trade, focused on the Decanter Asia Wine Awards judging process and highlighted eight top-awarded wines from this year’s competition including:

Foss Marai, Dry, Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze, Veneto, Italy NV

Platinum, 97 points

Kartlis Valley, Qvevri Amber Kisi, Kakheti, Gerogia 2017

Best in Show, 97 points

Bream Creek, Reserve Pinot Noir, East Coast, Tasmania, Australia 2017

Best in Show, 97 points

Jiuxi Mingzhuang, Yuyue Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China 2018

Gold, 96 points

Dos Almas, Reserva Carménère, Colchaqua, Chile 2016

Gold, 95 points

Joseph Castan, Château Croix d’Aumèdes Cuvée Réserve, Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2018

Best in Show, 97 points

Alejandro Fernández Tinto Pesquera, Millenium, Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2009

Best in Show, 97 points

Osborne, V.O.R.S Capuchino, Palo Cortado, Sherry, Spain NV

Best in Show, 97 points

ProWine China: DAWA 2019 Showcase

The following award-winning wines were sampled on the Decanter stand to showcase and highlight the high quality of wines awarded at DAWA 2019.

Best in Show

St Hugo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia, 2016

Best in Show, 97 points

Capel Vale, Whispering Hill Single Vineyard Shiraz, Mount Barker, Western Australia, Australia, 2018

Best in Show, 97 points

Alejandro Fernández Tinto Pesquera, Millenium, Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2009

Best in Show, 97 points

Kartlis Valley, Qvevri Amber Kisi, Kakheti, Kakheti, Georgia, 2017

Best in Show, 97 points

Darioush, Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 2016

Best in Show, 97 points

Gold

Kingston Estate, Empiric Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2017

Gold, 95 points

Clementi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy, 2009

Gold, 95 points

Florio, Donna Franca, Marsala Superiore Riserva, Sicily, Italy, NV

Gold, 95 points

Bodegas Alvia, Titus Livius Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, 2014

Gold, 95 points

Silver 

Karland Estate, Dolores Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2016

Silver, 90 points

AZ Master, 003 Botrytis Riesling-Savagnin, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia, 2019

Silver, 90 points

AZ Master, 005 Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2019

Silver, 90 points

Fattoria di Magliano, Heba, Morellino di Scansano, Tuscany, Italy, 2016

Silver, 92 points

Ibai Viticultores, Clos Ibai Blanco, Rioja, Spain, 2017

Silver, 92 points

Bodegas Corral, Altos de Corral, Crianza, Rioja, Spain, 2015

Silver, 90 points

Bodegas Corral, Don Jacobo, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2005

Silver, 90 points

Château Cafol, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Silver, 90 points

Château de Grangeneuve, Sainte-Foy Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, 2016

Silver, 94 points

Château La Fleur Fompeyre, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Silver, 91 points

Bronze

Castello di Buttrio, Sauvignon Blanc, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy, 2018

Bronze, 88 points

Château Moulin de Bel Air, Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Bronze, 87 points

Château Saint Brice, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Bronze, 87 points

Pillitteri, Helia Vineyards Vidal Icewine, Ontario – Niagara Peninsula, Canada, 2015

Bronze, 86 points

See all DAWA 2019 results

On Saturday 16 November, the sixth edition of the Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter welcomed over 1200 fine wine aficionados at the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai Pudong to meet more than 160 star producers from 17 countries. 

An impressive 600+ fine wines were available to sample at the one-day event, including ten of the top awarded wines from this year’s Decanter Asia Wine Awards.

Located in the iconic grand ball room of the Ritz-Carlton, the DAWA winners’ table was visited by hundreds of eager wine lovers interested to sample the top-awarded wines – the ‘Best in Show’ winners – from the 2019 competition and meet DAWA 2019 judge Alex Cumming, the CEO and Head Sommelier of FirstCellars.com, one of China’s leading wine e-commerce businesses.

The diverse line-up offered tasters the ideal opportunity to sample stellar benchmarks from well-known regions like Champagne and Napa Valley and discover rising stars from countries like Georgia and Greece.

See the DAWA 2019 winners’ table line-up from the Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter and tasting notes below.

Read more about the 2019 Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter on DecanterChina.com

DAWA 2019 ‘Best in Show’ line-up:

Piper-Heidsieck, Essentiel Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France NV

Best in Show, 97 points

No trend in recent years in Champagne has been more significant than the gradual reduction of sugar levels in dosage, and it is remarkable how balanced Champagnes made in this style now seem to wine lovers and drinkers more generally. This non-vintage Blanc de Blancs illustrates the point perfectly, with its limpid purity and polished stone finesse: Extra Brut in style, yet not a trace of the gauntness and austerity once associated with low or zero-dosage Champagnes. The aromas, too, are fine-grained and pure, soft and creamy, just hinting at dessert apple and plant sap. The palate is lacy in texture, vivid and resonant in articulation; the finish fine-drawn and tapered.

Ogier, Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France 2018

Best in Show, 97 points

White Châteauneuf-du-Pape is never an obvious wine — or if it is, it’s a poor example. This wine provides a masterclass in how to bring three historic varieties together with a subtlety and grace which belies the warmth of the wine’s origins. The weight and marrow comes from its 30% Grenache; while the wine’s enticing aromatic charm – summer blossoms, crushed fennel and aniseed, acacia honey and ground white almonds – shows how well the historic Clairette can work with Roussanne. At 13.5% abv, the wine is generous without clumsiness or torpidity, and delicate yet ripe acidity and a faintly bitter, cleansing finish add to its overall style and swish.

Kartlis Valley, Qvevri Amber Kisi, Kakheti, Georgia 2017

Best in Show, 97 points

Of the two outstanding Georgian Qvevri wines to make it into this year’s DAWA top twenty, this Kisi-based amber wine is certainly the most characterful. The aromas combine freshness and rich, singular allusiveness as only skin-fermented whites can do: look out for autumn orchard fruits, windfall apples and a barley sugar tang as well as more savoury notes of cheese rind, milk curd and bread dough. You can see the legacy of the wine’s months with its skins and perhaps stems in the firmly structured tannins. The 13.2% of alcohol is perfect, bringing warmth and glycerol to balance the tannins. Great qvevri wines must always be based on fully ripe fruit, so the acidity levels are modest, while all those unusual but arresting aromatic notes come cascading back to fill out the palate with interest and intrigue. Definitely a food wine, too. NB this wine was previously known under “Kart-Valley”.

Bodegas Linaje Garsea, Archangelus Gabrihel French Oak, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2014

Best in Show, 97 points

This year’s DAWA was a great one for Spain’s Tempranillo, as a look at our other Gold and Platinum medals will confirm: we had ample, multi-region Tempranillo choice as we came to pick our top twenty Best in Show. This wine, the first of a brace of Ribera del Duero examples, is very dark in colour, with alluringly sensual aromas of fleshy plum and black cherry, cosseted by sweet spices and soft Havana leaf. On the palate, it is deep, dark and rich, with much softer tannins (for example) than its top twenty Chianti counterpart. Still more blackberry richness comes to join the plum and cherry in the mouth. The wine has attractive supporting acidity, and the oaking shows welcome restraint, allowing that gorgeous fruit to sing through.

Alejandro Fernández Tinto Pesquera, Millenium, Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2009

Best in Show, 97 points

A year in which two Ribera del Duero wines make it into the top twenty while no Rioja came through (though check out our Platinum and Gold Medal wines for some excellent Rioja choices) surely marks a milestone in the development of Spain’s great Duero region. This was the oldest wine among the still, unfortified choices in our top picks — yet a casual glance at its dark, black-purple colour is likely to surprise. The aromas, too, are youthful and packed with sweet, sumptuous black fruits; it’s really in the harmony with which these aromas swim together that you can note the passing of the years. In the mouth, the wine is soft and mouth-filling, autumnal and warm-fruited; the depth of that fruit and the amplitude of the wine’s coaxing tannins, though, mean that it still has at least a decade of cellar time ahead of it.

St Hugo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia 2016

Best in Show, 97 points

Coonawarra fights it out annually with Margaret River as the source of Australia’s finest Cabernet. We don’t have a Margaret River example in this year’s top selection, but this dark red-black wine from the 2016 vintage underscores the South Australian region’s virtues: a clean, fresh precision of aroma in which blackcurrant meets tea leaf, and lively, midweight flavours which tease yet satisfy in equal measure. The allusive profile is very different, but in terms of classicism and balance this wine marks a perfect Southern Hemisphere counterpoint to our Best in Show Chianti Classico.

Darioush, Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 2016

Best in Show, 97 points

No region can mix ease of access with both the stamp of terroir and a fine-wine dignity quite like the Napa valley, and this 2016 example lives up to all the regional promise. It’s a dark red-black in colour, with exuberant yet refined berry fruits; the palate is soft, rich, open, mixing a little fig, pepper and tobacco with generous plum and bramble. Look out, too, for the salve of its tannins. Billowing Napa Cabernet provides the core of the blend, yet 6% of Merlot and 7% of Cabernet Franc help the wine maintain its complexity all the way to a dark, softly smoky finish.

Avantis Estate, Agios Chronos, Evia, Central Greece, Greece 2015

Best in Show, 97 points

Greece’s second largest island has its indigenous specialities, but the wine which caught our judges’ attention was this Cote-Rotie-like blend of Syrah, or Shiraz, with 8% Viognier. It’s already almost four years old, but you wouldn’t know it from its dark black-purple colour; the aromas are full of sweet enchantment, both floral and fruited, while in the mouth the wine is soft, bright and lively, without any sense either of hot-country forcing or weight, or of exaggerated winery confection. More flowers enliven the swish blackcurrant and black cherry fruits. Totally convincing, and a great blind-tasting wine to get your friends guessing.

Capel Vale, Whispering Hill Single Vineyard Shiraz, Mount Barker, Western Australia, Australia 2018

Best in Show, 97 points

The Mount Barker tradition with Shiraz may not be as well known as others in Australia, but this complex, enticingly scented midweight red stakes a convincing claim to the fine-wine high ground. It’s dark but not saturatedly deep in colour; precise and enchanting floral scents and sweet spices rather than sumo-like fruit dominate the aromatic profile. The palate brings those floral and spice notes together once again, and it’s just a spoonful or two of tar and earth rather than tannin which bring complexity to the pomegranate and damson fruits. Soft, naturally articulated acidity completes the happy picture.

Henriques & Henriques, Sercial, Madeira, Portugal 2001

Best in Show, 97 points

Dry, challenging Sercial is a Madeira-lover’s Madeira. There is usually little overt sweetness with which to offset the pungency and attack of age itself (eighteen years in this case). Once discovered, though, the style is limitlessly rewarding — as those who venture into this surprisingly accessible example of the genre will find. Burnished, tamarind scents give way to a cascade of lemon, grape and grapefruit — yet the wine’s 55g/l of sugar help shape and resolve those flavours into something almost toothsome. The wine’s prominent acidity (a typical feature of Madeira) means that it tastes drier than that residual sugar level would suggest, and the evaporative concentration of the ageing process leaves the wine as clean on the last sip as it was on the first.

See all DAWA 2019 results

See all award-winning wines from the 2019 Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Asia’s most prestigious and trusted wine competition

A total of 3,155 wines from 34 countries were tasted in Hong Kong at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 (DAWA 2019). Since the competition launched in 2012, this is only the second time that 20 wines have been awarded ‘Best in Show’ – the competition’s highest accolade – making up a mere 0.6% of all wines tasted.

Wines from Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the USA all secured the prestigious Best in Show medal alongside two wines from Georgia and one from Greece.

Full DAWA 2019 results were published on Decanter.com today (30 September).

Search all Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 results here

See Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 results by medal:

All DAWA 2019 results include wine tasting notes and stockist information on where to buy the award-winning wines across Asia, where possible.

• Best in Show medals

• Platinum medals

• Gold medals

• Silver medals

• Bronze medals

This year’s competition was judged by 56 wine experts, including Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine, from 14 countries, many based in Asia.

One of the seven DAWA 2019 vice-chairs and first Asian Master of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee said,

DAWA 2019 Results

Australia and France shared the limelight for the most Best in Show wins, each securing five medals for this top accolade.

DWWA 2019 vice-chair Michael Hill Smith MW commented, “Australia has always been strong here, it’s always done well here, but it’s also exciting to see the rise of China and other wines and that’s part of the fun of doing wine competitions like this.”

China noticeably improved from the 2018 competition with more entries from more wine regions, and an increase in overall medals won, including a 10% increase in Silver medals. This year two wines received Gold medals – a Marselan from Ningxia and intriguingly, a Vidal icewine from Liaoning.

Less anticipated, Georgia and Greece both secured top spots in the Best in Show category. Georgia impressed with two Best in Show award-winning wines from lesser-known grape varieties Saperavi and Kisi and Greece equally enthralled with a Shiraz Viognier blend from Evia in Central Greece.

India made headlines with a first-ever DAWA Gold medal win for Grover Zampa’s 2018 Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection Viognier from Maharashtra. Judges described this as, “How Viognier should taste! Deliciously spicy with concentrated ripe fruit flavours and a viscous, rounded texture. Lush and long with a bittersweet edge to the finish.” Four wines were awarded Silver medals and seven Bronze from India – an increase from a total of just seven award-winning wines last year.

Aligning with positive results from the 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards, the UK also received its first-ever Gold win at DAWA for Nyetimber’s 2013 Blanc de Blancs.

Japan impressed with a Gold medal win for Ajimu’s 2017 Chardonnay Extra Brut sparkling wine. Not only is this Japan’s first DAWA Gold medal since 2015, it is also the only award-winning wine from this year’s competition to come from Kyushu; the 14 other Japanese medal winners are all from the Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures.

While Spain did not win a Best in Show medal last year, this year made up for it with three wines winning this top accolade – including two from Ribera del Duero and one from Jerez. Tempranillo did notably well, with more than 100 Spanish wines made from the variety winning a medal in this year’s competition. As DWWA 2019 vice-chair Andrew Jefford attested, “This year’s DAWA was a great one for Spain’s Tempranillo, as a look at our other Gold and Platinum medals will confirm: we had ample, multi-region Tempranillo choice as we came to pick our top twenty Best in Show.”

Italy received two top accolades for Best in Show with wines from Trentino-Alto Adige and Tuscany. Cantina Bolzano’s Best in Show win for the 2016 Prestige Line Lagrein Riserva from Alto Adige received particularly high praise from Andrew Jefford who commented, “Lists of Northern Italy’s greatest grape varieties often unaccountably omit Lagrein, yet one look, sniff and taste of this midnight-dark wine will send drinkers scrambling to reassess their priorities. This Alto Adige star shows that Italy’s Alpine corridor can compete on level terms with Piedmont, Lombardy and Collio.”

The USA made an appearance on the Best in Show list for Darioush’s 2016 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

Portugal also received this top accolade with Henriques & Henriques’ 2001 Sercial from Madeira.

Read more about the 2019 Chinese medal winners on DecanterChina.com

About DAWA Judging Week

Judging took place in Hong Kong and ran from 03 – 06 September.

Seven vice-chairs oversaw this year’s competition. The chairmanship included returning vice-chairs Li Demei, Andrew Jefford, Michael Hill-Smith MW, Poh Tiong Ch’ng, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Jeannie Cho Lee MW and new DAWA 2019 vice-chair, Hiroshi Ishida.

Six new judges joined this year’s judging panel, made up of more than 50 top wine experts from across Asia and beyond. New DAWA 2019 judges included Darius Allyn MS, Jacky Luk, Derek Li, Alan Tse, Wataru Iwata and Andrea Martinisi. Many judges work at top restaurant and drinks establishments in Asia.

See what happened at DAWA 2019 Judging Week

How the wines are tasted

Wines are organised for tasting by country, region, colour, grape, style and vintage to ensure that they are judged in flights against their peers.

Medal categories correspond to the 100-point scoring system used by Decanter and many top wine critics around the world.

After competing for bronze, silver, and gold medals, the gold medalists are re-categorised by grape or style and re-tasted by a panel consisting of vice-chairs. The wines are judged according to their origin and the judges will be aware of countries, regions, sub-regions, grapes and vintage. A platinum medal is awarded to the best wines in each category.

Best in Show is the ultimate accolade at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. In a separate tasting, the vice-chairs will select the ‘Best in Show’ from the Platinum winners. The vice-chairs will be aware of the origins, grapes and vintages of the wines they are tasting, but not the name of the wine or producer.

Asia-based wine lovers will have the chance to try this year’s winning wines at several events this winter including the Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter on 16 November.

Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 was kindly sponsored by:

Vice Chair Hiroshi Ishida catches up with fellow wine experts ahead of a full day of judging

Julien Boulard MW greets Vice Chair Michael Hill-Smith MW on the first day of judging week

Opening speeches are made each day by the Vice Chairs ahead of judging

A flight of wines being prepared behind the scenes

Vice Chair Poh Tiong Ch’ng and his panel of judges enjoying the judging process

Global Director of Hotels and On Premise for Treasury Wine Estates in Shanghai, David Shoemaker was a judge at DAWA 2019

Vice Chair Michael Hill-Smith MW and his team of judges blind taste a flight of wines in search for Gold

DAWA 2019 judge Wallace Lo is the Group Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at HAKU in Hong Kong

Vice Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW

Beverage Director for The Grove and Baduzzi restaurants, Andrea Martinisi was a judge at this year's DAWA 2019

Jeannie Cho Lee MW greets DAWA 2019 judges

Vice Chair Li Demei focuses as he tastes through a flight of wines during judging week

Vice Chair Sarah Jane Evans MW greets new DAWA 2019 judge Jacky Luk, Head Sommelier at Forum Restaurant in Hong Kong

Vice Chair Andrew Jefford sits with his panel to sample and discuss wines

DAWA 2019 judges blind tasted more than 3,000 wines from 34 countries

New Vice Chair Hiroshi Ishida sits with his panel to discuss a flight of wines

Vice Chair Jeannie Cho Lee MW

Michael Hill-Smith MW and his panel after a day of judging more than 80 wines

Judges Gurjit Singh Barry and Magandeep Singh at the 2019 Judges' Party

DAWA 2019 judges gather and relax after a full day of judging

After each day of judging, the judges are invited to try all the wines that were awarded a gold medal that day

The 2019 Vice Chairs celebrate the last day of judging week

The incredible team behind DAWA 2019 judging week

Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 was kindly sponsored by Riedel

Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 was kindly sponsored by Acqua Panna

The judging room at Decanter Asia Wine Awards is full of top wine experts from Asia and beyond, and while all heads are down and focused during the judges’ search for Gold, there is a great sense of camaraderie in the room, but even more so when the judging day is done.

Held on Wednesday 4 September after a full day of judging, the judges came together for the 2019 Judges’ Party to celebrate the return of the eighth annual Decanter Asia Wine Awards. As expressed by many of the returning judges, Judging Week is a reunion. DAWA judges travel from near and far to taste, examine and discuss hundreds of wines during the week, but they also come to Hong Kong for Judging Week to re-connect, learn, network and share a mutual passion for wine with fellow experts.

The fun had at the Judges’ Party was a clear testament to this. See what the judges had to say about judging at DAWA, as well as photo highlights from this year’s celebration:

See all DAWA 2019 judges’ profiles here

Photo highlights from the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 Judges’ Party

Award-winning Sommelier Zachary Tay

David Hsiao, Head Sommelier at Michelin-starred La Cocotte
in Taiwan

Gurjit Singh Barry and Decanter's Head of Events & Awards, Victoria Stanage

Vice Chair Andrew Jefford and Corinne Mui

Vice Chair Li Demei and National Education Director for ASC Fine Wines, Dorian Tang

Award-winning Sommelier Wataru Iwata

Master Sommelier Darius Allyn, Sake professional and Head Sommelier at Yardbird and Ronin in Hong Kong, Kiyoshi Hoshimi-Caines, Decanter's Sally Cheng and Beverage Director at Yardbird, Ronin and Sunday's Grocery restaurants in Hong Kong, Elliot Faber

Shanghai-based wine and food journalist Denis Lin, Vice Chair Li Demei and Dorian Tang

DGB Regional Manager for Asia Devon Lochhead and Certified Sommelier and CEO of e-commerce business FirstCellars.com, Alex Cumming

Decanter's Managing Director Robin McMillan and new DAWA 2019 Vice Chair, Hiroshi Ishida

Master Sommelier Darius Allyn and Master of Wine Julien Boulard

(left to right) Vice Chair Hiroshi Ishida, wine consultant Moonsong Bang, Wataru Iwata, Andrea Martinisi and Yoichi Sato, owner and sommelier of Maxivin restaurant in Tokyo

Group Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at HAKU Wallace Lo, DGB Regional Manager for Asia Devon Lochhead, and Certified Sommelier and CEO of e-commerce business FirstCellars.com, Alex Cumming

Decanter China Editor Sylvia Wu and Ken Man, Buyer and Fine Wine Specialist at Ginsberg+Chan

Global Director of Hotels and On Premise for Treasury Wine Estates in Shanghai, David Shoemaker and Decanter's Olivia Mason, Vahan Agulian and Simon Wright

(left to right) WSET Certified Wine Educator and Journalist, Mabel Lai, Corinne Mui, Moonsong Bang, Sally Cheng and Chris So (far right), who runs winelist.hk - a wine media, education and consultancy company based in Hong Kong

Chris So, Devon Lochhead and Nikhil Agarwal, a trained Sommelier, wine and spirits writer and editor for Food and Wine Magazine India

Sommelier and Group Wallace Lo, Beverage Director for The Grove and Baduzzi restaurants Andrea Martinisi, and French Sommelier Yves Sauboua

Head Sommelier at Forum Restaurant Hong Kong, Jacky Luk, and Group Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at HAKU, Wallace Lo

Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 is kindly sponsored by Acqua Panna and Riedel

Almost 60 wine professionals from 14 different countries have gathered in Hong Kong for Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019 judging week.

This morning, Tuesday 3 September, saw the start of Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA) 2019 judging week, which runs from 3 – 6 September.

During the week a total of 3,183 wines from 34 countries will be judged by 56 wine experts, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers from across Asia.

Follow live coverage of DAWA 2019 juding week via our social media wall

This year we welcome new Vice Chair Hiroshi Ishida alongside returning Vice Chairs Jeannie Cho Lee MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Li Demei, Andrew Jefford, Michael Hill-Smith MW and Poh Tiong Ch’ng to oversee the 2019 competition.

We also welcome six new judges to DAWA 2019 including:

• Jacky Luk
• Derek Li
• Alan Tse
• Wataru Iwata
• Andrea Martinisi
• Darius Allyn MS

See all DAWA 2019 judges’ profiles here

Opening speeches were made by three of this year’s Vice Chairs, beginning with Jeannie Cho Lee MW who commented on the Asian wine market:

Vice Chair Li Demei, who has been judging at DAWA since 2014, continued with words of advice to the judges:

In an interview earlier this morning with Vice Chair Poh Tiong Ch’ng, Poh commented on what he is looking for during judging week, stating:

Michael Hill-Smith MW – wine producer, international wine judge, wine consultant and the first Australian to pass the rigorous Master of Wine examination in 1988 – concluded the Vice Chair speeches with a tribute to the late Gerard Basset. He expressed:

How the wines are tasted:

Wines are organised for tasting by country, region, colour, grape, style and vintage to ensure that they are judged in flights against their peers.

Medal categories correspond to the 100-point scoring system used by Decanter and many top wine critics around the world.

After competing for Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, the Gold medalists are re-categorised by grape or style and re-tasted by a panel consisting of Regional Chairs and Vice Chairs. The wines are judged according to their origin and the judges will be aware of countries, regions, sub-regions, grapes, vintage and price bands.

Best in Show is the ultimate accolade at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. In a separate tasting, the Vice Chairs will select the ‘Best in Show’ from the Platinum winners. The Vice-Chairs will be aware of the origins, grapes and vintages.

Results from DAWA 2019 will be available to the public from 20 September

Asian consumers will have the chance to try DAWA 2019 award-winning wines at several upcoming events including the Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter on 16 November and Decanter Seoul on 22 November.

DAWA 2019 is kindly sponsored by:

Ronald Khoo, a wine buyer for Cathay Pacific airlines, joins the Decanter Asia Wine Awards as a new judge for 2019.

Ronald Khoo

Ron Khoo is an accountant by training who stumbled upon the world of fine wine and gourmet food, left the numbers and headed towards his passion. His journey of more than 19 years of entrepreneurial experience includes running businesses involved in wine importation, retail, wholesale and restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He then spent 3 years running a social business which helps feed children in need and continues to be active in The Food for Good Project during his free time.

He is a WSET Diploma holder and has facilitated multiple wine education classes, tastings and has contributed to various lifestyle publications on wine & travel.

Ron currently lives in Hong Kong and works for Cathay Pacific where he manages the wine & spirits program.

2019 is Khoo’s first year as a Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge.

Leon Liang, a wine educator and founder of Grapea Institute, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019.

Leon Liang

Leon Liang is the founder of Shanghai Sannianjian Wine Club, as well as the COO of Grapea Institute which delivers world-class wine and spirit education in China through their strong and diverse team of educators, conducting WSET, ONAV and other regional certification courses.

Leon himself is an official educator of ONAV CHINA, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and Blind Wine tasting. He is the Chief Ambassador of Piccole Cantine Italiane, and a wine judge of the Wine100 competitions, as well as the translator for The Concise Guide to Wine and Blind Tasting.

Mathias Camilleri MS, who recently moved across to the wine department at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Mathias Camilleri MS

Mathias Camilleri MS is currently working in the wine department of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Originally from France, Mathias began his career in wine in 2011 by passing a wine degree at Lycée Albert de Mun in Paris.

Camilleri moved to the UK straight after completing his degree and spent almost six years there. Beginning as a commis sommelier at the Vineyard at Stockcross in Newbury, he then moved to London to join the team at Medlar Restaurant where he spent three years as a sommelier. He then became Head Sommelier at one Michelin starred restaurant The Five Fields, also in London, between 2016 and 2018. After six years in the UK, Mathias decided to move to Singapore and take up a position as Head Sommelier at CÉ LA VI Singapore for more than a year.

In 2015 Mathias was awarded UK Young Sommelier and International Young Sommelier by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. He then won the UK Sommelier of the Year competition and achieved the prestigious Master Sommelier title, both in 2017.

Head Sommelier at Forum Restaurant Hong Kong, Jacky Luk is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Jacky Luk

Jacky Luk is the Head Sommelier at Forum Restaurant, a two Michelin starred Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong. He has been working in the hospitality industry for many years and also has wine sales and hotel experience. He is the holder of his WSET advanced qualification, the Sake Sommelier Service Institute (SSI), and the Court of Master Sommelier Advanced level.

Jacky Luk is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019.

Award winning sommelier for JIA Group Derek Li is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Derek Li

Hong Kong born sommelier Derek Li joined global hospitality company, JIA Group as the group sommelier in 2017, overseeing thirteen restaurants including Michelin-starred Duddell’s and Louise with Julien Royer. Li is an Advanced Sommelier of the Court of Master Sommelier (CMS) and has his WSET Diploma. He is also currently Vice President of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association.

Talented, passionate and personable, Derek was recognised as the Best Sommelier in Greater China 2015 by the Hong Kong Sommelier Association and Sopexa. He was a runner-up for the South Africa Sommelier Cup Competition Asia and second runner-up of the One Belt One Road Asia Sommelier Competition in 2019. Finally, he was a semi-finalist of the ASI Asia Oceanic Sommelier Competition in 2018.

Derek is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019.

French and German wine specialist and founder of Wein & Vin Boon Heng, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Boon Heng

Boon Heng was a Chartered Engineer by profession and has been learning about wine since 1999. After returning from London, Boon founded Wein & Vin in Singapore in 2010, which specialises in Boon’s favourites – French and German wines.

Boon is the first local wine merchant in Singapore to achieve the WSET Diploma.

Boon’s expertise lies mainly in Champagne, German Rieslings, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Pinot Noir.

Cassidy Dart MW is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Cassidy Dart MW is the fifth South African to have passed the Master of Wine qualification. He has worked in the wine industry since 2002 across several roles, most recently as Director of Wine for Pol Roger Champagne in the UK. He moved to Beijing in 2019 and currently consults for several clients including British Airways, Mullineux and Leeu Wines in South Africa and Company Fine Wine, a bespoke wine advisory firm in Napa. He has given wine tasting lectures at Oxford, Cambridge and Stanford Universities and is a member of the Chevalier de Tastevin in Burgundy.

Director of Wine for the Aberdeen Marina Club in Hong Kong, Alan Tse is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Awards 2019

Alan Tse

Alan Tse is Director of Wine for Aberdeen Marina Club, Hong Kong.

He completed the WSET Diploma in 2012, and went on to achieve his WSET Certified Educator qualification. He then completed his Advanced Sommelier for the Court of Master Sommeliers and became an Accredited Wine Educator for Le Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux. In addition he also obtained the Certified Rioja Wine Educator Qualification from Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja in 2018.

As well as wine, Alan Tse is also a spirits and sake lover.

Award winning sommelier Wataru Iwata is joining the judging team at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Wataru Iwata

Wataru Iwata was born in Nagoya, Japan. He moved to New Zealand in 2013 and after spending three years in Auckland and one year in Europe, he moved back to Japan, and started to work in a popular wine Bar, Cave de K, in Kyoto.

Iwata was named the Best Sommelier of Japan in 2017, and also won the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale Asia-Oceania Best Sommelier Competition in 2018. He achieved 11th place in the A.S.I Best Sommelier in the world competition 2019.

Iwata starts as sommelier in a new hotel The Thousand Kyoto from October 2019. In the meantime, he has been working as wine ambassador for several Japanese companies.

With extensive experience working as a sommelier at many Michelin starred restaurants, Andrea Martinisi is a new judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Andrea Martinisi

Hailing from Perugia, Italy, Andrea Martinisi started working in hospitality in 2008, moving through Michelin starred restaurants and hotels such as St.Hubertus and Villa Feltrinelli in Italy. He moved to Australia in 2012 to work as a sommelier in Vue de Monde restaurant for a year.

Martinisi traveled to the UK in February 2014 to work as a sommelier at The Fat Duck, Berkshire and proceeded to return to Australia to open The Fat Duck, Melbourne. From 2016 until its closure in 2018, Martinisi was Head Sommelier for Gerard Basset’s Hotel Terravina.

He then moved to New Zealand, where he is currently working as Group Beverage Director for The Grove and Baduzzi restaurants.

Among many other projects, Andrea Martinisi is currently preparing for his Master Sommelier Diploma. He also achieved 5th place in the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale Best Sommelier of Asia and Oceania 2018 and 14th place in the ASI Best Sommelier in the world competition 2019.

Adrian Zhang, Group Director of Wine and Spirits for FCC Shanghai, is a judge at the 2019 Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Adrian Zhang

Adrian Zhang currently works for FCC Shanghai, a Chinese restaurant group, as the Group Director of Wine and Spirits, overseeing the beverage program for ten restaurants.

He previously worked at Park Hyatt Shanghai for ten years, and assumed the position of Director of Wine, in charge of two wine cellars containing more than 450 wines, a stock of 4,500 bottles.

Over the course of his career, Adrian has acquired the Certified Specialist of Wine accredited by the Society of Wine Educators, the WSET Diploma and Advanced Sommelier of the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has achieved second place in China’s Best Sommelier Competition of French Wine 2016, and was Champion in the China National Sommelier Competition in 2016.

Adrian has been a Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge since 2017.

Yin How Wong, Managing Director of Vintry Group Wine Bars and Restaurants in Malaysia, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Yin How Wong

A lawyer by training from the London School of Economics, Yin How Wong founded Vintry Cellars in 2005. As Managing Director, he currently oversees the operations of the Vintry Group of wine bars and restaurants in Malaysia, which carry an extensive list of over 1,000 different wines at their four outlets.

In 2010, Yin How Wong became the first Asian recipient of the AXA Millésimes Scholarship, which offers scholars hands-on experience at vineyards in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Languedoc, Douro and Tokaji. He is currently studying for the Master of Wine, is the Vice President of the Food and Wine Society of Kuala Lumpur and he was the founding secretary of the Sommelier’s Association of Malaysia.

Yin How Wong has been a Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge since 2014.

Silven Wong, wine buyer for casino hotel MGM Macau, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Silven Wong

Silven Wong is the wine buyer for Casino-Hotel MGM Macau and a wine educator in his time away from office.

Silven started his career in the procurement office of MGM Macau and was soon assigned the task of handling all alcohol-related purchases, which put him in a position to constantly work with the hotel’s wine team and food and beverage managers; tasting, sourcing and assisting in managing the wine inventory of the group’s wine and beverage program.

He is a WSET Certified Educator and is a Certified Sake Sommelier from the Sake Sommelier Association.

Sarah Wong, a freelance wine writer from Hong Kong, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Sarah Wong

Sarah Wong is a freelance wine writer and judge. Born and educated in Hong Kong, she discovered wine while studying in America, and her knowledge and expertise has been developed through extensive education, tasting and competition judging.

Sarah’s visits to wine regions have included Mendoza, Piedmont and Napa Valley, and she previously participated in a harvest at Islander Winery in South Australia, where she helped with grape picking and sorting. Sarah currently writes for various publications, including contributing a weekly wine column to South China Morning Post, the English language newspaper in Hong Kong.

Sarah Wong has been a Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge since 2012.

Founder of fine wine service provider Wainwright Advisors, David Wainwright is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

David Wainwright

Taking a junior administrative position at Christie’s Wine Department in London in July 1998, David Wainwright quickly rose through the ranks to head up their New York Department just over two years later. After more than 4 years in New York as the International Department’s leading taster and business acquirer, David moved back to London as a freelance consultant.

He took up a position on the Senior Management Team of New York based Zachy’s in 2006, then opened their Hong Kong office in 2008. As the market exploded in 2010, David moved to Hong Kong as Senior Managing Director to fully develop, manage and run both the retail and auction businesses across Europe and Asia.

Looking for a new challenge and with growing demand for his expertise, David set up Wainwright Advisors in 2015. He manages a number of collections and portfolios, liaising with government authorities on counterfeits and providing guidance on strategy, marketing and acquisitions. With increasing demand for sourcing and acquisitions, David set up Andromeda Rare Wine in late 2016, a fine wine & whisky enterprise.

Having worked extensively in Europe, UK, USA and Asia over some 20 years, David is a great source for acquisitions, guidance and expertise in the world of fine and rare wine.

David Wainwright is a member of the Hong Kong Wine Society, the Chevaliers des Tastevin, the Knights of Alba Truffles & Wine, the Commanderie des Bordeaux and also judges and writes for a number of leading wine and spirits publications. He is a Director of Stellenbosch based charity The Pebbles Project where he runs The Pebbles Fine Wine Tasting program and in his spare time is researching for his first book.

Award winning sommelier Zachary Tay is a judge at the 2019 Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Zachary Tay

Zachary Tay first entered the world of gastronomy through the kitchen before finding his niche in wine. He spent five years in restaurants in Singapore before going on to sharpen his skills in Switzerland, where he earned a Silver medal in ZAGG, Switzerland’s national culinary competition, in 2004.

Inspired by Europe’s longstanding wine culture, he found his calling at Les Amis where he worked his way up over five years, achieving the coveted World Gourmet Summit’s Bodegas Torres wine scholarship in 2007. In 2010 he was nominated for the World Gourmet Summit’s Sommelier of the Year, serving as Les Amis’s Chef Sommelier until 2011.

In 2017, Zachary won the “Flight Club” challenge, a series of blind tastings organised by Premium Independent Wines of South Africa, successfully identifying 5 French wines amongst 30 others.

National Education Director for ASC Fine Wines, Dorian Tang is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Dorian Tang

National Education Director of ASC Fine Wine and WSET Diploma holder, Dorian Tang has a wealth of experience in the wine trade, having previously worked as a sommelier in the United States for more than five years. She is one of the most respected wine educators within mainland China.

Tang won “Best Educator of the Year” from Wine Australia in 2014 and 2018 for her work in promoting Australian wine education in China relating in particular to course design, teaching delivery, student support and learning goals. Dorian Tang has been a Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge since 2013.

Chris So, from winelist.hk, a wine media, education, and consultancy company in Hong Kong, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Chris So

Chris So runs winelist.hk, a wine media, education and consultancy company based in Hong Kong. He is also a WSET Certified Educator and consultant for the on and off trade. He holds the WSET Diploma and has been teaching wine and spirits at the Hong Kong University Space since 2010. In addition, Chris judges at competitions for wine, sake, spirits, beer and coffee.

Chris So has a passion for spirits and coffee, becoming the Hong Kong Champion in the 2018 Coffee in Good Spirits Competition. He also coaches the Hong Kong University Space Wine Team which recently won the 2019 Left Bank Bordeaux Cup, the first ever win for an Asian team. Chris is studying for the Master of Wine, and is focusing on the final research paper stage of the examination process.

Magandeep Singh, a sommelier, TV presenter and acclaimed wine writer from India, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Magandeep Singh

Magandeep Singh, is India’s first French-qualified Sommelier. In the last two decades, Magandeep has consistently worked with the top hotels, restaurants and wineries in India trying to bring about a wine revolution. Through his company Wi-Not Beverage Solutions, they’ve trained over 10,000 Indians in wine, certifying them through India’s only bricks-and-mortar beverage school, the Institute of Wine + Beverage Studies (IWBS).

In addition to this, Magandeep writes columns in the food, beverage and lifestyle space for the top national dailies and luxury magazines with a combined circulation exceeding one million.

Author of Wine Wisdom, now in its third edition, he was awarded the Silver Medal at the World Gourmand Awards for his book’s importance as an educational reference. His next book, ‘The Indian Spirit’, documents the history of alcohol in India since 2000 BC and is being released this year.

Global Director of Hotels and On Premise for Treasury Wine Estates in Shanghai, David Shoemaker is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

David Shoemaker

Since late 2017 David Shoemaker has been Global Director of Hotels and On Premise for Treasury Wine Estates based in Shanghai. He brings nearly 30 years of experience in Food and Beverage operations leadership, management and finance. Prior to his current role David was Brand Ambassador for American brands at Treasury Wine Estates focusing on Asian consumer markets.

Named one of the Top Ten Sommeliers in China by The Drinks Business, David is an acclaimed sommelier with professional qualifications in both wine and spirits. He is an Advanced Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, International Sommelier Guild Level 2, Certified Specialist in wine by the Society of Wine Educators, Certified Spanish Wine Educator and possesses an Advanced certificate by the Bar Smarts program. He belongs to various industry organizations and has been a judge for the Decanter Asia Wine Awards since 2015.

Before joining TWE, David was Sommelier and Beverage Director for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Shanghai working very closely with the food and beverage management, procurement and finance teams. Prior to this, David spent more than 19 years managing the food and bevarge operations at Talk of The Town Restaurant Group in Orlando, Florida in the U.S.A.

With nearly three decades in the drinks trade, David has established successful drinks programs, wine and beverage lists across several continents and has helped build teams that have achieved more than 50 awards from international wine media and organisations including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiasts and the China Wine List Awards.

Yves Sauboua, a French sommelier based in Hong Kong, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Yves Sauboua

Yves Sauboua grew up in the famous wine-making region of Margaux and has worked in the food and wine industry for over twenty years. His career has seen him work with world-renowned chefs, including Alain Ducasse, restaurants such as Troisgros Relais & Chateaux, and Le Relais Bernard Loiseau, as well as many wineries, private dining clubs and hotels.

Yves spent time working in London and America, and has held the titles of restaurant manager and wine buyer at London’s Monte’s Club, sommelier and wine director of the Ritz Carlton Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta, and estate sommelier and goodwill ambassador for California’s Chalk Hill Winery. During his time in Hong Kong, Sauboua has worked with Paulo Pong at Altaya wines limited, Miramar group as corporate wine director and Shangri-La hotels.

Yoichi Sato, owner and sommelier of Maxivin restaurant in Tokyo, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Yoichi Sato

Osaka-born Yoichi Sato trained as a sommelier in France before returning to his native Japan in 1991 to work at Tokyo’s Enoteca Pinchiorri as a sommelier. In 1994, he became Chief Sommelier at Joël Robuchon’s restaurant Taillevent Robuchon, before spending three years working in several different restaurants.

Yoichi opened his own restaurant Maxivin in Roppongi Tokyo in 2000, and is still the owner and sommelier today. He was named the Best Sommelier of Japan in 2005 and won the World’s Best Sommelier Competition in Greece in 2007. Yoichi became a director of the Japan Sommelier Association in 2008 and was one of two Japanese representatives at the Best Sommelier of Asia-Oceania contest in 2012. He received his International Sommelier Association Diploma in 2012, and became a Tokyo Meister in 2013.

A recent recruit to the team at LIBER, Shanghai based Jean-Marie Pratt is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Jean-Marie Pratt

Jean-Marie Pratt began his professional journey under the tutelage of one of the greatest sommeliers, Gerard Basset MS MW OBE, at Basset’s boutique hotel and restaurant chain, Hotel du Vin. Jean-Marie then became Head Sommelier at Gordon Ramsay’s eponymous three Michelin star restaurant in London, aged just 23.

Jean-Marie then embarked on a tour of the New World, gaining invaluable experience in wine-making and wine retail. In 2012, Jean-Marie joined Sarment, a leading wine importer in China, excited by the prospect of empowering Chinese consumers in their enjoyment of wine. In 2019, he joined LIBER, an independent privately-owned company dedicated to premium wines, champagnes, and spirits. Based in Shanghai, his outstanding wine knowledge, talent and ability to communicate with clients make him an invaluable asset to lead LIBER’s expansion in mainland China.

João Pires MS, Director of Wine at Melco Resorts & Entertainment in Macao, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

João Pires MS

João Pires MS is Director of Wine for Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s properties in Macao: Altira Macau, City of Dreams Macau and Studio City Macau.

Portuguese Pires has worked as a sommelier in Paris, Lisbon, Montreal and Toronto. He then moved to the UK in January 2005 where worked at various establishments including the Capital Hotel in London; as wine director for the Vineyard at Stockcross in Berkshire; at Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road and as Head Sommelier at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.

Pires is currently studying to become a Master of Wine and has been a judge for the Decanter Asia Wine Awards since 2015.

Professional wine service provider and mentor, Lim Hwee Peng is a judge at the Decanter Asia Awards 2019

Lim Hwee Peng

Certified Wine Educator and French Wine Scholar Lim Hwee Peng is a professional wine service provider and mentor, who coaches and certifies hundreds of professionals in Singapore and South East Asia through internationally certified wine qualifications, such as the French Wine Scholarship program.

Despite his multiple exposure in wine trade since the 1990s, Lim remains a committed student of wine and acquires knowledge through international certification programs. He continues to hone his tasting skills through wine judging opportunities in South Africa, South America, Italy, and various regional wine shows in Australia.

As well as being a Certified Wine Educator and French Wine Scholar, Lim was also a DUX (an outstanding candidate) of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course by Australian Wine Research Institute. In 2017, he was recognised by the Singapore Wine and Food and Beverage industries as a Sommelier Mentor of the Year. He was also awarded the Working Peoples’ Advocate 2017 by Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress for his efforts to increase professionalism among his peers. In January 2018, the Wine Scholar Guild awarded him Best Instructor, French Wine Scholar Program 2017.

Accredited Wine Educator and Member of the Institute of Wines and Spirits, Corinne Mui, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Corinne Mui

Corinne Mui is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Wine Educator of the Asian Wine Service and Education Centre. She is a member of the UK based Institute of Wines and Spirits and runs Hong Kong’s only centre offering WSET courses up to and including Diploma level.

She is an accredited educator for WSET, A+ Australian Wine School, Barossa Wine School, Chile Wine Academy, Bordeaux Wine School (CIVB), New Zealand Wine School, Sud de France Master Level Program, Spanish Wine Academy, Rioja Wine Academy and the Sake Sommelier Association.

Corinne Mui is also the official wine ambassador for various wine-producing countries and conducts regular training for the food and beverage industry and media in Asia. Corinne has judged at many wine shows in Australia, Europe, China and Hong Kong.

Founder and Chief Wine Editor of Beijing based Wineonline.cn, Maxime Jiang Lu is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Maxime Jiang Lu

Maxime Jiang Lu is Founder and Chief Wine Editor of Wineonline.cn and has been running a wine club based in Beijing since 2005. In 2006 he founded Wineschool.cn, where he became Chief Wine Educator and in 2011 he also established Wineblogchina.com where he assumed responsibility for the core content. Maxime Lu is a contributor for ProWine China and DecanterChina.com.

A member of several blind tasting panels for publications including RVF China, Food & Wine China and Wine in China, Maxime also acts as a wine consultant for various companies.

Over the last 15 years, Maxime has visited the wine regions of USA, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and Moldova.

Maxime Jiang Lu is a regular judge for both domestic and international wine competitions and has been a Decanter Asia Wine Awards judge since 2015.

Wallace Lo, Group Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at HAKU, Hong Kong, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Wallace Lo

Wallace Lo is Group Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at HAKU, Hong Kong, having previously been Head Sommelier at The Park Lane, Hong Kong.

In 2015 he was first Runner-Up of the Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania Competition, and the Champion of both Best Sommelier of Greater China and Best Sommelier of Hong Kong in 2013. He has been ranked among the Top 25 Sommeliers in Hong Kong by the Drink World Asia Magazine in both 2016 and 2015, and regularly sits on the tasting panel of Cru Magazine and Wine Luxe Magazine.

His previous sommelier roles have seen him work for restaurants such as Le Comptoir Group, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hotel ICON and The French Window, now French Window Brasserie and Bar.

Denis Lin, a wine and food journalist based in Shanghai, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Denis Lin

WSET Diploma holder, Denis Lin has been working as a wine and food journalist since 2002, following a career as Creative Director in the advertising industry. Lin is the author of “Tipsy Sketch”, 2016 Gourmand Award winner for best illustrated wine book, “The Beauty of Tipsiness” and “My Wine Tasting Notes”.

In addition to writing, Lin is an experienced wine judge in many international competitions. He also organises wine events and tasting courses for a number of importers and trade offices, including Bordeaux Wine School, Wine Australia, Vini Portugal, and the California Wine Institute. Since moving to Shanghai in 2007 he has been working in wine education and promotion all around China.

Denis was the 2010 winner of the Wine Australia Communicator Award in China, and his articles have been published in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, in publications including Shenzhen News, Wine Life, Target, Modern Weekly, Aussino Wine Life, and Fine Wine & Liquor. Denis Lin has been judging for the Decanter Asia Wine Awards since 2013.

With over 14 years' experience as a sommelier, Pierre Legrandois is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Pierre Legrandois

Pierre Legrandois is General Manager of family owned Links Concept, one of the leading distributors of wine and spirits across Macau and China, which primarily represents family owned vineyards. Working in hospitality for over 14 years as a sommelier, Pierre started his career at the two Michelin-starred restaurant, Gerard Vie in Versailles and then moved to Monaco where he worked under Alain Ducasse’s team at the three Michelin-starred Louis XV.

Venturing over to London he opened Sketch in 2001 with Pierre Gagnaire and then continued on his journey with the three Michelin-starred Chef to Hong Kong, where he was Head Sommelier at the legendary Mandarin Oriental when it reopened in 2006. Pierre joined Links Concept in 2009.

Chee Wee Lee, a wine specialist based in Singapore and founder of Vino Cave, is a judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2019

Chee Wee Lee

Chee Wee Lee is the founder of Vino Cave, a Singapore-based wine distribution company which represents producers from Burgundy, the Rhône Valley and America. He was bitten by the wine bug when he tasted a 1970 Y’quem on his fourth day in the wine trade. After working for five years as a wine distributor, Lee joined supermarket chain Cold Storage as Category Manager for beer, wines and spirits, before becoming General Manager of Auric Pacific Fine Wines, and then setting up Vino Cave a year later.

Over the course of a decade, Lee has completed the Certified Wine Specialist Program, and the Burgundy Wine Educator Accreditation Program by Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB). He is a regular guest speaker for Singapore Airlines’ in-flight sommelier program.