DWWA 2017 Judge

Rebecca Palmer

  • June 15, 2018

Rebecca Palmer Rebecca Palmer is associate director and buyer for Corney & Barrow Ltd based in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. As head of commercial buying, she is responsible for…

Linda Jotham MW

  • July 4, 2017

Linda Jotham MW Linda Jotham MW became a Master of Wine in 2001, winning the Bollinger Medal for Tasting Excellence and the Tim Derouet Memorial Award for overall best performance…

Lionel Periner

  • July 4, 2017

Lionel Periner Originally from the South of France, Lionel Periner has been a certified sommelier for 17 years. He joined Hotel du Vin in 2007 and later starting working with…

Litta Larsen

  • July 4, 2017

Litta Larsen Litta Larsen is Danish but grew up in Italy until the age of 14. She has a Masters degree in Marketing and Business from the Copenhagen Business School…

DWWA judge profile: Lukasz Walkowiak

  • July 4, 2017

Lukasz Walkowiak Originally from Poland, Lukasz Walkowiak began his career in wine in 2011 at Dylan Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. He then joined Burgundy-focused Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental…

Michael Madrigale

  • July 4, 2017

Michael Madrigale Michael Madrigale hails from a Philadelphia area family whose five butcher shops and shared love of eating well left their mark. His food-centric Italian-American upbringing clearly prepared him…

Raphaël Rodriguez

  • July 4, 2017

Raphaël Rodriguez Originally an engineer in the French Air Force, Raphaël Rodriguez switched careers after taking a restaurant job on a short sabbatical in London. After re-training at the prestigious…

Rebecca Gergely Ohayon

  • July 4, 2017

Rebecca Gergely Ohayon Paris-born Rebecca Gergely Ohayon is Director of La Marchande, importing mainly French wines from emerging talented wineries for prestigious UK tables, such as La Trompette and Summer…

Richard Maltby

  • July 4, 2017

Richard Maltby Richard Maltby holds a degree in food technology and worked in the food industry for 15 years, a profession which cultivated a passion for wines. This became a…

Romain Bourger

  • July 3, 2017

Romain Bourger Romain Bourger is Head Sommelier at The Vineyard at Stockcross. He won UK Young Sommelier of the Year in 2016 and went through to the finals of the…

DWWA judge profile: Simon Milroy

  • July 3, 2017

Simon Milroy Simon started his career at Majestic Wine, during which time he managed various stores in central London and developed a keen interest in Fine Wine. Whilst there he…

Taina Vilkuna

  • June 27, 2017

Taina Vilkuna After studying International Politics at university, Taina Vilkuna soon let her passion for wine, especially Champagne, take the lead to embark on a career at the Finnish alcohol…

Tamas Czinki

  • June 27, 2017

Tamas Czinki Tamas Czinki was born and raised in Hungary where he started his 10 year career in the catering industry. Having passed his WSET level 2 and level 3,…

Tim Hall

  • June 27, 2017

Tim Hall Tim Hall caught the wine bug and joined the wine trade in 1993, switching from a successful career in education to work for an importer, and he then…

Victoria Burt MW

  • June 27, 2017

Victoria Burt MW Victoria Burt MW is the Product Development Manager for Wine Qualifications at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, where she plays an instrumental role in the continuous…

Yves Desmaris MS

  • June 27, 2017

Yves Desmaris MS Originally from Lyon Yves Desmaris MS moved to the Rhône valley with his family when he was 7 years old. His career in wine started at the…