DWWA 2022 Regional Chairs

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Beth Willard

After working for Syndicat des Vins de Bordeaux, Beth Willard moved into buying roles, including her time as Buying Manager for Direct Wines.

DWWA Regional Chair for the Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, and Croatia & Slovenia: Dr Caroline Gilby MW

Caroline Gilby MW is an author, writer and consultant, specialising on Central and Eastern Europe.

DWWA Regional Chair for Southern Italy : Anthony Rose

Anthony Rose is an award-winning wine and sake writer, and a founding member of The Wine Gang.

DWWA Regional Chair for Burgundy & Champagne: Charles Curtis MW

Charles Curtis MW writes regularly for a number of magazines.

DWWA Regional Chair for Chile: Peter Richards MW

Peter is a TV presenter, broadcaster, author and writer.

DWWA Regional Chair for Australia: Huon Hooke

Huon Hooke is an educator, international wine judge and writer, having published 19 books on wine.

DWWA Regional Chair for Piedmont: Michaela Morris

Michaela Morris is an international wine writer and educator, based in Vancouver, Canada.

DWWA Regional Chair for Tuscany: Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW

Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW is the Regional Chair for Tuscany at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards and a consultant tutor at the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in London.

DWWA Regional Chair for the USA & Central America: James Tidwell MS

James Tidwell MS consults for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and founded the TEXSOM conference and awards.

DWWA Regional Chair Veneto: Richard Baudains

Richard Baudains, a longstanding contributor to Decanter, also works as a Cambridge University English language examiner.

DWWA Regional Chair for Portugal: Sarah Ahmed

Sarah Ahmed, aka The Wine Detective, is an independent, London-based wine writer, educator and judge.

DWWA Regional Chair for Piedmont: Stephen Brook

Wine writer and Decanter contributor Stephen Brook is the Regional Chair for Piedmont at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2023.

DWWA Regional Chair for Provence: Rod Smith MW

Rod Smith MW is a wine educator, marketer and salesman, based in the South of France.

DWWA Regional Chair for Canada: Barbara Philip MW

Barbara Philip MW is category manager at BC LIQUOR in Canada, as well as a lecturer, radio columnist and consultant.

DWWA Regional Chair for Languedoc-Roussillon: Justin Howard-Sneyd MW

Howard-Sneyd founded The Hive Wine Consulting and makes wine at Domaine of the Bee.

DWWA Regional Chair for Port & Madeira: Richard Mayson

An expert in the wines of Iberia, Richard Mayson writes regularly for Decanter, contributes to The Oxford Companion to Wine, and has written 5 books.

DWWA Regional Chair for Beaujolais, Southwest and Rest of France: Dominique Vrigneau

Dominique Vrigneau is Buying Director at Watermill Wines and a Chevalier du Tastevin.

DWWA Regional Chair for South & Eastern Mediterranean: Caro Maurer MW

Caro Maurer MW is a wine writer based in Bonn, Germany, with a writing career spanning almost 30 years.

DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône: Matt Walls

Matt Walls is an award-winning freelance wine writer, author, blogger and consultant, contributing regular articles to Decanter.

DWWA Regional Chair for Switzerland: Stefan Neumann MS

Stefan Neumann MS runs his own consultancy and online blinding tasting course.

DWWA Regional Chair for Germany and Austria: Markus del Monego MW

Markus Del Monego MW, Best Sommelier of the World 1998, is wine advisor to Lufthansa airlines and runs consultancy company tasteTainment GmbH.

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, an active member of numerous wine committees, is a wine writer, consultant and educator .

DWWA Regional Chair for South Africa: Fiona McDonald

Fiona McDonald, trained news journalist turned wine writer, is Regional Chair for South Africa at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2019.

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Ferran Centelles

Ferran Centelles is a wine writer specialising in Spanish wine for JancisRobinson.com.

DWWA Regional Chair for Australia: Justin Knock MW

Justin Knock MW is the Director of Wine for Decant London, a new fine wine merchant and importer based in central London.

DWWA Regional Chair for Asia: Poh Tiong Ch'ng

A lawyer by training, Poh Tiong Ch'ng published the world’s first Chinese Bordeaux Guide in 2000 and is the author of 100 Top Chinese Restaurants of the World.

DWWA Regional Chair for Argentina: Paz Levinson

Argentine Paz Levinson is Executive Head Sommelier for Groupe Pic and a wine educator.

DWWA Regional Chair for Central Italy: Andy Howard MW

Andy Howard MW runs his own consultancy business, Vinetrades Ltd, which focuses on education, judging, investment and sourcing.

DWWA Regional Chair for Alsace: Thierry Meyer

Thierry Meyer is the Regional Chair for Alsace at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2023.

DWWA Regional Chair for Loire: Jim Budd

Jim Budd is a wine writer and has been writing for Decanter since 1989.