DWWA 2026

DWWA Regional Chair for Burgundy & Champagne: Charles Curtis MW

Charles Curtis MW writes regularly for a number of magazines.

DWWA Regional Chair for Tuscany: Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW

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

DWWA Co-Chair: Beth Willard

Beth Willard, former wine buyer and now a key figure in Spanish wine industry, is a Co-Chair at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2026.

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 for Greece & Cyprus: Terry Kandylis

Terry Kandylis is the Group Head Sommelier at the Noble Rot Restaurant & Wine Bar.

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 Bordeaux: Matthew Stubbs MW

Matthew Stubbs MW, a highly accomplished wine professional and educator, is the joint Regional Chair for Bordeaux at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 (DWWA).

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 is a winemaker 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 New Zealand: Cameron Douglas MS

New Zealand’s first Master Sommelier, Cameron Douglas MS is in charge of the wine and beverage programme at AUT University in Auckland.

DWWA Regional Chair for Northern Italy: Michael Garner

Michael Garner is a regular contributor to Decanter, and co-owner of Italian Wine Specialists Tria Wines Limited.

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 the UK: Simon Field MW

Simon Field MW worked for Berry Brothers & Rudd for over 20 years. In 2015, he was admitted into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.

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 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) 2026.

DWWA Co-Chair: Ronan Sayburn MS

Ronan Sayburn MS, CEO for the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, is a Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

DWWA Regional Chair for Australia: Justin Knock MW

Justin Knock MW is the founder of Élevage Wines, an importer of exceptional artisanal wine wines to the UK that launched in 2024.

DWWA Co-Chair: Michael Hill Smith AM MW

Michael, wine producer, international wine judge, wine consultant, and occasional wine writer, is a DWWA Co-Chair.

DWWA Co-Chair: Andrew Jefford

Andrew has been writing and broadcasting about wine since the 1980s, winning many awards for his work.

DWWA Regional Chair for Argentina: Paz Levinson

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