DWWA judges

DWWA judge profile: Sarah Knowles MW

Sarah Knowles MW is a buyer at The Wine Society, responsible for Champagne, Australia, New Zealand, North America, sparkling wines and spirits.

DWWA judge profile: Andres Ituarte

Andres Ituarte is Group Head Sommelier for Tamarind collection.

DWWA judge profile: Higgo Jacobs

Higgo Jacobs is a wine consultant and a founding member and past Chairman for the South African Sommelier Association (SASA).

DWWA judge profile: Keith Isaac MW

Keith Isaac MW is a veteran of Castelnau Wine Agencies, having been with the company since 1987, being appointed General Manager in 1996.

DWWA judge profile: Alun Griffiths MW

Alun Griffiths MW is International Director for Vats Liquor Company Ltd., Beijing, a major distributor of luxury spirits.

DWWA Judge profile: Ben Gubbins

Ben Gubbins teaches WSET courses at Vagabond Wines Urban Winery in Battersea Power Station.

DWWA judge profile: Robert Gorjak

Robert Gorjak is a wine writer and author. He also founded Slovenia’s first wine school, Belvi.

DWWA Judge Profile: Aldo Graziani

Aldo Graziani is the Sommelier, Owner & Manager of Aldo’s Vinoteca Restoran, the Casa Cruz Restaurante Bar and the Bebop Jazz Club as well as being a wine writer.

DWWA Judge profile: Vincent Gasnier MS

Vincent Gasnier MS is Managing Director of his own wine consultancy company, VincentGasnier.co.uk, through which he is a wine buyer and sommelier for many hotels and restaurants, and also manages cellars for private clients, hosts events and appears on TV shows.

DWWA judge profile: Katie Exton

Katie Exton is a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).

DWWA judge profile: Gareth Ferreira MS

Gareth Ferreira MS is Head Sommelier at Core by Clare Smyth. In 2021 he became the first ever South African Master Sommelier.

DWWA judge profile: Emilio Del Fante

Emilio Del Fante has a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry and now works with wine producers in the Lugano region.

DWWA judge profile: Alistair Cooper MW

Alistair Cooper MW is an independent British wine writer, judge, consultant and educator with over 20 years of experience in the industry.

DWWA judge profile: Allan Cheesman

Allan Cheesman spent over 30 years as Trading Director at Sainsbury’s. Now semi-retired, he is a non-Executive Director of Vindipendents buying group and member of the WSET Awards Supervisory Board.

DWWA judge profile: Laurent Chaniac

Laurent Chaniac is a wine consultant who has become popular offering the ultimate wine and spicy food experience.

DWWA judge profile: Adam Bruntlett

Adam Bruntlett is responsible for buying Loire, Burgundy, Jura and Savoie for the Berry Bros & Rudd group.

DWWA judge profile: Andrea Briccarello

Andrea Briccarello is a business development manager at Jascots Wine Merchants. 

DWWA judge profile: Sebastian Braun

Sebastian Braun is Wine Director at the importer Oenoforos and founder of his own import company, Vintedge .

DWWA judge profile: Wojciech Bońkowski

Wojciech Bońkowski is a wine writer, writing articles, blogs and books as well as being President of the Polish Wine Trade Association.

DWWA judge profile: Bruno Besa

Bruno Besa is Managing Director of Astrum Wine cellars.

DWWA Judge profile: Beverley Blanning MW

Beverley Blanning MW is a writer, judge, educator, presenter and tour guide.

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 Southern Italy : Anthony Rose

Anthony Rose is an award-winning wine and sake writer, and a founding member of The Wine Gang. He is the Regional Chair for Southern Italy at the DWWA 2022.

DWWA Regional Chair for Switzerland: Stefan Neumann MS

DWWA judge profile: Gearoid Devaney MS

Gearoid Devaney MS is a Director of Flint wines, an independent merchant based in London.

DWWA Acting Regional Chair for New Zealand: Rebecca Gibb MW

Rebecca Gibb MW is an award-winning wine writer, author of The Wines of New Zealand and Director of The Drinks Project.

DWWA judge profile: Andreas Rosendal

Andreas Rosendal is Restaurant Director at Whatley Manor Hotel, where he is responsible for the hotel’s Two Michelin-starred restaurant, as well as Grey’s Brasserie and the recently launched Green Room.

DWWA judge profile: David Round MW

David Round MW is Director of international music events business, Big Fish Little Fish Productions Ltd, and has launched Round About Wine, running wine events and writing about wine for consumers.

DWWA judge profile: Eric Zwiebel MS

Eric Zwiebel MS is cellar master at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel in Dorset.

DWWA judge profile: Kathrine Larsen MS

Kathrine Larsen MS is Premium Wine Ambassador at Enotria & Coe.