DWWA 2013 UK Judging Panel

Stephen Skelton MW DWWA 2013 Regional Chair Stephen Skelton MW started his career in wine in 1975. After 12 months at Schloss SchÃ¶nborn in Germany's Rheingau winegrowing region and two terms at Geisenheim Wine School, he returned to the UK in 1977 to establish Tenterden Vineyards in Kent, where he made wine for 23 vintages. He was Winemaker at Lamberhurst Vineyards from 1988â1991. Stephen is a consultant to the English wine industry and is involved with planting vineyards for the production of sparkling wine. He became a Master of Wine in 2003. Richard Hemming DWWA 2013 Judge Richard Hemming is a freelance wine writer and educator. He has written for JancisRobinson.com regularly since 2008, and is also drinks writer for Sainsburyâs Magazine , wine columnist for the Publicanâs Morning Advertiser and has been published by the Financial Times , Decanter , the Drinks Business , Harpers Wine & Spirit , and The World Of Fine Wine . Alongside writing, Richard runs events and wine courses for companies and private clients. His previous roles in the wine industry include six years of UK retail management, viticultural assistant work at a leading estate in Kent, and surviving (just) the 2008 vintage in McLaren Vale as a cellarhand. Richard began studying for the Master of Wine qualification in 2009, passing the theory exam in 2011 and the tasting exam in 2012. In what little free time is left, Richard plays the piano a bit and cooks as much as possible. Sue Daniels DWWA 2013 Judge Sue Daniels is Marks & Spencer's winemaker for Champagne/Sparkling, Fortified, Spain, Portugal, England, Burgundy and South Africa. She has looked after sparkling and fortified wines for Marks and Spencer since 1996, and is currently studying for her Master of Wine while simultaneously bringing up three children. Justin Howard-Sneyd MW DWWA 2013 Judge Justin Howard-Sneyd MW's career in the wine trade started when he worked in a shop, ran wine education courses, and worked six vintages in South Africa, Hungary, Romania and France. He then settled down in England to become a buyer for Safeway, and passed the MW in 1999, winning the Tim Derrouet Award as the outstanding student from his year. A year later, Justin joined Sainsbury's, where he was a buyer until 2005, when he moved to Waitrose to head up their wine team for 5 years. Justin is now Global Wine Consultant to Direct Wines and founder of The Hive Wine Consulting Limited. In addition to the day job, he and his family make 4,000 bottles a year of Domaine of the Bee, a blend of Grenache and Carignan from Roussillon.

DWWA 2013 UK Judging Panel

Latest Wine News

Angry French grape growers smash bottles outside Lidl

France will uproot 27,500 hectares of vineyards to combat oversupply crisis

Jason Millar: ‘What’s actually wrong with a little throaty roar in a 15% Roussillon red?’

Napa Valley estate once home to ‘Two Buck Chuck’ producer is up for sale

Concha y Toro becomes the largest producer to join the Bottle Weight Accord