DWWA 2019

Top sparkling wines showcased at The Great Sparkling Exploration

The 16th Decanter World Wine Awards Judging Week begins

Over 280 international wine experts have come to London....

DWWA judge profile: Jane MacQuitty

Jane MacQuitty is a wine writer, author, judge and commentator.

DWWA judge profile: David Jean

David Jean is a Buyer for Denner in Switzerland, focusing on their Swiss and New World portfolio.

DWWA judge profile: Bruno Murciano

Bruno Murciano is on H2Vin’s management team, aiding sales and client relations whilst further developing H2Vin’s Spanish Agencies.

DWWA judge profile: Aristide Spies MS

Aristide Spies MS runs La Cave des Sommeliers, a chain of wine shops in Belgium and Luxembourg.

DWWA judge profile: Claire Nam

Claire Nam is a wine writer in Korea and UK as well as being an Italian Wine Ambassador certified by Vinitaly International Academy. She has set up a micro-négociant GARAM in Bordeaux, producing a micro-cuvée Graves Blanc ‘Les Trois Mains’.

DWWA judge profile: Alessio Spadone

Alessio Spadone manages the cellar of his family business, La Bandiera.

DWWA judge profile: James Reed

James Reed is a buyer at Majestic Wine.

DWWA judge profile: Bérenger Piras

Bérenger Piras is the Head Buyer of the leading French online wine retailer VINATIS.

DWWA judge profile: Peter Nixon

Peter Nixon has been with Australia's leading multi-channel drinks retailer, Dan Murphy's, for almost a decade. He established the their Wine Panel and in January 2018, he took on the additional role of Category Manager for International Wine at Dan Murphy's.

DWWA judge profile: Bob Betz MW

Bob Betz MW is the consulting winemaker of Betz Family Winery in Washington State, a company he and his wife established in 1997; he currently also consults for a number of other North American west coast wineries on winemaking, sensory and blending issues.

DWWA judge profile: Yiannis Karakasis MW

Yiannis Karakasis MW is founder of karakasis.mw blog and a contributor to books, international magazines and sites. He consults for several businesses, including online wine retailers, export companies and hotels.

DWWA Judge profile: Douglas Wood

Douglas Wood is owner of Scottish independent merchant, WoodWinters. They have has two retail branches but the majority of business is through wholesaling to restaurants and hotels covering all of the UK, its own agency arm importing and distributing wines and its own award winning range of single cask whiskies.

DWWA judge profile: Simon Taylor

Simon Taylor is founder of Stone, Vine & Sun, a mail order wine merchant specialising in Languedoc-Roussillon, the Rhône, South Africa and South America.

DWWA judge profile: Lindsay Talas

Having spent over 10 years working in the multiple grocer sector, Lindsay Talas now works for Watermill Wines, combining buying and selling to key accounts.

DWWA Judge profile: Ruth Spivey

Ruth Spivey has set up the speed tasting night FLIGHT CLUB, opened her own street food wine bar, STREET VIN and created an ongoing series of consumer tastings – WINE CAR BOOT.

DWWA judge profile: Christopher Sherwood

Christopher Sherwood is sole buyer and general manager of the four Bottle Apostle stores, founded in 2009 in Hackney, East London.

DWWA judge profile: Mark Savage MW

As owner and CEO of Savage Selection, Mark Savage MW is agent for about 50 small family wine estates in twelve countries.

DWWA judge profile: Lynne Sherriff MW

Lynne Sherriff MW works as an educator and independent wine consultant.

DWWA judge profile: David Roberts MW

David Roberts MW has over 25 years experience in the wine trade and specialises in wine buying.