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Dr Orsolya Szentkiralyi is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) Dr Orsolya Szentkiralyi Dr Orsolya Szentkiralyi is a Hungarian-born wine professional, judge, and author. She runs her wine consultancy Liquid Talent. Her wine career began in hospitality where she worked as a sommelier in top restaurants worldwide. Later, she transitioned to luxury wine retail, eventually starting …

Melissa Worrall is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) Melissa Worrall Melissa Worrall Beginning her career in her native Barossa Valley, Melissa experienced all facets of winery life, from cellar door to pruning to pump overs. Now London based with a Diploma of Wine & Spirits and over 15 years industry experience, Melissa can also add …

Luma Monteiro is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Luma Monteiro Luma Monteiro Luma Monteiro is a wine judge, buyer, and wine communicator. After ten years of working in a multinational mining company as a senior buyer, she moved to the UK in 2016 to work exclusively with wine. She has varied experiences in the wine …

Treve Ring is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) Treve Ring Treve Ring Treve Ring is a wine writer and editor, judge and speaker, and perpetual traveller. She is based on Vancouver Island, Canada, though is most often found on a plane or in a vineyard. Afte completing her Art History degree with Distinction from the …

Eddie McDougall is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. Eddie McDougall Eddie McDougall Eddie McDougall has 20 years of experience in winery and vineyard management, private equity investments, beverage distribution, brand building, and board advisory. As a renowned winemaker, judge, TV host, and public speaker, Eddie is one of the wine industry’s most influential leaders. In 2010, …

Wieteke Teppema is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Wieteke Teppema Wieteke Teppema Wieteke Teppema is originally from Holland and has spent 10 years working as a sommelier in some of London’s best loved Michelin stared restaurants, including Trinity, The Square and The Ledbury. In 2012, she left the floor to work for wine merchant Roberson …

Bree Stock is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Bree Stock MW Bree Stock MW

Sumita Sarma is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Sumita Sarma Sumita Sarma Sumi is an experienced wine buyer and consultant who entered the wine industry through broadcasting and journalism a decade ago. She writes for publications such as The Buyer and Academie du Vin and has worked with various wine schools in London as an …

Erik Simonics is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Erik Simonics Erik Simonics Erik Simonics is the Group Head Sommelier at The Birley Clubs. Born and raised in Slovakia, he moved to London in 2010 and started his sommelier career at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, followed by the French fine dining restaurant Orrery. In 2012, he …

Two years after China imposed a punitive tax on Australian wine, Australia’s grape growers are still suffering. The New York Times reports on the crisis. “Farmers are facing a choice between selling grapes at a huge loss or keeping costs to a minimum and not harvesting…China went from being the biggest buyer of Australian wine, accounting for 40 percent of …

A selection of 11 red and white wines from the Pessac-Léognan region were showcased in this masterclass, these included: Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2012 Château Couhins-Lurton, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan 2009, Château Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Léognan 2008 Château Olivier, Pessac-Léognan 2003, and Château Smith Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan 2010. Complicated weather conditions tested winemakers in the vineyards and cellars in Pessac and Graves in 2020 …

Château Dauzac. A strong showing for Margaux in 2020 that battled with difficult growing conditions like much of the Left Bank, with estates battling with climatic extremes and dealing with drought the best they could. Estates on clay-gravels performed well and those that harvested grapes at full maturity from the middle of September were generally successful. Scroll down to see …

Denis Broci, Claridge’s There’s no denying it. Tequila is absolutely on fire right now. In fact, the spirit, which probably gave a great deal of us all our first proper hangover (it certainly caused mine), has well and truly become the super-premium drink of choice. That’s if the numbers coming out of the US – where at least 75% of …

Merchants making up La Place de Bordeaux distribution system are continuing to take on new fine wines from around the world and the latest round of ‘beyond Bordeaux’ international releases has arrived in March 2023. In Bordeaux itself, this month has marked the first release of Château Latour 2015 and is set to also see Château d’Yquem 2020’s market debut …

Kalita Vineyard ‘The wines from 2019 have a youthful exuberance that is so exciting.’ Shane More of Zena Crown shares. ‘They ring with freshness, vibrancy, and vitality. Our 2019 Pinot Noirs are exhilaratingly pure and will live for decades.’ It was a cool and wet vintage in the Willamette Valley that was far more common a decade ago. After a stretch …

Bordeaux grapegrowers are planning to tear out almost 23,500 acres of vines—and they’re thrilled. After nine months of negotiations with local, regional and national government representatives, on March 1 the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) reached an agreement with Marc Fesneau, France’s minister of agriculture and food sovereignty, for financing the vine pull. These uprooting efforts will allow struggling growers to …

Cathy van Zyl MW is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. Cathy van Zyl MW Cathy van Zyl MW Cathy van Zyl became the first Master of Wine from the African continent when she passed the notoriously difficult and prestigious MW examination in 2005. She served as Chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IWM) education …

Rick Fisher is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Rick Fisher

Elsa Macdonald MW is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Elsa Macdonald MW Elsa Macdonald MW Elsa Macdonald MW is head of wine education at Arterra Wines Canada. In this role, she shares her knowledge and zeal for wine with sommeliers, WSET Diploma students and trade professionals across the country. She is also the marketing manager for Le …

Ieva Markaityte is a judge at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Ieva Markaityte Ieva Markaityte Ieva Markaityte runs the wine program for a new Portuguese restaurant in London called ‘Lisboeta’, which is headed by Nuno Mendes. Ieva’s passion for wine started 17 years ago in Minneapolis, where she managed an Italian wine bar. After working there for four …