IWC JUDGES

Oz Clarke Judge Emeritus is one of the world's most recognised wine communicators — famous for his extraordinary palate, storytelling ability and talent for making wine thrilling and accessible. After a successful career as a performer with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in major West End productions, Oz became one of the UK's leading wine authorities.

His award-winning television work includes Food and Drink, the hit Oz & James series with James May, and regular appearances on James Martin's Saturday Morning. He has written more than 20 influential books, including Red & White, Let Me Tell You About Wine, and The History of Wine in 100 Bottles.

Appointed OBE in 2020, Oz has shaped consumer understanding of wine for decades. As Co-Chair, he brings deep global tasting experience, accuracy and enthusiasm to the IWC, helping oversee blind tasting and confirming Golds and Trophies.

Oz is unofficially the wizard of wine!

Matías Prezioso is a leading figure in the Argentine and South American sommelier community. Former president of the Argentine Association of Sommeliers and current VP Americas Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, he is the founder at VinEsence, a consultancy specializing in wine sales, marketing and communication. digital marketing and sales. Matías combines his knowledge in tasting with a solid understanding of global markets and a 360 ° of the wine business.

Patricio Tapia graduated with a degree in journalism from the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, before attending Bordeaux University in France, where he studied for a diploma in wine tasting and winemaking. He was the wine critic for Argentina, Chile and Spain in Wine & Spirits magazine, and has been a host on the El Gourmet TV channel in South America. He has written several books, including The Wines of Colchagua Valley, TodoVino, Wines for Great Occasions, and his annual Descorchados, a guide to the wines of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Perú and Uruguay.

Christy Canterbury MW is a Contributing Editor to Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy, covering Burgundy and the USA. Her work has been published by Wine-Searcher, TimAtkin.com, Wine Enthusiast and Huffington Post. Christy was the National Wine Director for Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group and Global Beverage Director for Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges Vongerichten. She directed purchasing for Italian Wine Merchants and Zachys, collaborating with their Hong Kong retail operations. Christy's corporate client roster includes Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Rackspace, Fitch Ratings and Mitsubishi UFJ.

Melina Aguirre Jaén DipWSET is the Founder, Managing Director and Principal Educator at CruCo. Wine Studio in Panama City. A former medical doctor who transitioned into the luxury wine and hospitality sector, Melina holds the prestigious WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Her career spans international luxury hospitality, including training elite teams in the United Arab Emirates for Emirates Airlines and the Armani Hotel Dubai, as well as leading beverage education strategies across the Middle East and Europe. Today, she combines global technical expertise with business consulting, elevating hospitality standards and wine education across Panama and the region.

Martin Buonsante is the owner and founder of Ozono Wines and Vinandina. Martin is a sommelier and has been working in the wine industry since 2002, focusing primarily on sales and marketing, but has also played a role in strategy development and communications. Since the company's inception, Martin has distributed the most personal projects of renowned producers such as Matias Michelini, Escala Humana, Cara Sur, PerSe, SuperUco, and El Bayeh, among others.

Adriana Zazueta Cousté is a wine expert, founder of Exploravid, wine academy for international wine certifications in Mexico City, helped hundreds of students achieve international wine certifications, significantly improving wine culture in Mexico.

Driven by her passion for wine, she obtained the DipWSET certification and in 2025 enrolled in the Master of Wine Programme. She is educator for Ribera del Duero D.O., Capstone California, Wines of Portugal and is VDP. ambassador for German wines.

Marcela Burgos, DipWSET, is a wine business consultant based in Santiago de Chile. With over 20 years of experience in export markets, she advises South American producers and trade associations on commercial strategy. She is a WSET Educator and Founding Director of Conservatorio del Vino.

Michelle "Mina" Carlín is a Mexico-based wine educator, sommelier, international wine competition judge and wine broker. She is a WSET Certified Educator and a Diploma in Wines candidate (DipWSET), holding professional qualifications including the CMS Certified Sommelier, CSW and ASI credentials, alongside specialist training in California Wines, Ribera del Duero, Champagne, tea and terroir water.

Mina works with wine regions, producers, importers and industry professionals through education, consulting and wine brokerage, developing educational programmes, masterclasses and tailored training. Her work combines technical expertise in wine and sensory analysis with practical experience of wine styles, regional identity and the international wine market. As an educator and wine content creator, she is committed to making wine knowledge accessible while maintaining analytical depth, helping both professionals and enthusiasts develop a deeper understanding of wine.

Pamela Casanova is a sommelier, wine educator and international wine judge from Mexico City. She brings a Mexican perspective to wine and a passion for introducing people to the world of wine without pretension.

Pamela holds a Master's in Wine Business and Wine Management from Barcelona Culinary Hub – Universitat de Barcelona, plus WSET Level 3 in Wines and WSET Level 2 in Sake. Her work spans wine communications, gastronomy and digital content. She has served as an Accredited Wine Educator for Vinos de Alicante DOP and an Associate Judge for the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London, and she has judged at IWC Judging the Americas and the Women's International Trophy in Germany.

Pamela hosts Hablemos de Vino (Let's Talk About Wine), a Spanish-language podcast with more than 160 episodes since 2019. Guests come from across the wine world, and outlets including Vinetur and Food & Pleasure have featured it among the best wine podcasts in Spanish.

Agustina de Alba is an Argentine sommelier, wine communicator and educator. She was
named Best Sommelier of Argentina in 2008 and 2012 and placed fifth in the Best
Sommelier of the Americas competition in 2012.

Her career has included experience at leading restaurants such as El Celler de Can Roca,
Gaucho, Alain Ducasse and Aramburu. In 2015, she founded Hola Vino, a
communication and education platform created to make wine more approachable without
losing depth.

In 2023, she was named one of the Top Five Wine Communicators of the Year worldwide
by the IWSC. Since 2023, she has also worked with Cono Sur Wine Importer, travelling
internationally to discover, select and source wines for the Argentine market, with a particular focus on distinctive producers and cult wineries.

Fernando Depetris is the founder of Redigram, an Argentine wine company established in 1995 that specializes in the commercial development, marketing and distribution of leading wineries. A certified sommelier since 2017, he has extensive experience in the wine industry and regularly participates in international wine fairs and trade events around the world.

Xin Feng is a wine and sake educator and Managing Partner of VinusClub in New York City, where he curates wines and leads tastings exploring pairings with Asian culinary traditions. His experience spans wine importing, restaurant beverage programmes and education, and in November 2026 he will join the opening team of Club Bâtard in Shanghai. A CMS Advanced Sommelier, WSET Diploma holder and Master Sake Sommelier, he is enrolled in the Institute of Masters of Wine study programme and is also pursuing the Master Sommelier diploma.

Teresa García Santillán is an International Sommelier and WSET Level 2 certified wine professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the Argentine wine industry. Creator of BONVIVIR, Argentina's largest wine club, she currently leads the Tasting Panel, evaluating more than 600 wines annually through blind tastings and taking part in the creation of exclusive blends with wineries throughout Argentina. Teresa also hosts wine tastings, events and experiences, and regularly contributes to wine communication and media.

Delvis Huck is a sommelier, wine educator, and restaurant manager with more than 8 years of experience in fine dining restaurants and luxury hospitality. Delvis currently serves as Restaurant Manager & Head Sommelier at Casa Cavia, Head Sommelier at Asadero, and instructor at CAVE. Delvis specializes in team leadership, wine program management, wine list curation, professional training, and the development of wine and dining experiences.

Anna Lee C. Iijima is a Japanese and American journalist and wine critic based in New York City. In addition to a monthly column for The Chicago Tribune, she frequently writes about wine, sake, food and culture for Forbes Wine, Decanter, Bon Appétit and other publications. For over a decade she was the contributing editor covering Germany, the Rhône Valley, Burgundy and New York for Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Aaron has worked in the wine trade for the past 19 years, gaining broad experience across the world's major wine-producing regions, with a background spanning fine wine, buying, sales and category management. Based in Southeast London, he is currently Sales and Category Manager for Condor Wines UK, an award-winning importer specialising in wines from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and New Zealand.

Oenologist with over 40 years of experience in Uruguay and internationally. Expertise in technical direction, consulting, institutional management, and representation at international bodies such as the OIV.

Thiago Mendes DipWSET is the CEO and founder of Eno Cultura, one of Brazil's leading references in wine education. His career brings together education, entrepreneurship and industry experience, further enriched by extensive travel to major wine-producing regions around the world and close contact with producers, wineries and diverse terroirs.
Under his leadership, Eno Cultura received the WSET Educator of the Year awards 2017, an international recognition of excellence in wine education. As an educator and experienced wine professional, Thiago is dedicated to developing wine professionals and advancing wine culture in Brazil and internationally. Regular judge and Ambassador for the IWC since 2007, V.D.P. ambassador, Bordeaux Educator and Grands Pagos de España Ambassador.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the world of wine, Emilio is a sommelier and founder of Wine Group, a wine distribution company with a presence throughout the province of Córdoba, representing more than 25 wineries.

His path began in the restaurant industry and continued with formal training in sommellerie, before shifting his focus toward the commercialization and promotion of wine culture.
Today, he combines his industry experience with building connections between wineries, restaurants, and consumers through tastings, training sessions, and gastronomic experiences.

Valeria Mortara is an Argentine sommelier and wine professional with two
decades of experience across the hospitality and wine industries. She graduated
as a Professional Sommelier from CAVE with an Honors Diploma. She also holds
the WSET Advanced Certificate. At the beginning of her career, she completed a
professional internship in France. Her international experience later expanded
through professional work in the United States and Chile.

Ivonne Nill is a Public Relations Consultant whose previous roles include retail sales and education at Gary's Wine & Marketplace, a harvest position at Domaine Plageoles in Gaillac, France, and sales and distribution at Winebow/Martin Scott.

She has judged wine at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, and taught WSET classes at the International Wine Center in New York City. Most recently, she created and executed trade development programs at Parallel 36 and Colangelo & Partners in New York for clients such as D.O. Cava, D.O. Vinos de Madrid, Wines of Spain, Ribera y Rueda, and Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe & Dogliani.

Christian is a dedicated wine enthusiast with 15+ years of experience in the wine industry, including several years leading worldwide projects at Concha y Toro and stints as General Manager for wineries in Mendoza. He holds WSET Level 3 certification and a Diploma in Wines from the Faculty of Agronomy at Universidad Católica de Chile, as well as a Master's in International Business Management. Still a curious wine geek at heart, he is always looking forward to discovering something new — preferably through a blind tasting with friends.

Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright is originally from Stellenbosch, South Africa and now lives Toronto, Canada. Jenny has worked on all sides of the wine industry , from being co-owner of Warwick Wine Estate, Stellenbosch to production, global sales, media, PR, and writing, as well as being a wine buyer for a South African grocery chain. She was the founding editor of WineStyle magazine, a South African wine and lifestyle publication.

Jenny is a Cape Wine Master, the highest qualification in wine education in South Africa, and she was the youngest person at the time to have achieved this title in 2004.
In 2018, she moved to Canada where she works for the Peter Igel Group, leading the wine department supplying bulk wines sourced globally to North American customers and specializing in private label wines to grocers. Jenny is the first Canadian panel chair for the MundusVini wine competition in Neustadt, Germany, a judge for the National Wine Awards of Canada and is a Senior Judge at the International Wine Challenge.

Wine educator, technical sommelier, and institutional director with over 25 years of experience in wine education. Co-founder and Academic Director of CAVE (Centro Argentino de Vinos y Espirituosas). Best Sommelier of Argentina (2002) and Gérard Basset Foundation Golden Vines®️ Scholar. She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits, is a WSET Certified Educator, and is a Stage 2 Candidate at the Institute of Masters of Wine. Possesses comprehensive global wine region expertise across classical, emerging, and niche terroirs.

Mariana Torta is an accomplished international sommelier and wine specialist with 24 years of experience across South America and Europe.

Currently serving as Brand Ambassador & LATAM Area Manager for Wines of Argentina in São Paulo, she has held top positions as Head Sommelier for prestigious gastronomy groups in Buenos Aires and led fine wine importing portfolios featuring French, Italian, and New Zealand producers. Her international career spans high-profile tasting events in France and Luxembourg, and currently Argentinian wines tasting throughout Latin America.

Born in Japan where his family has grown Japanese wine grape, Koshu, for generations, Toshio grew up helping the business from a young age. Following his college education in the US and employment at an international trading company in Tokyo, Toshio joined Chateraise, a pastry and wine company as Director of Sales. There, he was put in charge of overseeing the personal wine collection of the company's president, which intrigued him to enter the world of wine stewardship and research. Toshio is also an Emiritus Director of Society of Wine Educators, and a member of Circle of Wine Writers, Association of Wine Educators and International Drinks Specialists.

Kate Webber is the wine director of the Webber Restaurant Group in Massachusetts, which operates 4 restaurants, multiple catering facilities, a 3-acre organic vegetable farm, and a pinball joint. Kate has judged multiple wine competitions in the United States and the UK and is a wine and spirits writer, teacher, and speaker, with a focus on the United States and Australia. Kate is also an award-winning gingerbread house creator and is learning how to play the banjo.

Gabi Zimmer is a Uruguayan sommelier and the founder and CEO of Tinta, a wine marketing and communications agency with offices in Uruguay and Chile. She also founded Tinta Academy, the first WSET-approved school in Uruguay, and wrote the book Uruguay en vinos. She has visited more than 500 wineries around the world and tastes Uruguayan and Brazilian wines for Tim Atkin MW. Her work is about telling the stories behind Latin American wine and opening new doors for producers and wine professionals.

Cathy is a Master of Wine living and working mostly in South Africa. She lectures and judges locally and internationally, occasionally contributes to wine journals and websites around the world, is a director of South Africa's Old Vine Project and the incoming Chairman of the Land of Hope Trust.

Erin Larkin reviews the wines of Australia and New Zealand for Robert Parker Wine Advocate, a role which takes her to the great vineyards of the world. Previously a taster for the James Halliday Wine Companion, a Len Evans Tutorial laureate, and a contributor to wine publications, Larkin has spent more than a decade judging at wineshows both in Australia and overseas. Originally trained in fashion, she has a keen interest in the role that vineyards and farming play in the world of fine wine.

Yang is the first Chinese master sommelier in the world, and the leading figure in China wine market.

Kenichi (Ken) Ohashi MW is a leading Japanese wine and Sake distributor in Tokyo with accolades from the industry. Awarded Best Wine Merchant 1999 by Japan Sommelier Association he has shown his intricate knowledge of the subject both at home and abroad.

He is author of "Natural Wine" and is the online wine columnist of Japan's top wine publication 'Wine Report'. He holds a Diploma from WSET in London and has been certified as a Master of Sake (SSI) and Sake Expert Assessor (NRIB). In addition, he has started exporting his selection of Sake and Japanese wines to the world market. He is a Master of Wine and was also awarded the Personality of the Year 2016 by IWC.

Helen McGinn is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and former supermarket buyer, blending commercial insight with exceptional communication skill. She spent nearly a decade sourcing wines for Tesco, gaining a deep understanding of buying strategy, pricing, quality control and global supply chains.

Helen created The Knackered Mother's Wine Club, which grew into a bestselling book and established her as one of the UK's most relatable wine voices. She writes a weekly column for the Daily Mail and appears regularly on UK television, including The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

Winner of multiple communication awards, Helen brings warmth, clarity and strong consumer insight to the IWC. As Co-Chair, she confirms medal-level wines and supports the competition's focus on fairness, repeat tasting and cross-checking.

Many of these experts have long been part of the IWC judging community. In 2026, we are formally recognising their contribution and the unique commercial insight they bring to the results.

Dr Jamie Goode is one of the world's leading wine thinkers, known for combining scientific expertise with an intuitive, open-minded palate. He holds a PhD in plant biology and began his career as a science editor before becoming a full-time wine writer.

Jamie runs wineanorak.com, a pioneering site with global readership, and writes regularly for the Sunday Express and numerous trade and consumer publications. His books, including Wine Science and I Taste Red, are widely used in wine education.

He judges internationally and brings calm analysis, clarity and scientific insight to the IWC. Jamie has won multiple awards for wine writing and speaks at conferences and masterclasses worldwide.

As Co-Chair, he reviews all Gold and Trophy contenders and helps maintain fairness and consistency throughout the competition.

Peter McCombie MW is a New Zealand-born, London-based Master of Wine with decades of experience across buying, consulting, teaching and global judging. He began championing Italian wines at Winecellars and gained deep commercial insight across both on-trade and off-trade roles.

Peter now runs a successful consultancy helping restaurants, hotels and wine businesses refine lists, sourcing and training. He teaches for WSET and the Christie's Wine Course, guiding everyone from beginners to MW candidates.

Known for his balanced palate and global tasting experience, Peter is a trusted voice in the industry. As Co-Chair, he reviews wines rising through the IWC's multi-stage assessment pathway, confirming medal-level wines with technical precision and contextual understanding.

I have been in the wine trade for 30 years and judging at the IWC for 20, going into the industry straight from University. I have worked in retail, for a fine wine agency, for Wine Magazine and as a Wine Buyer with responsibility for Australia, New Zealand, the Loire, England and Central & Eastern Europe. I became a Master of Wine in 2011 and am now a freelance consultant and wine writer.

Kenichi (Ken) Ohashi MW is a leading Japanese wine and Sake distributor in Tokyo with accolades from the industry. Awarded Best Wine Merchant 1999 by Japan Sommelier Association he has shown his intricate knowledge of the subject both at home and abroad.

He is author of "Natural Wine" and is the online wine columnist of Japan's top wine publication 'Wine Report'. He holds a Diploma from WSET in London and has been certified as a Master of Sake (SSI) and Sake Expert Assessor (NRIB). In addition, he has started exporting his selection of Sake and Japanese wines to the world market. He is a Master of Wine and was also awarded the Personality of the Year 2016 by IWC.

Simon Hofstra is one of the leading sake experts worldwide, specialises in consulting, importing, exporting, promoting, distributing, educating and selling sake.
His Japanese Liquor store Ma Sake and the online shop Sake.nl has the largest assortment of Japanese alcoholic beverages in Europe, with over 550 products, serving 22 countries.
Simon Hofstra was awarded the prestigious title Sake Samurai in 2009, he won the Sake Contribution Award in 2008 as most valuable person for sake worldwide and is WSET educator for sake up to the highest level. His In 2024 special designed sake glass made by Sophienwald is recognised as the best sake glass on the market by most sake experts.

Ake is a Diploma sommelier, founder & owner of Akebono Unlimited AB. Founded in 1995 Akebono is today the Scandinavian leading importer and distributor of Japanese Sake. In 1990 he started to travel Japan and visit Sake breweriers to gain a deep understanding of the process and has since then visit Japan more than 50 times. The last nine years he has been a teacher of two of Sweden's sommelier schools and weekly been giving lectures and seminars of sake to professionals and amateurs at university level and trade shows. He also does annually guided gourmet trips to Japans Sake breweries and the interesting Izakaya world.

Natsuki Kikuya is an sake educator and sake consultant. After developing her career at the well-known sake retail shop Hasegawa Saketen in Tokyo, Japan then at Zuma & Roka restaurants in London, UK as a sake sommelier, she had set up “Museum of Sake”, an agency to provide education and promotion of sake in UK. She has helped to launch Level 3 Awards in Sake at Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), which counted over 5,000 candidates in 27 countries this 2019. She was also awarded as “Sake Samurai” in 2015.

Jennifer Docherty is a Master of Wine and a Master of Sake. She was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada but left at age eighteen to study fashion design in New York City. Her love of gastronomy led her to pursue part-time WSET wine courses which inspired her to change careers. After six years of study, she became a Master of Wine in 2015. Her love of Sake and learning has also earned her the WSET level 3 Award in Sake and the Master of Sake (SSI). She currently resides in London and is a buyer for Liberty Wines.