DWWA 2026 Regional Chairs

DWWA Regional Chair for Asia: Dr Edward Ragg MW

Award-winning wine educator, writer, presenter and master of wine. Based in China.

Regine Lee MW

Industry-recognised master of wine, in the UK importer/distributor sector. Based in the UK.

Alessandra Piubello

Journalist, writer and expert wine taster, specialized in wine and food; co-editor of the I Vini di Veronelli Guida Oro wine guide. Based in Italy.

Ana Jackson (nee Sapungiu) MW

An experienced master of wine & the head of wine business development at Amathus. Based in the UK.

Matthew Wilkin MS

Award-winning Master Sommelier specialising in Loire, Burgundy, Rhône, Spain & South African wines. Based in the UK.

DWWA Regional Chair for Southern Italy: Jason Millar

Writer, communicator, judge, and consultant with a focus on Italy and South Africa. Based in the UK.

Beatriz Machado

Portugese wine expert, currently serving as the head of marketing and wine tourism at Niepoort. Based in Portugal.

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Pierre Mansour

Pierre Mansour is Head Buyer at The Wine Society.

DWWA Regional Chair for Spain: Ferran Centelles

Ferran Centelles is a wine writer specialising in Spanish wine for JancisRobinson.com.

DWWA Regional Chair for Piedmont: Michaela Morris

Michaela Morris is an international wine writer and educator, based in Vancouver, Canada.

DWWA Regional Chair for Chile: Amanda Barnes MW

Amanda Barnes MW is an award-winning wine journalist and expert in South American wines and regions.

DWWA Regional Chair for Australia: Huon Hooke

Huon Hooke is an educator, international wine judge and writer, having published 19 books on wine.

DWWA Regional Chair for Burgundy & Champagne: Charles Curtis MW

Charles Curtis MW writes regularly for a number of magazines.

DWWA Regional Chair for Tuscany: Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW

Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW is the Regional Chair for Tuscany at the DWWA and a consultant tutor at the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in London.

DWWA Regional Chair for the USA & Central America: James Tidwell MS

James Tidwell MS consults for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and founded the TEXSOM conference and awards.

DWWA Regional Chair for Greece & Cyprus: Terry Kandylis

Terry Kandylis is the Group Head Sommelier at the Noble Rot Restaurant & Wine Bar.

DWWA Regional Chair for Provence: Rod Smith MW

Rod Smith MW is a wine educator, marketer and salesman, based in the South of France.

DWWA Regional Chair for Bordeaux: Matthew Stubbs MW

Matthew Stubbs MW, a highly accomplished wine professional and educator, is the joint Regional Chair for Bordeaux at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 (DWWA).

DWWA Regional Chair for Canada: Barbara Philip MW

Barbara Philip MW is category manager at BC LIQUOR in Canada, as well as a lecturer, radio columnist and consultant.

DWWA Regional Chair for Languedoc-Roussillon: Justin Howard-Sneyd MW

Howard-Sneyd founded The Hive Wine Consulting and is a winemaker at Domaine of the Bee.

DWWA Regional Chair for Port & Madeira: Richard Mayson

An expert in the wines of Iberia, Richard Mayson writes regularly for Decanter, contributes to The Oxford Companion to Wine, and has written 5 books.