JUDGES 2023
CANADACorinne Keddie IWE
VIA Italian Wine Expert, DipWSET, Architect
Corinne Keddie is a VIA Italian Wine Expert and educator, WSET Level 4 Diploma holder, and Stage 2 Masters of Wine Student. She has her own wine consulting company 365 days of wine, and regularly hosts wine tastings, seminars and educational sessions, leads wine tours, writes about food, travel, wine and design, and is just about to launch her own wine club. She also judges at various international wine competitions and typically spends several months every year traveling to various wine regions around the world to further her wine knowledge. When not busy drinking wine, she works as an architect and has designed award winning architectural and interior design projects both locally and internationally.
SWEDENÅsa Johansson DipWSET
Freelance writer for Swedish and international press
Freelance writer Åsa Johansson moved to Italy in 2001. After graduating from the University of Florence with degrees in Political Science and Journalism, and recently obtaining her WSET Diploma, she writes about wine, food, and travel for magazines in Swedish and international magazines like Decanter, Quench Magazine, Corriere Vinicolo, Guida ristorante dell´Espresso, Svenska Dagbladet, Aperitif, and others. She has visited all twenty Italian regions and is traveling a large part of the year. She has started Sweden’s first podcast about Italian wines, Italienpodden.se and also makes her own Tuscan extra virgin oil, La Collina Blu. She goes to Sweden on regular basis to give masterclasses and to teach at the new Swedish school of sommeliers, The Wine Hub, for which she also has written the material about Italy.
ITALYCristina Mercuri DipWSET
Wine Educator & Presenter, Founder and Head of Education Wine Club
Cristina Mercuri DipWSET – Presenter, Wine Educator, and Master of Wine Student at Stage 3 – is a candidate to become the first Italian Woman MW. Cristina left her career as a lawyer to devote herself to her greatest passion: wine. Today, she is the Founder and Head of Education of Wine Club.
She teaches students at all stages, from beginners to WSET Diploma Candidates, as well as Sommeliers and Wine & Spirits companies. She is a presenter for Italian wineries at the most important wine events in Italy such as Vinitaly and Milano Wine Week. She also runs promotional events, as well as staff training, team buildings, and private tastings.
Cristina has more than 10 years of experience in the sector and is distinguished by her profound multidisciplinary knowledge.
HONG KONGAlice Wong IWA
Co-Founder/Wine Coach of Vinetude Asia
After obtaining her Master’s Degree in Business Administration in New York, Alice relocated to Hong Kong in 2013, gradually establishing her career in wine, and eventually started her company Vinetude Asia in 2017. Her involvement in the wine industry is multifold, including wine education, consultation, communication, event management, and judging. To fulfill her passion in Italian wines, she undertook the prestigious Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador Program and became the first batch of graduates of the enhanced version in 2018. Currently, Alice is the Deputy Master of the Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba – Hong Kong Delegation, and the Chair of the Food & Beverage Committee of The American Club Hong Kong. To honor her contribution in promoting Italian wines, Alice was the winner of the 2020 “Hong Kong Living Influencer” Award.
FRANCEJingjing Sui IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Commercial director
Jingjing Sui is a Marketing and Sales Professional. She was born in China, but she moved to Italy when she was a teenager. She first graduated in Language and Literature, in Rome. Then, by chance, she discovered the world of wine and she took a detour in oenology and viticulture studies. She got her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Milan in 2018. She is living in Bordeaux, where she got a Master in Wine and Sprits and the WSET Diploma. She has been working for Bi-Sin Trading Co., Ltd in Beijing as senior buyer since 2019. Bi-Sin imports and distributes wines and spirits from Europe to the Chinese market, mainly from Italy. In Rome she started her own company, focusing on the organization of private and corporate events, wine tastings and wine tourism.
USAJulianne Farricker IWA
Co-owner of The Italian Cellar
Julianne is a Vinitaly Italian Wine Ambassador and a co-owner of The Italian Cellar, a wine shop that exclusively sells Italian wines. She has also traveled to all 20 regions of Italy and her next goal is to try every DOCG/DOC/IGT wine. When she is not keeping track of that list or educating customers about the beauty of Italian wine and gastronomy, she is also a secondary English and social studies teacher specializing in European history.
USAElise Vandenberg IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Fine Wine Specialist at Vin Sauvage
Elise Vandenberg is an Italian Wine Ambassador and Certified Sommelier based in Reno, Nevada, USA. Elise enjoys wine from around the world but is particularly passionate about wines made from native Italian grapes. Elise works in fine wine distribution with Vin Sauvage. She writes about Italian wine at elisevino.wordpress.com.
USALaura Donadoni IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Founder of La Com Wine Agency, journalist and wine educator
Laura Donadoni is an Italian wine writer, published author and journalist based in California, where she founded years ago “The Italian Wine Girl” blog and online community (today counting more than 60.000 followers) and La Com Wine Agency, a strategic P.R. and Communications firm focused on the wine industry. She is a contributor for the Slow Wine Guide America, a columnist for SommJournal and Tasting Panel Magazines, the only Italian woman member of the International Circle of Wine Writers and of the Los Angeles Wine Writers Association and the Director of the Wine Education Program at the Pacific National Food and Beverage Museum in L.A. She is a certified wine educator, a professional wine judge in national and international competitions such as the historic San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, she is a Vinitaly International Ambassador, a certified Sommelier with merit with the North American Sommelier Association and the World Sommelier Association, a WSET advanced sommelier. In her book “Come il vino ti cambia la vita” meaning “How wine can change your life” (published by Il Cairo), she includes her story and the stories of inspiration, courage, and rebirth of six Italian wine producers. Her first book was awarded with the Premio Bruno Lunelli for the wine literature. The book was translated into English and published in the USA by Prima Living publisher. After the success of the first edition, Laura has worked on a second, ambitious project: “Custodi del vino”, the stories of a resilient and rebirthing Italy, published by Slow Food Editore, one of the top seller wine books on Amazon and at bookshops in 2021.
LUXEMBOURGJessica van der Schee IWA
Wine Academy Programme Coordinator at Bernard-Massard
Jessica is a WSET Certified Educator based in Luxembourg. She is the programme coordinator for the Bernard-Massard Wine Academy, and also helps source Italian wines for Bernard-Massard’s portfolio of international wines.
She is almost finished with the WSET Diploma, and is also studying for the UC Davis Winemaking Certificate programme. In addition to being a Vinitaly Italian Wine Ambassador (IWA), Jessica is a French Wine Scholar (FWS) with the Wine Scholar Guild, having been a top scorer in 2020 (100%). Prior to working in wine, Jessica was a corporate lawyer and worked in London, Shanghai and Zurich.
JAPANAsami Yoshikawa IWA
Instructor at Academie du Vin Tokyo, CEO of aiVino CO., LTD.
Asami is an instructor of the Academié du Vin, a major wine school in Tokyo. Before she became an instructor, she was an actress. She became an Italian Wine Ambassador of the Vinitaly International Academy in 2019, now teaching wines of the world for beginner and intermediate-level students, and classes specialized in Italian wines. She is currently on her way to obtaining the WSET Diploma.
USAEmily Saladino
Freelance Journalist and Writer at Large, Wine Enthusiast
Emily Saladino is a writer, editor, and recipe developer based in New York. Previously the Digital Managing Editor of Wine Enthusiast and Editor in Chief of VinePair, her writing has been published in The Washington Post, Bloomberg, BBC, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, and others. She also currently reviews wines from Greece, Crete, and Georgia for Wine Enthusiast. A former professional cook and bartender, she holds a Culinary Arts Degree from The French Culinary Institute and Level II Certification from The Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
SWEDENJonas Röjerman MW
Managing Director at Vitis Wines AB, Master of Wine
Jonas is the Managing Director of Vitis Wines, that import and sell wine on the Nordic markets. He is one of only three Masters of Wine from Sweden. Jonas lives in Stockholm with his wife and children.
Previous he was Head of quality control at the Swedish retail monopoly for alcohol, Systembolaget, where he developed the quality processes for procurement and lead the tasting panel, ensuring selection quality before distribution to over 400 outlets.
He joined Systembolaget in 2007 as category manager for the Fine Wine division after previously being the Head sommelier at the five-star Grand Hôtel in Stockholm. In 2001, the WSET Diploma led to lecturing at various wine and sommelier schools in Sweden, and to co-authoring wine literature and writing for wine magazines.
A successful sommelier career has earned him several Swedish and Scandinavian titles, plus high rankings in international championships, which has given Jonas the opportunity to judge at various wine competitions around the world.
Jonas earned the Master of Wine credentials in 2019.
JAPANIrving So IWE
Instructor at Académie du Vin Tokyo
Irving was born in Hong Kong. He felt in love with Japanese culture since his youth, after his first visit to Japan. His enthusiasm in mastering Japanese landed him a job in Tokyo in 2000. He never looked back.
Irving is a WSET Certified Educator at the Académie du Vin Tokyo. He holds the prestigious title of Italian Wine Expert of the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA), shared by only 16 people in the world as of today. He is also an Italian Wine Educator (VIA), a Langhe Wines’ Ambassador (Barolo & Barbaresco Academy), Valpolicella Wine Specialist (Consorzio Tutela Vini della Valpolicella), an Italian Wine Scholar (Highest Honor, Wine Scholar Guild), as well as a WSET Diploma holder (DipWSET). He is the Japan Ambassador for Delle Venezie DOC. He has conducted masterclasses for various Consortia including Valpolicella and Lugana, as well as producer associations from Veneto.
HONG KONGAlan Kwok IWE
Managing Director of DECO Wines Limited
Alan fell in love with Italian wine during his PhD Chemistry studies in Melbourne, when he discovered an old bottle of Barbaresco wine in a bottle shop. In 2014, he established DECO Wines Limited, a boutique wine importing company with a main focus on Italian wines in Hong Kong.
Alan has been climbing up the Vinitaly International Academy ladder since 2020, it was an unforgettable journey from Maestro to Ambassador and to Expert. He is currently the Master of the Knights of Alba (Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini d’Alba) Hong Kong Delegation.
SOUTH KOREADongmyung Hong IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, CEO of Vinovino co., ltd
Hong Dongmyung runs Vinovino, a company that imports only Italian wines to South Korea. This company was established in 2002 as a family business. Now, Hong is the CEO and works with over 50 producers from Italy. After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts, he immediately joined the family business. Hong has also owned an Italian restaurant, and so discovered early on that he can communicate with wine people. Hong has garnered certifications such as the WSET advanced and VIA Italian Wine Ambassador. After many years of dedication to the wine industry, a desire to express his experience and teaching about Italian wine developed and He joined a wine school to share his knowledge with other professionals.
UKMarc Millon IWA
Wine, food and travel author and journalist
Marc is a wine, food, and travel writer. The author of 14 books on food, wine, and travel, he and his photographer wife pioneered a series of illustrated wine-food-travel books including “The Wine Roads of Europe”, “The Wine Roads of France”, “The Wine Roads of Italy” (winner of the Barbi Colombini award), and “The Wine Roads of Spain”. Other titles include “The Taste of Britain”, “The Wine and Food of Europe”, “Flavours of Korea”, “The Food Lovers’ Companion Italy”, and “The Food Lovers’ Companion France”. He has also written widely for a number of magazines, including Food & Travel Magazine and Italy Magazine. Marc organises, leads and lectures on gastronomic cultural tours to Italy with the UK’s leading cultural travel operator Martin Randall Travel. He is a patron of the Oxford Cultural Collective, a centre for food and culture studies. Marc has been on international judging panels in Italy as well as in the UK. He is the host of a weekly show on Italian Wine Podcast, “Wine, food, and Travel with Marc Millon”.
USAHugh L. Preece IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Operating Partner at Salt Creek Grille
Hugh L. Preece IWA is a Restaurant Executive and Director with over 30 years of successful experience providing fiscal, strategic, and operations leadership in uniquely challenging situations. He is Founder of Native Grapes, LLC, Italian Wine Ambassador – Vinitaly International Academy, Italian Wine Scholar – Wine Scholar Guild, Certified Educator through VIA Educator Program, Sommelier, and 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls judge. He is also author to “Counting Castles in Abruzzo”. He is featured on WPST 94.3 Radio, ABC NY, ESPN Television, NY Daily News, Buck’s Life Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Univision.com, and US News and World Report.
USACiro Pirone IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Director of Italian Wines at Horizon Beverage Company
Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Company, is a graduate of the Istituto Alberghiero (Hotel and Restaurant Management school) of Salerno, Italy and an Italian Wine Ambassador by the Vinitaly International Academy. Traveling and working in Italy, England and the US, Ciro developed an incredible passion for wine, food and culture. After all, growing up in Italy, wine was always a very important part of his family’s lifestyle and traditions. In 1999, Ciro moved to the US permanently. He landed in Boston, where he continued his wine studies at Boston University, the International Sommelier Guild, the London – based Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET), as well as he completed and passed with Honors the Italian Wine Specialist Certification by the North American Sommelier Association (part of the worldwide recognized Italian Sommelier Association). In June 2017 (and again in 2019) he completed the Vinitaly International Academy certification course and received the Italian Wine Ambassador title. In 2019 he also passed with Honors the Italian Wine Scholar program by the Wine Scholar Guild. In 2007, Ciro accepted the position of Italian Wine Specialist at Horizon Beverage. After successful growth at HBC, Ciro accepted on a new challenge as the US Brand Manager for the Arnaldo Caprai Winery of Montefalco (Umbria), the top producer of worldwide recognized Sagrantino di Montefalco. In June 2011, Ciro returned to Horizon Beverage with a new position of Director of Italian Wines in support of their expanding presence in the New England marketplace. Ciro is happy to share his passion for Italian wine and culture in the effort to give the American wine consumer a better understanding and appreciation for Italian wine!
USAGianluca Queiroli IWA
Owner of Wine Empire
After being an international tax consultant for almost 20 years, Gianluca made a career switch and joined the wine industry 5 years ago. Originally from Italy, he is now based in the Boston area where he owns and runs Wine Empire, a fine wine retailer. Gianluca holds a law degree, a Master in Accounting & International Tax, and speaks fluently three languages. He also dedicated himself to many aspects of the wine world: tasting events, writing, wine education. He became an Italian Wine Ambassador & Educator (through Vinitaly International Academy) in 2019 and is a certified French Wine Scholar, American Wine Expert, Bordeaux & Burgundy Specialist, Sherry Wine Specialist, holds the WSET Diploma & currently a MW candidate. In 2021, he launched in the U.S. the Italian Wine Maestro Certification.
USAErin DeMara IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, District Manager at 1821 Fine Wine & Spirits
Erin DeMara is a twenty-nine-year professional of the wine and restaurant industries. Currently in his seventh year with 1821 Fine Wine and Spirits, an Italian-focused importer, he manages the portfolio of 100+ wines and spirits within Florida, USA. Erin is a Certified Wine Educator by the Society of Wine Educators and an Italian Wine Ambassador and Educator by VinItaly International Academy – the only wine professional in America to hold both titles. He is also a Certified Spirits Specialist, a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, and an awarded member of the Guild of Sommeliers.
USAAlberto Martinez Interiano IWA
VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Wine Journalist
Alberto is a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, wine educator, and writer based in Seattle, WA. He currently works as an instructor at The Cellar Muse Wine School in Seattle, and also teaches Italian and Spanish wine courses at the Wine & Spirit Archive in Portland, OR. His passion for wine started when he lived in Tuscany as a student, where he fell in love with Chianti and rustic Italian food. After being bitten by the wine bug, his curiosity led him to read all the wine books he could get his hands on, join multiple tasting groups, and later pursue a formal wine education in San Francisco and Seattle. Alberto is a big fan of Italian wines, in particular old-school Barolo & Barbaresco, Etna (Rosso & Bianco), and Campanian whites. He’s traveled extensively throughout Northern and Central Italy and next on his travel wish list are trips to Sicily and Sardinia. He holds the WSET Diploma and has an MBA in Marketing and International Business. He speaks Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese and is now working on his French. He writes for his blog www.vinointeriano.com and is a contributing blogger at the Vintner Project: www.vintnerproject.com
USAKevin Di Lucente IWA
Wine Consultant with Winebow
A Western New York native, he began his 13+ year career in wine at a boutique wine shop, where his love for wine took root. Eventually he would find his way into the wholesale side, and for the past 10 years has worked in distribution, representing producers from all over the world, and sharing their stories. He has also been a repeat featured guest among world renowned winemakers, sommeliers, celebrities and wine enthusiasts on the locally celebrated Spiel the Wine television series, broadcast in parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada. His passion to learn has never ceased, and his credentials to date include Certified Specialist of Wine, Italian Wine Ambassador, and Italian Wine Professional. In addition, he’s also an ongoing student of the Italian language. When it comes to wine, those of Italy, and their native grapes are his number one fascination, and the fuel for his continued passion. If he’s not going on about Italian wine, you can find him exploring his many other interests, including music, comedic improv, cycling and many others.
BRAZILPablo Soares Fernandez IWA
Wine Consultant and Educator
Pablo is from Florianópolis, Brazil. An engineer by training, in 2019, Pablo decided to take a sabbatical, where he drove 13,000 kilometers across Italy, understanding that his true love was there.
He decided to follow his passion for the Bel Paese and turn this into his professional work. So, during the pandemic, he began his education in wine, quickly making several certificates (Professional Sommelier, WSET Level 3, Italian Wine Scholar Guild). He is now starting his WSET Diploma journey in 2022. Also, in 2022, Pablo became an Italian Wine Ambassador at the Vinitaly International Academy.
Pablo is a consultant at Winext marketing consultancy, where we strive to fill the gaps between wine producers and consumers in Brazil, assisting wineries in accessing the Brazilian market and supporting them throughout the implementation of authentic brand experiences.
Pablo also promotes consulting, mentoring, tastings, and classes for wine lovers and students in Brazil with his remote and in-person tasting project, tente.online. He also writes about wines for the South America Wine Guide and Única – Guia de Vinhos websites. His friends call him a wine geek and nerd, which he vehemently denies as he reads Professor Scienza’s new book for a second time.
USAAngelo Secolo IWA
Sommelier and Wine Buyer for Altomontes Italian Market and Wine Consultant
Angelo Secolo was born in Sicily and he has been living in the USA since 2009. He is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers since March 2017, a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador since July 2021, and an Orvieto Wine Ambassador since July 2022.
He has 14 years’ experience in restaurants and has been working with wine for the last seven years. He has built two wine programs and won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the wine list at Cicala Restaurant in Philadelphia in 2020.
He is currently working as Sommelier and Wine buyer for Altomontes Market in Doylestown, PA. He is passionate about his job and constantly eager to learn more about wine.
NIGERIATemitope Akintola
Area Manager for Mediterranean Europe and Africa at ZONIN1821
Akintola Temitope (Temi) started his first business in Nigeria at the age of 17, grew it until when he ran into troubles with the regulatory bodies in the country abandoned it at the age of 26 to follow a career as an Engineer in the Oil and Gas Industry.
For a lack of fulfillment, Temi decided to come to Italy to pursue a Double Master’s degree in Engineering at the prestigious Politecnico di Torino and Politecnico di Milano and was selected as one of the top 100 Engineers in Italy by the ASP. Over the course of his studies, he fell in love with the _bella vita_ that Italy offered, especially with the food and wine and for this reason he enrolled for an MBA in Food and Wine at unique Bologna Business School.
After the MBA, Temi returned to Nigeria to set up Going Global Consultancy, a family run firm that specializes in Route to Market and Risk Assessment analysis for European countries willing to expand into the African market. Going Global consultancy has since then spread its tentacles into many West and South African markets.
Currently Temi is the Area Manager for Mediterranean Europe and Africa at ZONIN1821 where he and the team are responsible for the growth of the business on the continent. Temi is also responsible for ZONIN1821’s e-commerce business worldwide.
ITALYAlessandro Rossi
Partesa National Category Manager – Wine
Alessandro Rossi is Partesa’s National Category Manager – Wine: bon vivant, scholar and connoisseur of the wine world. He loves to interact with the most authoritative exponents of the wine and the gastronomic industry, and has written numerous publications and books on the subject.
ITALYEros Teboni
Wine consultant, Sommelier, Educator
Eros began his journey to wine knowledge through his father, with whom he had his first discussions about which wine to pair with a particular dish, maintaining respect for both the food and the wine, as well as the history of South Tyrol, his homeland.
Sacrifice, comparison, travel, daily training, good reading, and studying in Italy and abroad gave him a broad view of the world’s terroirs and tasting techniques, and a certain knowledge that he had chosen the right path.
Eros achieved international certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers in London (Certified Sommelier) and, on 30 June 2018, he achieved the incredible accolade of Best Sommelier in the World from the Worldwide Sommelier Association after competing in Rome.
Study, research and training continue, but he currently seeks to share what he has learned, give back what he has received, and spread his wine knowledge to others.
ITALYSimon Staffler
Falstaff Head of Tastings Italy
Bachelor in Human Sciences and Geography and Master in General Management, Simon Staffler is a taster, an expert and critic of wine, spirits and Italian gastronomy.
USAPeter Yeung DipWSET
Wine consultant
Peter Yeung (pronounced “young”) is a leading wine business consultant, developing strategic business plans and innovative marketing plans for the wine industry. He is the author of the book “Luxury Wine Marketing” and the host of the XChateau podcast. He was previously Vice President of Strategy & Business Development at Realm Cellars in Napa and Kosta Browne Winery in Sonoma, managing the allocation systems and business analytics functions. Peter holds the WSET Diploma as well as the CIA’s Certified Wine Professional designations. Prior to wine, Peter led Strategic Marketing, Market Development, and Sales for a clean technology company in Silicon Valley and was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. Peter also holds a MSc from the London School of Economics and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley in Economics and is based in San Francisco.