Judges

Anastasios Karakasis

Head of Wine & Wine Buyer

Bacchanalia

Originated from Patras, Greece. I worked in Greece, Cyprus and the last 5 years in London. Now I’m working as Head of Wine & Wine Buyer at Bacchanalia with previous experience Head of Wine/Buyer in Michelin Star restaurant Marcus at the Berkeley, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, The Carlton Club etc.. More than 10 years in wine and spirits industry working as Bartender, Sommelier, Consultant. Studied Tourism management, WSET, Court of Masters Sommelier.

Erik Simonics

Group Head Sommelier

Birley Clubs

Erik Simonics is Head of Wine and Beverage at Sunset Hospitality Group. 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 moved to one of the most iconic hotels in London, the Savoy, where he spent 4 years. Erik also looked after the wine programme at the newly opened La Dame de Pic at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square, the restaurant of one of the most famous chefs in the world, Anne Sophie Pic. He was the Head of Wine at Annabel’s private members club in Mayfair before stepping up to the Group Head Sommelier position to oversee all the other Birley Clubs. He gained a BA (Hons) degree in Hospitality Management at the University of West London in 2015 and also successfully passed the WSET Level 3, CSM Certified Sommelier, and Sake Sommelier courses by SSA. In 2013, he was Sommelier of the year in Slovakia. He also won the Wine Bar War of Chile in 2015 and the South African Sommelier Cup in 2016. In 2016, he finished as a Semi-Finalist at the Castle European Young Sommelier Cup. In 2022, he became the first sommelier to gain the Master of Havana Cigars qualification. In 2023, he completed his MBA program at Aston Business School.

Maria Cintoli

Head Sommelier

Gravetye Manor

My name is Maria Cintoli, I came in England six years ago, when I left Italy because I wanted to learn the language and be a Sommelier. Since then I’ve been working at Gravetye Manor, a beautiful Michelin star restaurant and hotel in the heart of Sussex and I’ve been staying for my wine courses. A couple of years ago the great promotion as Head Sommelier and the big achievement as Diploma WSET. The world of wine is incredible, I never stop learning, and the people involved are all so inspiring. I am enjoying every single step of my journey.

Guillaume Mahaut

Wine Buyer

ETM Group

Julien Sahut

Head Sommelier

Sexy Fish

Julien is currently the head sommelier at Sexy Fish in London. He has worked with renowned establishments and chefs, including Susur Lee in Toronto, Hibiscus and China Tang at the Dorchester. Julien studied hospitality management in France for five years, before venturing to Switzerland, Canada, and now London. Julien also just launched Wine Picker, a wine application for smartphones. Wine Picker is defined by two main goals: to increase users' wine knowledge, particularly across the younger generations, and to help prevent restaurants from failing by improving their overall wine sales.

Adam Michocki

Currently a Master Sommelier candidate and part of UK Sommelier Association helping sommeliers in the North with their training and examinations. Ex Head Sommelier in a few Michelin starred restaurants like Chez Bruce, The Glasshouse, The Man Behind The Curtain and Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall turned ambassador for a wines made by families from little known countries, regions and grape varieties that can help you discover flavours you have never experienced before.

Alberto Gherardi

Alberto is a Head Sommelier and Stage 1 Master of Wine Student with strong background in the hospitality industry. Working on the trade allows Alberto to understand the recent trends as well as consumer buying behaviours. Alberto’s mission is to make wine education accessible to every wine lover, and that’s why he founded The Wine Jokers during the pandemic. Alberto is Head Sommelier at Ten Trinity.

Carolina Seibel

Assistant Head Sommelier

Petrus by Gordon Ramsay

Carolina started at Terrenos Winebar in Stockholm before working for famed TV chef Fredrik Eriksson’s Långbro Värdshus. A short stint in Sydney, Australia, saw her working at fine dining Berowra Waters Inn and wine maestro Stuart Knoxs’s Fix St James. But during her WSET Diploma studies, she moved to London for Michelin starred Portland where she took overall responsibility for wine, followed by running Comptoir Cafe and Wine, the Mayfair cafe and wine bar by Xavier Rousset MS. Her next challenge saw her embracing the world of chillie and wine pairings with the new tasting menu at Ramael Scully's Scully St James. Now she is to be found as Assistant Head Sommelier at Petrus by Gordon Ramsay.

Chris Goodale

Assistant Head Sommelier

The Five Fields Restaurants

Chris Parker

Account Manager

Berry Bros & Rudd

Chris is a sommelier and wine expert who lives in the southeast of England. Having grown up as a typical Englishman, getting his first job in a local countryside pub, it seemed likely that he would end up working with beverages. After time spent pulling pints Chris moved to be Junior Sommelier at Lime Wood hotel in the New Forest where he worked his way up to be the head sommelier. During his time working in the hotel industry, he also achieved qualifications with the Wine Spirit Education Trust and became certified with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Early into his career he developed a passion for competing as a sommelier and entered his first national competition in 2015 with just one year of experience, although on this occasion he was unsuccessful he has been a national finalist in the UK Sommelier of the Year competition five times in the last 8 years and gained the title of Best Sommelier UK in 2022 in the AIS competition. Service is his real passion, and he loves to help guests and friends have a truly unique and involving wine experience, making sure that they get the best wine possible every time.

Cong Cong Bo

Owner

Amphora

Cong (pronounced “Chong”) owns and runs a wine shop-bar hybrid Amphora in Cambridge, UK. Like most children of Chinese parents, she studied Medicine at Cambridge, but ultimately found wine to be the most satisfying meeting of science, sensory satisfaction, and skin contact. Since its inception in March 2022, Amphora has won a few awards: Decanter’s Newcomer of the Year 2023 and runner-up in Central & Eastern Europe Specialist Retailer of the Year 2023, as well as the local award Velvet Magazine Pub/Bar of the Year 2023. Cong has been listed in Harper’s Top 25 UK Sommeliers 2022 & 2023, and in CODE Hospitality’s Most Influential Women 2023.

Dario Barbato

Head of Wine & Beverage

Individual Restaurants Ltd

I am employed by Individual Restaurants Ltd as Head of Wine and Beverage, Wine Buyer for the 31 premium/casual locations that we operate nationwide. Individual Restaurants is affiliated with Iceland Foods Ltd. In my role, I manage the selection, purchasing and supply with a budget of 300k. As wine buyer, I select and manage wine suppliers and control the import and stocking. I oversee the learning and development programmes for the company, aimed to improve knowledge and skill of 800 employees as well as assisting with customer wine selection /pairings. I organise regular Masterclass events for our loyal guest base. In my role I taste , select and listing wines for the 4 separate brands (3 Italians and one international). Being WSET Certified Educator, is my responsibility to teach, to our staff, level 1,2 and 3. MW Student, Stage 1

Davide Santeramo

Assistant Head Sommelier

The Ritz Hotel, London

Elizabeth Mellish

Elizabeth Mellish - Sommelier at Gleneagles Townhouse and Wine Writer for The Secret Sip Elizabeth works as a Sommelier in Edinburgh, Scotland for Gleneagles Townhouse and also specialises in food and wine writing for The Secret Sip. She has a first-class Master of Science in Viticulture and Oenology from Plumpton College and was recently listed in the Top 5 young sommeliers UK.

Elly Owen

Wine director

Old Garage wines

Now working both as a freelance sommelier and educator within the industry. Elly is hugely passionate about talking about the positive impact wine has on hospitality and front of house professions, giving people the education to support this at all levels.

Emer Landgraf

Head Sommelier

The Clove Club

In between lectures of a Finance degree, Emer Landgraf attended the 2016 Barolo release alongside Chiara Boschis. In awe of Chiara’s ethos and mission, it was from that point that Emer switched her focus from numbers to wine. Nearly one year to the day, Emer and her business partners Mark and Daniel opened up Mosconi, a 50 seater restaurant wine bar in the heart of James St, Brisbane. Since then, she moved to work for FINK group at OTTO Restaurant as Assistant Head Sommelier, helping to secure ‘Best Wine List of the Year’ Queensland for 2021. Emer is now the Head Sommelier at The Clove Club, 2 Michelin star and #38 in World’s 50 Best Restaurants, by Chef Patron Isaac Mchale.

Emmanuel Pesqueira

Head of Wine

Restaurant by Gordon Ramsey

When growing up, Emanuel’s family called him “the perfect host”, so it was only natural that he has ascended through a wide variety of roles within the hospitality industry in recognition of his performance and service delivery. Before joining Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, he worked first as a chef, and then moved on to Restaurant Manager then Bar Manager, Head Sommelier and finally Food and Beverage Operations Manager over 20 years between Crystal Cruises, Red Carnations Hotel group, Oxford and Cambridge Club, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Edwardian Hotel Group and 67 Pall Mall Club. In 2014 he was included in the top 12 Best Sommeliers in UK. During this time, he has seen more than 3,000 cities around the world, enjoying fine food and wine experiences as he went. Emanuel is the Group Head of Wine for Gordon Ramsay and oversee all restaurants in UK in terms of Wine Program which include and not only limited to purchasing, development, training and service. Emanuel is all about how wine can make you feel after the first sip. This liquid has taken him to science, history, tradition, and even to nature. He believes that drinking wine is all about the experience and the memories.

Erin Donnelly

Sommelier

Heron

I fell in love with wine while working in New Zealand, following this I moved back to Edinburgh and spent a lot of time studying. From there I managed a wine bar before turning my hand to fine dining. I now work as the House Sommelier for Heron, working with a great team and an extensive wine list. We focus on the old world with a nod to the new world, and an 'off the beaten path' wine pairing alongside our tasting menu. Out of work I tend to spend my time living and breathing wine.

Filipe Bhering Reis

Head of Wine

Koko & House of Koko

Filipe Bhering Reis has carved an illustrious career in the wine industry - As the current Head of Wine at Koko & House of Koko, he oversees a multi-venue wine program in a thrilling new member's club situated backstage at London's iconic Koko. His expertise extends from prestigious roles such as Club Head Sommelier at Annabel's for over two years to leading the wine programme and being part of the opening team at Michelin-starred 23rd best restaurant in the World, Kol. More recently Filipe worked as a consultant curating wine programs at Broadwick Hotel Soho and going back to Work Closely with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on his new Covent Garden restaurant. Filipe has also being awarded the Best 100 UK Sommelier in 2023.

Fred Goodwin Hayward

Assistant Sommelier

Restaurant Hywel Jones

Gaia Serafini

Head Sommelier

Roganic

My name is Gaia, I’m Italian and I’m a sommelier, I’ve been in the industry for 10 years almost and I’ve worked between Italy and Uk. I, of course, love wines but especially small producers, unknown grape varietals and I also like to discover also new winemakers!

Giancarlo Cuccuru

General Manager

Lutyens Grill at The Ned

I grew up in a hospitality family, working in my parents Italian restaurant. After studying Business and Hospitality management in Birmingham I have spent time working in Europe, North America and Australia. On returning to the UK I started working for The Gilbert Scott by Marcus Wareing where I was head Sommelier. I then moved to The Ned, where I am GM at Lutyens Grill, and working alongside group Sommelier Vincent Gasnier, I look after the wines for the hotel.

Giuseppe d'Aniello

Wine Director

The London EDITION’s Wine Director, Giuseppe D’Aniello .Having recently been named ‘The Best Sommelier, UK 2023’ by the UK Sommelier Association, this remarkable achievement is a true testament to his unparalleled expertise, dedication and unwavering passion for the art of wine. Hailing from Italy, Giuseppe’s passion for wine began at a young age, watching his father sample bottles at the family table. Having gained his Diploma Level 4 WSET in 2018 and becoming Advanced CMS in 2021, Giuseppe had a notable role at The Lanesborough, before joining The London EDITION as Wine Director.

Glen Montgomery

Sommelier & Co-Owner

eòrna

Glen has lived and worked as a Sommelier in Scotland for the past fifteen years, and is the Sommelier/Co-owner of the twelve-seat Chef’s table Restaurant “eòrna" in Edinburgh with Chef Brian Grigor. He achieved a Merit in the WSET diploma in 2019, and has a strong interest in ‘Classical’wines such as Burgundy, Bordeaux and Northern Italy.

Jonathan Kleeman

Group Beverage Manager & Executive Head Sommelier

Story Group

Jonathan Kleeman is the Group Beverage Manager and Executive Head Sommelier at Story Group, which includes the 2 Michelin Starred Restaurant Story, Story Cellar and Dovetail in London. He has 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, working in prestigious establishments, consulting for international companies, and judging wine competitions. He is also a qualified sommelier and a media contributor on hospitality industry and blockchain technology.

Julio Tauste Sierra

Head Sommelier

The Orrery

Klearhos Kanellakis

Head Sommelier & Wine Buyer

Ekstedt at the Yard

Klearhos is Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer for the exciting new Nordic restaurant Ekstedt at the Yard, part of Great Scotland Yard hotel in Westminster, London. Previously, he was working as Head Sommelier of Trivet restaurant awarded Second best wine programme in London by Drinks Business magazine and International Special Jury Prize by Star Winelist. Before this role, Klearhos worked at 67 Pall Mall - private members’ club for wine lovers, initially joining the opening team and making his way to Assistant Head Sommelier position. Some of his favourite regions include Tokaj, Madeira, Northern Rhone, Tuscany, Champagne and the countries of New Zealand and Greece. Klearhos holds the Wset Diploma Level 4 in Wine and is currently preparing for the Master Sommelier exam, the pinnacle of wine qualifications.

Laurent Chaniac

Wine Expert

Cinnamon Club

Marco Iaccarino

Wine Director

The Berkley Hotel

I have started my career in wine in Milan opening the Armani Hotel Milano, and moved to Uk in 2013 where I have worked along some celebrity chefs included Jason Atherton, Marcus Wareing and Angela Hartnett. At the moent wine director for The Berkeley Hotel and the new opening Emory hotel part of the Maybourne group.

Maria Federica Salvador

Brand Ambasador

PACO & LOLA

Born in Mendoza. She was one of the first Sommeliers of Argentina. In 2004 she finished Wine School in Mendoza and sharpened her taste in American Wines, after a two year wine trip to the U.S. Later in 2010, she went to Sommelier school again in Spain, and in 2015 she also specialised in France & Italy. She has the Certified Sommelier certificate by the Court of Master Sommeliers, the WSET 3 level, and is currently goin g throught the Diploma WSET. In 2022, she entered the Best Sommelier of Argentina´s Contest with good results in the competition, which lead her to be part as a judge of several wine contests around Europe. Work wise, her 21 years of career had drove her to explore the wine industry from every corner. Working in different wineries, in restaurants, in hotels, in cruise ships and currently working as the Brand Ambassador of the Spanish winery PACO & LOLA.

Mateusz Kowlczyk

Head Sommelier & Wine Buyer

Kai Mayfair

Matthew Davison

Head Sommelier

Moor Hall

After completing my History Degree at the University of Leeds, I ‘fell’ into the Hospitality Industry, not knowing that it would shape my entire career path. I started working at a pub in my hometown where we would host themed spirit and wine events, which saw me begin my WSET journey, eventually gaining my Level 3 qualification in Wines & Spirits. I achieved my first Sommelier post at Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham, where I worked with an inspiring team who helped me to explore my passion of wine and beverage more thoroughly. I then assumed the role of Head of Operations and Sommelier at Fischer’s Baslow Hall in Derbyshire, where I was responsible for the development of the wine and beverage programme. Working alongside the kitchen team, I designed all food and wine pairings. Three and a half years later, I was offered the position of Head Sommelier at Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms in Aughton, where I lead a beverage team of six people and promoted to Restaurant Director. One of my key responsibilities is to help my team to develop their skills and knowledge through continuous training, which also helps to develop my own knowledge. I attend a vast amount of tasting and training sessions both nationally and internationally which I see as vital to enhancing my knowledge and understanding of products. These sessions allow me to learn first hand from wine makers and suppliers, providing me with integral information that I can then share with my team and our guests.

Miguel Crunia

Private Sommelier

Fion

After working 11 years as a sommelier and restaurant manager within Edinburgh's fine dining scene, Miguel now co-directs Fìon, a wine importing company of low-intervention wines from Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Fìon also specializes in private and corporate wine tasting hires, and in running wine events and pop-ups partnering with local restaurants. Recently, Miguel started his career as a wine writer specializing in wines from Atlantic regions (as he's known within the industry as the Atlantic Sommelier).

Natalja Senina

Head Sommelier

Chewton Glen Hotel

Head Sommelier of Chewton Glen Hotel, WSET Dipoma candidate and Top 100 Sommeliers UK. Proudly offer a selection of individual wines, making our Multi Awards wine list one of the largest in England in terms of producers, regions and diversity.

Nikos Emner

Assistant Wine Director

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

‘A summer in Crete marked the beginning of my journey with wine, it was a transformative moment where I discovered my passion for the artistry and complexities of wine. Over the course of my career spanning several years, I have gained extensive experience, holding positions at wine bars and a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant in Athens. Upon my arrival in the UK, I joined Heston Blumenthal's prestigious 3-star Michelin restaurant, The Fat Duck, where I refined my expertise as a sommelier before transitioning to my current role as Assistant Wine Director at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, a 2-star Michelin restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London’.

Sabrina Manolio

Head Sommelier

Bar de Pres

Sabrina’s career started in Milan where she developed her passion for wine and consolidated her knowledge through the AIS and the WSET courses. For the past 15 years she has worked for some of the most iconic fine dining restaurants and luxury hotels in Italy and the UK. She achieved various awards for her unique wine programme as well as the prestigious GQ drink award for Best Sommelier in 2021. She is currently working as Head Sommelier at Bar de Pres.

Sam Weatherill

Restaurant Manager & Sommelier

Etch. by Steven Edwards

Sam was born and raised in Brighton and holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine, is a certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers & is also an associate member of the Academy of Cheese. He has previously been a judge with the Sommelier Wine Awards in 2020, and has also featured on 67 Pall Mall TV's 'The Perfect Match’. At etch by Steven Edwards Sam curates the wine list wine pairings and is constantly sourcing exciting new wines, focussing on a mixture of classic regions, as well as exciting under the radar gems, with sustainability a core feature of the list.

Stephanie Robertson

Head of Experience

Restaurant Associates

Steph has worked at Le Gavroche and Roux at Parliament Square as a sommelier, is qualified to teach up to Level 2 WSET in wines and has won an Award of Excellence with the Academy of Culinary Arts. Steph is an active and influential member of the wine world and regularly takes part in thought leadership talks and discussions around the future of wine and trends in the drinks industry. She is a member of the International Wine and Food Society and continually monitors trends through industry reports, mailing lists and engaging with suppliers and importers. She translates this expertise and passion into her wine lists, featuring some of the latest trends that our customers are looking for, such as low alcohol alternatives, sustainably sourced wines, social enterprises.

Stephanie Wangui

Senior Sommelier

Noble Rot

Senior Sommelier at Noble Rot in Mayfair, Stephanie Wangui discovered her true love for wine during her year abroad in Bordeaux. Now half way into her WSET Diploma, she is delighted to bring her knowledge and experience in both hospitality and vineyards across the UK, France, Spain and Oregon to a wider audience. Her passions lie in regenerative viticulture, breaking the socioeconomic stigmas associated with wine, empowering people to know what they like to drink and why, but equally importantly, telling the stories behind the label.

Tiago Pinto

The Ivy Collection

I'm Head of Hospitality for Warner Leisure, I've started my career back in 1999, worked in USA, Ecuador, Spain, Portugal and UK. In the US I've worked at sites like Le Cirque, AVoce and Russian Tea Room but the passion for wines started while I was working at Polpo Restaurant in Greenwich Connecticut, moved to South America to work in Ecuador for the ElJuri family they represent all the Campari and Diageo portfolio plus they own Pisco Ocucage in Peru, while working for them i was part of the team that developed Rum Cien Fuegos together with legendary Master Rum blender Pancho Fernandez. Moved back to Europe and went to work at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Tierra in Spain after a year I've moved to Portugal to work at the 2 Michelin Star Villa Joya in the Algarve. In the UK I've worked with 2 Great British Menu Winners Chef Chris Harrod in Monmouth at The Whitebrook and Chef Niall Keating at The Dining Room at Whatley Manor, I've worked also at DandD and The Ivy. Wine is a passion and occasionally I still jump inside the "Lagar" to step the grapes, my favourite wine it's Equinocio an old vines white wine from Alentejo produced by João Afonso at its property Cabeças de Reguengos.

Vaness Stolz

Head Sommelier

Restaurant Pine

Vanessa had an excellent opportunity to work in a few Michelin-star restaurants for the last decade and even helped shape Restaurant Pine from day one. She ended in Harper’s top 25 Sommeliers in 2023, won Gosset Matchmakers 2018 with Ian Waller, excelled in some exams (WSET L3, Certified CMS, ASI L2), is carrying on studying and loves hosting private tastings.

Vincenzo Arnese

Wine Director

Raffles London at the OWO

Vincenzo worked for several prestigious hotels and restaurants like The Waterside Inn in Bray, Vue de Monde in Melbourne, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal inside Mandarin Oriental London and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London. Since 2023, Vincenzo Arnese has become the Wine Director at Raffles London at The OWO. He was the winner of Taittinger’s UK Sommelier of the Year in 2022 and CQ Best Sommelier in 2023.

Zoe Donadio

Drinks Lead

Apracity Restaurant

Zoé first started bartending at a neighborhood cocktail bar in Peckham while studying at Goldsmiths and loved it so much that she pursued it post-graduation. She then headed up teams in a variety of independent bars around South East London. In 2020 she transitioned towards wine and cocktail development through Silver Lining, then heading up natural wine cellar La Cave at the Hoxton and has now taken the drinks lead at Apricity with a focus on all things organic & biodynamic. Her list works with growers who prioritise biodiversity and soil regeneration in their respective regions, and let the grapes speak for their terroir, with as few additions and subtractions as possible.