People
Chair of Judges
Liam Steevenson MW
Bristol based Liam Steevenson is the founder and Chief Exec of Global Wine Solutions, the world leader in superyacht wine supply. The youngest person in the world to achieve the Master of Wine qualification, Liam also created and runs Vineyard Productions, through which he produces a portfolio of celebrated award-winning artisanal wines available worldwide. Liam judges and consults around the world, and has held senior wine roles at Bibendum and Waitrose.
IEWA Founder
Alexander Taylor
Another Bristol native, founder Alex is an award-winning brand and marketing consulant, with a background in legal and audit, now specialising in the UK wine trade. With a consultancy practice centred around social media, brand building and community, Alex is WSET accredited, with ten years experience judging wine competitions. He created and has run The IEWA for the past eight years, as well as last year launching sister competiiton The ICWA - for canned wines.
Our Judges
Grouped by year and each listed alphabetically, below is the full list of IEWA judges, going back to our debut competition in 2017.
You’ll see that our panel for IEWA24 is not yet quite finalised, but from the names confirmed, it’ll absolutely be up to our usual high standards.
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Ben Franks
One of the UK’s leading wine buyers* DecanterDan Kirby
Wine Buyer, Seller, Marketer and CommentatorDebbie Warner
Wild Wine Woman - Educator and EntrepreneurEd Dallimore
Wine Writer and PhotographerFiona Beckett
Drinks Columnist for The Guardian; Food & Wine MatcherElizabeth Mellish
Sommelier - Hotel, Restaurant, Members ClubElly Owen
Head Sommelier and EducatorJames Hawkins
Leading English Wine MerchantJames Wormleighton
Merchant and Content CreatorLee Isaacs
Wine Lecturer, Speaker, EntertainerLiam Steevenson MW
Independent Consultant & WinemakerManny Mireku
Blogger and ConsultantMelissa Worrall
Brand Manager, Educator and MarketerMimi Avery
Wine Merchant, Ambassador and PirateOli Littley
Knowledgeable Consumer - Global Retail OpsOliver Smith
Bristol’s Finest WSET Accredited CheesemongerSally Lord
Knowledgeable Consumer - SolicitorSarah Massey
Devon-based Head WinemakerSam Povey
WSET Educator, Harpers '30 under 30'Susie Ramroop
Knowledgeable Consumer - Motivational SpeakerSusy Atkins
Wine Writer, Author and PresenterTom Wedgery
Wine Host, Marketer, SommelierZoe Driver
Winemaker, HampshireMORE TBC
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Ben Franks
One of the UK’s leading wine buyers* Decanter
Ben Hawker
Global Wine Sales Manager
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Dan Kirby
Wine Buyer, Seller, Marketer and Commentator
Elizabeth Mellish
Sommelier at Hotel, Restaurant and Members Club
Elly Owen
Head Sommelier and EducatorFiona Beckett
Drinks Columnist for The Guardian; Food & Wine Pairing Hero
Frank Mason
Wine Educator and Events Host and Manager
Holly Plumeridge
Head of Off Trade, Alliance; 30 under 30
James Hawkins
Leading English Wine Merchant
Jamie Smith
Wine Entrepreneur, Host and Innovator
Jessica Summer
Cheese and Wine Host, Writer & Judge
Lee Isaacs
Wine Lecturer, Speaker, Entertainer
Liam Steevenson MW
Independent Consultant & Winemaker
Luke Harbor
Hospitality Group Head of Wine (Head Somm and Buyer)
Melissa Worrall
Brand Manager, Marketer and Educator
Mimi Avery
Merchant and Brand Ambassador
Oli Littley
Knowledgeable Consumer
Sally Lord
Knowledgeable Consumer
Sarah Massey
Devon-based Head Winemaker
Susy Atkins
Wine Writer, Author and Presenter
Tom Hewson
Bubblehead and Sparkling Wine Correspondent
Tom Wedgery
Event Host, Marketer, Sommelier -
Andy Clarke
Presenter, Producer, Journalist and Writer
Ben Franks
One of the UK’s leading wine buyers* Decanter
Ben Hawker
Wine Sales Professional
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Brad Horne
Wine Social LIVE Pioneer
Cherry Constable
Retail Manager, Vine-Works
Dan Kirby
Wine Buyer, Seller & Marketer
Ed Dallimore
Wine Writer and Photographer
Elly Owen
Head Sommelier
Frances Bentley
Wine, Beer and Sprits Buyer
Françoise Faye
Food and Drink Columnist
Holly Plumeridge
Head of Off Trade, Alliance
Jaega Wise
Brewer, Sommelier, and TV Presenter
James Hawkins
English Wine Merchant
Jamie Smith
Wine Entrepreneur, Host and Innovator
Joana Albogas
Wine Digital Marketing and Social Specialist
Liam Steevenson MW
Independent Consultant & Winemaker
Mimi Avery
Merchant and Brand Ambassador
Oli Littley
Knowledgeable Consumer
Ruth Spivey
Founder, Consultant, Writer
Sally Lord
Knowledgeable Consumer
Susy Atkins
Wine Writer, Author and Presenter
Toby Amphlett
Wine Professional and Brand Ambassador
Tom Wedgery
Event Host, Marketer, Sommelier
Tommy Grimshaw
Winemaker, Dorset -
Ann Krebiehl MW
Wine Writer and Author
Ben Franks
One of the UK’s leading wine buyers* Decanter
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Brad Horne
Wine Social LIVE Pioneer
Corinne O’Connor
Winemaker, Dorset
Dan Kirby
Wine Buyer, Seller & Marketer
Elly Owen
Head Sommelier
Frances Bentley
Wine, Beer and Sprits Buyer
Françoise Faye
Food and Drink Columnist
Holly Plumeridge
Off Trade Sales Specialist
James Hawkins
English Wine Merchant
Jamie Smith
Wine Entrepreneur, Host and Innovator
John Mobbs
English Wine Digital Communicator
Karen Christian
Blogger: Wine / Tea / Cheese / Sounds
Lee Isaacs
Educator, Buyer and Speaker
Liam Steevenson MW
Independent Consultant & Winemaker
Mimi Avery
Merchant and Brand Ambassador
Oli Littley
Knowledgeable Consumer
Sally Lord
Knowledgeable Consumer
Susy Atkins
Broadcaster and Journalist
Toby Amphlett
Wine Professional and Brand Ambassador
Tom Wedgery
Event Host, Marketer, Sommelier
Tommy Grimshaw
Winemaker, Dorset -
Andy Clarke
TV Producer and Journalist
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Brad Horne Wine
Social LIVE Pioneer
Corinne O’Connor
Winemaker, Dorset
Dan Kirby
Wine Buyer, Seller & Marketer
Hannah Gray
Social Marketer & Winery Assistant
Holly Plumeridge
Off Trade Sales Expert
James Hawkins
English Wine Merchant
Jess Lamb
Wine Writer & Marketer
John Mobbs
English Wine Digital Communicator
Lee Isaacs
Educator, Buyer and Speaker
Liam Steevenson MW
Independent Consultant & Winemaker
Susy Atkins
Broadcaster and Journalist
Tom Wedgery
Sommelier and Marketer
Tommy Grimshaw
Winemaker, Dorset
Zoë Driver
Assistant Winemaker, Hampshire -
Andy Clarke
TV Producer and Journalist
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Cherry Constable
Wine and Spirit Blogger
Corinne Seely
Head Winemaker, Hampshire
Daniel Ham
Head Winemaker, Dorset
Emily Lambert
Sommelier and Entrepreneur
Gino Rosolek
Knowledgeable Consumer
Ian Ward
Knowledgeable Consumer
John Mobbs
English Wine Digital Communicator
Karen Christian
Wine & Comms Professional
Kelli Coxhead
Indy Retailer and Educator
Liam Steevenson MW
Consultant, Independent
Luke Harbor
Head Sommelier
Melissa Duckhouse
Knowledgeable Consumer
Owain Hughes
Wine Retail and MW student
James Hawkins
English Wine Merchant
John Atkinson MW
Consultant, Independent
Julia Stafford
English Wine Merchant
Lee Isaacs
Wine Merchant and Educator
Nathan Meyers
English Wine Entrepreneur
Sally Lord
Knowledgeable Consumer
Sorcha Holloway
Wine Communicator
Susy Atkins
Broadcaster and Journalist
Tom Wedgery
Sommelier and Marketer -
Alex Schuster
Champagne Buyer
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Cherry Constable
Wine and Spirit blogger
Daniel Ham
Head Winemaker, Dorset
Edward Clarke
Independent Merchant
Gino Rosolek
Knowledgeable Consumer
James Cummings
Winemaker, Somerset
James Hawkins
English Wine Merchant
Jarryd James
Restaurant manager and Buyer
John Mobbs
English Wine Digital Communicator
Kelli Coxhead
Indy Retailer and Educator
Liam Steevenson MW
Consultant, Independent
Owain Hughes
Wine Retail and MW student
Susy Atkins
Broadcaster and Journalist
Tommy Grimshaw
Assistant Winemaker, Devon
Tom Wedgery
Sommelier and Marketer
Theodor Svedberg
Wine Trade Professional -
Alex Schuster
Champagne Buyer
Brett Hirt
Gin maker and Bar Owner
Ben Hulland
Winemaker, Devon
Cherry Constable
Wine and Spirit Blogger
Clemency Yates MW
Winemaker, Independent
David Houghton
Cardiff Wine Merchant
James Cummings
Consultant, Winemaker, Somerset
James Hawkins
English Wine Merchant
James Penson
Manager, Premium On-trade
John Mobbs
English Wine Digital Communicator
Karen Christian
Wine & Comms Professional
Kelli Coxhead
Indy Retailer and Educator
Liam Steevenson MW
Consultant, Independent
Melissa Duckhouse
Knowledgeable Consumer
Owain Hughes
Wine Retail and MW student
Sally Lord
Knowledgeable Consumer
Steven Hayball
Former Sommelier
Susy Atkins
Broadcaster and Journalist
Tom Gilbey
Specialist Wine Merchant
IEWA Caps
Here’s a list of all of the amazing repeat judges at The IEWA since our first comp in 2017, and how many times they’ve tasted with us:
Liam Steevenson MW 8
Susy Atkins 8
James Hawkins 8
Ben Hulland 7
Tom Wedgery 6
John Mobbs 6
Sally Lord-Olney 6
Dan Kirby 5
Lee Isaacs 5
Ben Franks 4
Brad Horne 4
Cherry Constable 4
Holly Plumeridge 4
Tommy Grimshaw 4
Elly Owen 4
Andy Clarke 3
Jamie Smith 3
Karen Christian 3
Kelli Coxhead 3
Mimi Avery 4
Oli Littley 4
Owain Hughes 3
Alex Schuster 2
Ben Hawker 2
Corinne O’Connor 2
Daniel Ham 2
Ed Dallimore 2
Elizabeth Mellish 2
Fiona Beckett 2
Fran Bentley 2
Françoise Faye 2
Gino Rosolek 2
James Cummings 2
Luke Harbor 2
Melissa Duckhouse 2
Melissa Worrall 2
Sarah Massey 2
Toby Amphlett 2
Zoë Driver 2
Live Scoring
Sanja Taylor
Sanja is an experienced wine competition scorer and boss-lady, having overseen and managed results coming in for the last 4 years of The IEWA, and sister comp The ICWA. Hailing from Bosnia Herzegovina and originally a lawyer, ST’s day job sees her heading up the people function for 1625IP, a Bristol-based youth homeless support charity. She’s all about the detail, culture and values - not just doing things correctly, but scrupulously fairly.
Event Ops
Ros Neale
All successful endeavours - but particularly events - have those people without whom the whole thing wouldn’t have a chance of triumphing. For us, this is that person. Having been at the sharp end of Galmorgan Cricket’s hosting of an Ashes Test Match, Cardiff’s Ros has worked on bigger events, but has been a vital part of our team since 2016. Never has the phrase “Why don’t we do it like this?” been more artfully and expertly deployed.