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Daniele Cernilli

Daniele Cernilli, 69 years old, president of the jury of Sud Top Wine, is an internationally renowned wine critic. Known under the nickname Doctor Wine, he created in 2011 the homonymous web magazine where he makes the most of his thirty-year experience. Journalist and wine critic (he was co-founder of Gambero Rosso in 1986, editor of the guide Vini d’Italia for 24 editions, and editor of the magazine Gambero Rosso). He is also a lecturer and teacher in professional courses of tasting and sensory analysis, a writer (author of the book I racconti (e i consigli) by Doctor Wine – Einaudi 2014; Vitigni del mondo – La Conchiglia 2012 – in collaboration with Dario Cappelloni; Memories of a wine taster – Einaudi 2006). Since 2014, in partnership with a selected staff of tasters and journalists, published with Mondadori the first two editions of the Guida Essenziale ai Vini d’Italia 2015 and 2016 and with MD Communication the editions from 2017 to 2023 while the 2024 edition of the Guida Essenziale ai Vini d’Italia is in preparation, published in Italian, English and German. Since 2012 he has been the official taster at the Decanter Wine World Award (DWWA) competition. In 2015 he was selected to be part of the Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame of the Wine Media Guild of New York and in the past was included in the ranking of the English magazine Decanter among the 50 most influential people in the world of wine (2007-2008-2009). Since 2019 he has been chairman of 5stars – The Book of Vinitaly International.

Wojciech Bońkowski

Wojciech Bońkowski is Poland’s first Master of Wine.
He obtained an MA in Italian literature for his work on Montale and a PhD in musicology from the University of Warsaw with a dissertation on Chopin’s editions published in Polish and English (2006). His book on Chopin’s favourite food and wines, Chopin Gourmet, was published in English by the Chopin Institute in 2010.
Simultaneously he developed a career in wine, working in London before returning to Poland where he published eight books and founded the country’s leading wine website, Winicjatywa (2012), and wine magazine, Ferment (2017, with Ewa Rybak and Ewa Wieleżyńska)). The Ferment media group now also includes a wine events agency, wine school, and publishing house.
Wojciech is active internationally as a writer, wine market consultant and judge, notably at Decanter World Wine Awards and 50 Great Greek Wines.
He was President of the Polish Wine Trade Association (2015–22) and is a member of the Académie Internationale du Vin.
He currently focuses on the wines of Italy, Greece, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe including Poland’s booming industry, Port, Madeira, and Champagne, as well as gin and rum.
And he actually has another life as a tea taster.

Federico Latteri

Federico Latteri, a 52 years old journalist, has been working on wine since he was a boy, initially for passion, then for work. Since then he has always travelled to the most important wine areas of Italy and Europe, visiting many wineries and tasting thousands of wines. Since August 2015 he has written for Cronache di Gusto where he plays the wine writer and wine expert role. He has written and edited the 2016 and 2017 editions of the Sicily Wine Guide of the Giornale di Sicilia. He wrote and edited all the editions (including the eighth forthcoming) of the Etna Wine Guide. He has collaborated with the Guida Essenziale ai Vini d’Italia of Doctor Wine since the 2017 edition. For several years he has also been working in Hong Kong, where he carries out popular activities such as seminars and masterclasses.

Anthony Rose

Anthony Rose was the wine correspondent of The Independent from start in 1986 to finish in 2016 of the print version. Since leaving The Independent, he has written two books, Sake and the Wines of Japan (Infinite Ideas, 2018 and, Fizz! Champagne and Sparkling Wines of the World (Infinite Ideas 2021). Today he contributes to publications that include Decanter Magazine, The World of Fine Wine and the Oxford Companion to Wine and he is the Decanter World Wine Awards chair for Southern Italy. Anthony has won a number of awards and is a founding member of The Wine Gang (www.thewinegang.com) and is on Twitter at @anthonyrosewine. He lives in London and is a keen amateur cook and photographer.

Eleonora Scholes

Eleonora Scholes is an award-winning Russian wine journalist with 20 years of experience. Since 2012 she’s been publishing spaziovino.com, the premier Russian language website about Italian wines and lifestyle. Eleonora is an ambassador for the Langhe wines (Barolo and Barbaresco). She contributes to the international bestselling wine guide Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book. She co-authored several wine books, including the latest Aperitivo, The Italian Happy Hour published in 2022.

Claudia Stern

Claudia Stern, 56, is a wine journalist. She writes for Vinum, one of the largest German-language magazines dedicated to the world of wine. She also owns the company Wine & Glory, an agency dedicated to the promotion and trade of wine as well as to the organization of events. She has received several awards: in the 90s Best Sommelier of Germany – Ruinart Trophy; in 1991 Sommelier of the Year Gault Millau Guide; in 2000 Hennessy Trophy Winner; since 2018 Culinary Cologne Ambassador. She works for Service Design & Consulting, a company dedicated to the world of hospitality and wine; she also performs PR and social media management activities.