Degustation Jury – 2022

Ralf ANSELMANN

Germany

Oenologist, winemaker, co-owner and general manager of the winery Weingut Werner Anselmann and oenologist of the winery Gebrüder Anselmann, Winemaker of the Year 2010 in Germany, taster at many prestigious international and national wine competitions and evaluator for wine magazines.

Michal BEHÚN

Slovakia

Wine merchant, sommelier, marketing and creative project specialist, CEO Wine & Marketing, wine taster.

Ben Gabay BERNHEIM

Israel

Sommelier, associate of Elizabeth Gabay MW, specializes in rosé wines, co-author of the publication Guide to the rosé wines of Southern France, judge at several international wine competitions

Juraj BUZALKA

Slovakia

sociocultural anthropologist, researcher of movements in the field of production, distribution and consumption of food and wine, Comenius University Bratislava, author of several publications on the cultural and social transformation of wine.
Guest observer, expert collaborator of the event

Manuel Ángel CAPOTE PÉREZ

Spain

Enologist, DipWSET3, Vice President of CERVIM (Heroic Viticulture), Technical Director of the Premios Mezquita competition, owner and oenologist of Bodegas Balcón de la Laguna winery, taster at many prestigious international and national competitions.

Tomáš DILONG

Slovakia

Winemaker, production director of ViaJur winery, judge at several international wine competitions.

Ladislav ĎORĎ

Slovakia

Oenologist, winery Chateau Rúbaň and Pivnica Čebovce, judge at several national and international wine competitions.

Zsolt FERENCZI

Hungary

Wine merchant, importer of premium wines. Wine taster.

Miroslav FONDRK

Slovakia

Oenologist, President of the Guild of Winegrowers and Winemakers of Slovakia, winemaker and winery owner, wine judge at several international wine competitions

Elizabeth GABAY

USA

Master of Wine, currently based in Provence, wine presenter, consultant, columnist, critic and publisher, author of numerous articles and publications on wine (e.g. Rosé – understanding the pink wine revolution), correspondent of several prestigious wine magazines, she focuses mainly on rosé wines, wines of the South of France and of the Central Europe, expert wine judge at many international wine competitions

Ján GAJDOŠÍK

Slovakia

In addition to his main job (European scout for the New York Rangers – NHL), he promotes Slovak wine abroad and supports the export of Slovak and Moravian wines, hobby-sommelier and taster

Fernando GURUCHARRI JAQUE

Spain

Biologist & Oenologist, President of he Union of Spanish Tasters and Director of Bacchus Madrid IWC (member of VINOFED), President of VINOFED, respected wine judge at many international wine competitions

Tereza HELMOVÁ

Czech Republic

Oenologist, PhD student at Mendel University. Involved in a family winery from a very young age. Currently working for top Moravian wineries and teaching at Mendel University. Jury member at many national and international wine competitions.

Michal HUDÁK

Slovakia

Popular Slovak actor and a presenter. Enthusiastic wine lover and promoter of fine wine. Ambassador of the Danube Wine Challenge. Guest Wine Taster, representing consumers.

María Begoña JOVELLAR PARDO

Spain

Oenologist, DipWSET2, for more than 20 years oenologist of Vega Sicilia, later Bodegas Otazu, lecturer in sensory analysis courses, President of the Association of Oenologists of Castilla-León, member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Associations of Oenologists of Spain and Spanish delegate to the International Union of Oenologists, founding member of the Gastronomic Academy of Castilla-León, taster in many prestigious international and national competitions.

Astrid KARAMIRA

Germany

WSET educated sommelier with passion for natural wines, currently living and working in Lisbon, Portugal.

Peter KECSKÉS

Slovakia

Sommelier. Winner of many sommelier contests. Professional sommelier in several hotels and restaurants, currently works for Chateau Rúbaň, where he is also the Brand Ambassador. Jury member at national and international sommelier contests and wine competitions.

Radovan KILÁRSKY

Slovakia

Sales Manager at Purgina, a family-owned company for the production of labels. He specializes in wine and spirits labels. Wine lover. Guest Wine Taster, representing consumers.

Pavel KRŠKA

Czech Republic

Director of the National Centre of Wine of the Czech Republic, co-organizer of trainings, courses, presentations and wine competitions, judge at many national and international wine competitions.

Katarína KUROPKOVÁ

Slovakia

Lawyer, winegrower and winemaker. She works in the family owned winery Slobodné vinárstvo (Free Winery) and as an attorney she represents wine growers and winemakers of the association AUTENTISTA SLOVAKIA and the platform Naturálni a remeselní vinári Slovenska (Natural and Artisanal Winemakers of Slovakia).

Sofía LE FOULON

Chile

Designer and editor. Director of development of Catad’Or World Wine Awards and Catad’Or World Spirits Awards. Editor and producer of Alistair Cooper MW & Catad’Or Latin American Wine Guide.

Georgi MIHOV

Bulgaria

Best sommelier of Bulgaria 2011, editor-in-chief of Sommelier.bg, wine entrepreneur, wine educator, experienced taster at many international wine competitions.

Jaroslav MACIK

Slovakia

MBA – PR & marketing communication in the wine industry, winemaker, CEO of the family winery Tokaj Macik Winery, committed supporter of Tokaj wines, judge at many national and international wine competitions

Erika MACIKOVÁ

Slovakia

MBA. Sommelier. She works in the family company Tokaj Macik Winery. Jury member at national and international wine competitions.

Gabriella MÉSZÁROS

Hungary

DipWSET & Weinakademiker, Associate professor, co-founder of Bórkollégium (The Wine College), wine educator, wine writer, editor and publisher, author of many articles and several books on wine. Originally a lawyer by profession, she has been actively working to promote wine culture in Hungary, organising wine tastings, competitions, presentations. Experienced taster at national and international wine competitions.

Filip NAGY

Slovakia

Oenologist, WSET 3 certified, vineyard and winemaker at the winery Zlatý Roh („Goldeck“) and at a joint project 7 riadkov – 7 řádků – 7 rows , wine taster.

Maria NETSIKA

Greece

Oenologist, wine critic, journalist and wine writer. Founder of wine communication company WinePlus, she organizes wine fairs and tastings, oeno-gastronomic dinners and tours. Author of different wine publications, she also writes for a website WinePlus.org. Jury member at many prestigious international wine competitions.

Peter „Petko“ OPET

Slovakia

Musician and writer, he is a member of the successful Slovak band Polemic. He is an enthusiastic wine lover and promoter of wine culture. He produces popular podcasts about wine Na dúšok s Petkom (On Sip with Petko). Guest Wine Taster, representing consumers.

Jaroslav OSTROŽOVIČ

Slovakia

Oenologist, prominent viticulturist and winemaker in the Slovak Tokaj region, co-owner of the Ostrožovič winery, judge at many national and international wine competitions

Róbert PÁLENÍK

Slovakia

Sommelier. Sales manager at Wine Expert – wine importer and wine merchant. Sommelier of the Year in Slovakia Gurman Award 2012. Jury member at national and international sommelier contests and wine competitions.

Miroslav PETRECH

Slovakia

Oenologist, viticulturist and winemaker, legend of Slovak winemaking, creator of the wines of the prestigious Chateau Béla brand (the Slovakian venture of the famous Mosel winemaker Egon Müller), experienced judge at many national and international wine competitions

Jean-Philippe PRICART

France

Oenologist, Head of Production of the Arrive winery within the production of IGP Charentais and AOP Cognac. President of the Citadelles du vin Bordeaux competition, a member of VINOFED. Taster at many prestigious international and national wine competitions.

Slavomíra RAŠKOVIČ

Slovakia

Sommelier, DipWSET and Weinakademiker, founder and co-owner of the fine-dine restaurant Gašperov Mlyn and Bistro Moment in the High Tatras, wine taster

Casilda RODRÍGUEZ MONTILLA

Spain

Graphic designer – wine labels, Design & Marketing Management, member of the Union of Tasters of Spain, , judge at national and international wine competitions

Michael SCHAEFER

USA

Certified Specialist of Wine & Certified Wine Educator, President of Herding Grapes – wine consulting and promotion, WSET certified, international wine expert and wine judge at many international competitions.

Georg SCHWEITZER

Austria

DipWSET4, Weinakademiker, lecturer at the Austrian Wine Academy in Rust, formerly export manager of a major Austrian winery. Director of Wein Burgenland. Candidate of the Master of Wine qualification. Experienced taster at international and national wine competitions.

Bořek SVOBODA

Czech Republic

Oenologist. Director of leading Moravian wineries Zámecké vinařství Bzenec and Mikrosvín Mikulov – the winning and the silver titles Winemaker of the Year 2021 of the Czech Republic, respectively. Jury member at many national and international wine competitions.

Ladislav ŠEBO

Slovakia

Viticulturist and winemaker, co-owner of the family winery Karpatská Perla – one of the most important in Small Carpathians, judge at many national and international wine competitions

Sue TOLSON

United Kingdom

Dip WSET4, Weinakademiker. Journalist, translator, columnist, blogger and editor in wine, gastronomy and travel, currently living and working in Hungary. Managing editor of WineSofa, an online magazine focusing on wine and culture of Central and Eastern Europe. Wine lecturer. She is currently a Stage 2 Master of Wine student. Taster at many prestigious international and national wine competitions.

Pablo UGARTE

Chile

Diploma in wines at the Catholic University of Chile. International consultant and wine marketing advisor. President of the Catad’Or World Wine Awards and CEO of the Catad’Or Group. Member of the executive committee of VINOFED. Co-author of the Latin American Wine Guide with Alistair Cooper MW. Taster at many prestigious international and national wine competitions. Musician.

Ingrid VAJCZIKOVÁ

Slovakia

Enologist. Chief oenologist of the largest wine producer in Slovakia HUBERT, J.E., she is a specialist in sparkling wines. She also works in the family winery Rosenthal. Experienced judge at many domestic and international wine competitions.

José VALDEARCOS CABRERA

Spain

Director of F&B Parador de Alcalá y Hostería del Estudiante, President of Alcalá Gastronómica Fomentur, member of ChaÎne des Rôtisseurs España, experienced judge at many national and international wine competitions

Josef VALIHRACH, jr.

Czech Republic

WSET 3 certified, sommelier, viticulturist and winemaker, continues the tradition of the family winery Vinařství Josef Valihrach. Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Political Advisor for the Association of Independent Winegrowers of the Czech Republic, Member of the Expert Council of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, EU Commission – Civil Dialogue Group wine expert. Judge at major national and international wine competitions

Josef VALIHRACH, st.

Czech Republic

Viticulturer and winemaker in the family winery. Three times Winemaker of the Year of the Czech Republic. President of the Wine Association of the Czech Republic. Member of the Commission of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic for wine quality control. Jury member at many national and international competitions.

Patrik VAN DEN BOSSCHE

Belgium

Importer and distributor of Slovak wines, owner and CEO of slovakwines.be, passionate promoter and ambassador of Slovak wines and Slovakia as a wine tourism destination, wine taster

Simon WOOLF

Ireland

Wine journalist, columnist and evaluator, currently living and working in the Netherlands, contributor to prestigious wine magazines (Decanter, Meiningers, Wine Business Intnl, Noble Rot…), author of the website The Morning Claret, author of several publications (e.g. Amber Revolution, Foot Trodden,…), respected judge at international wine competitions

Zbyněk ŽIŠKA

Czech Republic

Oenologist. He works as a head oenologist in the successful Moravian wineries Zámecké vinařství Bzenec and Mikrosvín Mikulov. In 2021 he became the Oenologist of the Year of the Czech Republic. Jury member at many national and international wine competitions.