The 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards – 2026 edition
The third edition of the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards launched on 27th January 2026.
Each category has a £3,000 cash prize for the winner. The closing date for entries was 8th March 2026 and the Awards Ceremony will take place on 9th September 2026, live in London and online.
Sign up for updates to stay informed.
2026 Sponsors
-
Berkmann Wine Cellars are proud to be the largest family-owned and family-run wine importer in the UK. Founded in 1964 by restaurateur Joseph Berkmann, they began the transition to a fully fledged agency house in 1972 with the exclusive representation of Georges Duboeuf. The portfolio has since expanded to include iconic producers such as Antinori, Vega Sicilia and Ridge, while including a diverse selection of wineries both big and small from 20 countries. Berkmann distribute to all channels of the UK trade, with a particular emphasis on the hospitality sector, for whom their bespoke wine training programme, called Veraison, was specifically designed. A sister company was established in Brazil in 2015, with both teams headed up by second-generation family member and CEO Rupert Berkmann.
-
Founded in 1812, the House of Laurent-Perrier has been defined by its pioneering role in innovating champagne throughout its history. Its innovation is rooted in unique savoir-faire, passed down through generations. Internationally recognised as one of the foremost names in Champagne, its success can be attributed to a deliberate policy of challenging conventional techniques while honouring traditional values, a passion for quality and, above all, respect for nature and the terroir (the natural environment in which the grapes are grown).
The Laurent-Perrier portfolio is built around three distinct expressions of its unique savoir-faire. The first is the art of assemblage of reserve wines, exemplified by Grand Siècle - a prestige cuvée crafted from three exceptional vintages to recreate the perfect year. The second is the mastery of maceration, an innovative winemaking technique that led to the creation of Cuvée Rosé in 1968. Finally, the House pioneered the non-dosé (zero dosage) style with the launch of Ultra Brut in 1981, a visionary approach that continues today with Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature.
The success of this independent family-led House is attributed to the energy of the de Nonancourt family, headed by the late Bernard de Nonancourt, who assumed control in 1948. Bernard preserved the independence of his champagne House and its values. These same principles guide the current management team led by his daughters Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt and his granddaughter Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt.
In 2024 Laurent-Perrier was the first champagne House to be bestowed the prestigious Royal Warrant by His Majesty The King Charles III, signifying the brand’s esteemed status as a purveyor of champagne to the Royal Household.
-
The Drouhin Family’s winemaking roots run deep, having taken hold in Burgundy’s finest vineyards more than a century ago. This enduring continuum links Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune with Domaine Drouhin Oregon, founded to express the same family values in a new terroir.
Located in the Dundee Hills, the estate winery produces elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, forged from the family’s tradition of fine winemaking in France. For more than 30 years, the Drouhin Family has brought its hard-earned experience to the Willamette Valley, just southwest of Portland, Oregon. Guided by a belief in the family approach to wine and deep respect for the land, Domaine Drouhin Oregon produces wines with French soul from Oregon soil.
domainedrouhin.com/
-
Tenuta Bocca di Lupo is a pioneering estate in Puglia’s Castel del Monte DOC, established in 1998 with the mission to rediscover and enhance the precious native varietals of the region, helping lead the enological “Renaissance” of Apulia’s wine culture.
Inspired by passion, courage and confidence in the potential of Apulia, the historic Marchesi Antinori family invested in this rugged, karst terroir over twenty years ago to produce elegant, vibrant and terroir-driven wines from both local grapes like Aglianico, Nero di Troia, and Fiano and select international varieties.
Certified organic viticulture is central to the estate’s philosophy, seen not as an end but as an opportunity to express the unique character of the land. Tenuta Bocca di Lupo combines the raw beauty of the Apulian landscape with centuries-old Antinori winemaking expertise to create elegant, characterful wines that reflect the depth and complexity of their terroir.
tenutaboccadilupo.it
-
TexSom was founded in 2005 as the Texas Sommelier Conference, created to promote professional wine service standards, outline pathways for beverage education and certification, and raise awareness of sommelier qualifications. What began as a regional forum for Texas sommeliers has since evolved into an international platform for beverage professionals across all tiers of the industry to learn, network, and grow. In 2014, this spirit expanded with the launch of the TexSom International Wine Awards, now among the most selective competitions in the United States, alongside the TexSom Retreat, which fosters community, critical thinking, and industry advancement through mentored tastings and seminars.
2026 Finalists
The 2026 finalists were announced on Wednesday 8th July 2026.
-
Finalists
Katie Mather, UK
Con Altura — Making Wine and Preserving Culture in Tenerife’s Vineyard HeartlandTom Hewson, UK
How Texas Saved ChampagneDavid Williams, UK
Days of Wine and NosesNoah Chichester, USA
‘We’re completely abandoned’Alder Yarrow, USA
Kingdom of Wine: Drinking the Past, Present, and Future in ArmeniaKate Nowell-Smith, USA
Wine and MenopauseMalu Lambert, South Africa
From iron ore to flor in South Africa's wild west
-
Finalists
Tim Atkin, UK
Drinking TogetherTom Hewson, UK
Paper PlanesFikayo Ifaturoti, UK
The Stradivarius Violin × 1969 Bollinger VVFSteven Norton, USA
Ode to RomorantinJudy O'Kane, UK
The Table (World Of Fine Wine, issue 90)Matt Walls, UK
Smell: How our most overlooked sense can ground us
-
Finalists
Konstantin Baum, Germany
I Tried the Most Controversial Wines in the World!Brendan Carter, Australia
The Australian Grape That Almost Went Extinct (The Tarrango Story)Jamie Goode, UK
The Science of Wine: Do We Need New Grape Varieties?Angus O'Loughlin and Carlos Santos MS, Australia
Chablis Explained: Petit vs Chablis vs Premier CruIlkka Sirén, Finland
The ’24 Dão storyPieter Walser, South Africa
Epileptic Inspiration The Movie
-
Finalists
Konstantin Baum, Germany
3 Things you don't know about Tokaj!Tom Gilbey, UK
BEST WINE WITH JAMÓN?Angus O'Loughlin and Carlos Santos MS, Australia
Can a Master Sommelier name the grape AND the region in under a minute?Nicole Muscari, USA
A wine with a second chancePieter Walser, South Africa
The ACT of blending - IN THE MAKING
-
Finalists
Tim Atkin, UK
Cork Talk with Cliff RobersonHenry Jeffreys and Tom Parker Bowles, UK
Grape Pretenders, Part 2Agnese Gintere, Latvia
Can BORDEAUX reinvent itself? (with Jean-Pierre Durand)Peter Richards MW and Susie Barrie MW, UK
Fake Wine: A Laughing Matter?Brenna Quigley, USA
Why Farming Matters
-
Finalists
Samantha Cole-Johnson, USA
For work on JancisRobinson.com, The Wine News in 5 and Mission Blind TastingJamie Goode, UK
For work on WineAnorak.com, Just Another Wine Podcast, and The Science Of WineNatalie MacLean, Canada
For work on Natalie MacLean.com writing, Unreserved Wine Talk and NatalieMacLean.com (video)
2026 Judges
-
Chair of Judges
Elaine serves as an author, speaker, and global wine educator. Their acclaimed book The Wines of California, from Classic Wine Library, was released in Spring 2025. Previously, Brown served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter magazine, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits Magazine. They contributed to the 4th, 5th and upcoming 6th editions of Oxford Companion to Wine, the 8th and upcoming 9th edition of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compilations On Burgundy and On California from Academie du Vin Library.
Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries. Brown serves as Executive Director for Batonnage Forum, and is a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium. They travel globally delivering keynotes and seminars, and pay rent in Sonoma, California.
-
Lorraine Copes is a multi-award-winning social entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality CIC, established in 2020 to tackle racial inequity in hospitality. A former executive director for top brands like Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, she now serves on the WSTA board and judges awards including Great Taste and Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman Awards. Recognised by GQ, Condé Nast Traveller, and NatWest WISE100, Lorraine is a leading voice driving lasting change across food, drink, and hospitality.
-
Xiao Pi is a veteran Chinese wine expert, opinion leader, and entrepreneur with 18 years of experience across importation, retail, education, and media. As one of China’s most influential wine KOLs, Xiao Pi has built a following of over one million across Chinese social media and more than 300,000 engaged wine enthusiasts on Bilibili and Red Note. His team operates retail stores under his own brand on major e-commerce platforms, including Tmall, JD.com, Red Note, and TikTok, featuring China’s only fine wine store offering over 200 wines from 52 wineries across 8 regions.
-
David is a journalist, writer, broadcaster, and international wine judge with over two decades of experience across print, online, TV, and radio. He began his career in local journalism before moving into radio at LBC, then television, editing BBC Breakfast and Channel 5 News, and holding senior management roles at Sky and ITV. A lifelong passion for wine led him to earn a diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Today, Kermode contributes to The Buyer and Club Oenologique, hosts masterclasses and tastings, consults for producers, and presents the weekly podcast The Drinking Hour in partnership with the IWSC and Food FM.
-
Erin is an independent wine writer, judge, and presenter based in Perth, Western Australia. She reviews Australian and New Zealand wines full time for Robert Parker Wine Advocate. Formerly part of the Halliday Companion Tasting Team, Larkin completed the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in 2022, and has since contributed to a number of books, including the Oxford Companion to Wine 5th Edition, and the upcoming World Atlas of Wine, Ed. 9.
Trained in fashion, but wedded to wine, Erin shares her passion for wine with both producers and consumers through her writing and YouTube channel, sharing insight, expertise, and personal recommendations. In 2024, Erin was named Top Wine Critic in Australia by Tastingbook.com, ranking number 12 in the world overall.
-
André is an iconoclastic sommelier, wine entrepreneur, and media personality. He was the first African-American named Best Young Sommelier in America by Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and served as sommelier at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry before opening the three-Michelin-starred Per Se. Mack has collaborated with Amazon, Cadillac, eBay, National Rental Car, and Microsoft, and appeared on Anthony Bourdain’s The Taste and NBC’s Uncorked. He hosts Bon Appétit’s World of Wine with André Mack, the most-viewed wine show on YouTube, and Through the Grapevine, where he quizzes celebrity guests on wine. In 2007, he founded Maison Noir Wines, producing distinctive Oregon “garage wines,” and in 2022 launched Rye & Sons, celebrating America’s rye whiskey. A self-taught designer and author, Mack created Small Thyme Cooks and 99 Bottles: A Black Sheep’s Guide to Life-Changing Wines.
-
Alder Yarrow
Aleksandar Draganic
Alexandra Gray de Walden
Alice Feiring
Alicia Cypress
Allison Levine
Allison Slute
Amaya Cervera
Amber Gardner
Andrea Lemieux
Andrew Neather
Ani Duzdabanyan
Anna Lee Iijima
Anthony Rose
Ari Bendersky
Brad Horne
Brett Vankoski
Brianne Cohen
Caitlin Miller
Caroline Gilby
Cassandra Charlick
Charlie Geoghegan
Charlie Leary
Chris Boiling
Chris Howard
Christopher Waters
Christy Frank
Colin Hay
Corné van Nijhuis
Dan Belmont
Danika Leminski
Darren Smith
David DeSimone
David Rosoff
David Williams
DOUGLAS BLYDE
Ed Cavanagh
Ed Merrison
Ellie Scott
Gail Treuer
George Nordahl
Ian Bancroft
Jaclene Liew
Jacopo Mazzeo
Jacy Topps
James Bayley
James Button
James Peterson
Jamie Goode
Jane Anson
Janet Dorozynski
Jason Millar
Jason Wilson
Jill Barth
Jill Troyer
Jim Clarke
Joseph Roberts
Joshua London
Judy O'Kane
Karl Kliparchuk
Kate Dingwall
Kate Lofthouse
Kate Nowell-Smith
Kathryn Reuschel
Katie Mather
Kiana Keys
Lisa Cardelli
Lorenzo Biscontin
Lori Budd
Louis Thomas
Lucy Edwards
Malu Lambert
Marianna Hunt
Matt Tinney
Meg Maker
Michael Apstein
MICHAEL WALKER
Michalis Georgiou
Michele Francisco
Michelle Gruben
Miguel Crunia
Mike Madaio
Miquel Hudin
Natalie Hazel
Neal Hulkower
Nimmi Malhotra
Noah Chichester
Oliver Styles
Patrick Comiskey
paul white
Paula Sidore
Pauline Vicard
PJ Alexander
Rana Masri
Razeen Adams
Robert Camuto
Robin Goldsmith
Rosamund Hall
Ruma Singh
Rupert Millar
Saket Joshi
Sally Evans
Sara Danese
Sarah Grunwald
Sedale McCall
Sera Karamshuk
Sophie McLean
Sophie Thorpe
Suzanne Mustacich (Desbois)
Tamlyn Currin
Tim Atkin
Tim Phillips
Tom Hewson
Tom Kline
Valerie Kathawala
Victoria Brzezinski
Victoria James
Victoria Mason
Vinka Woldarsky
W. Blake Gray
Weiwen Lin
Wendy Narby
Wink Lorch
Yolanda Ortiz de Arri
-
Abbie Bennington
Alder Yarrow
Alessandra Mastrantonio
Alice Feiring
Allison Levine
Allison Sheardy
Amber Gardner
Andrew Neather
Anthony Rose
Arnica Rowan
Brad Horne
Charlie Geoghegan
Chinedu Rita Rosa
Christian Eedes
Christopher Waters
Colin Hay
Cynthia Rynning
Danika Leminski
David Walker Bell
David Williams
Elona Hesseling
Emma Hodges
Fikayo Ifaturoti
Henry Jeffreys
Ian Bancroft
Jacopo Mazzeo
Jacy Topps
James Bayley
Janelle Cotton
Janet Dorozynski
Jason Millar
Jason Wilson
Jill Barth
Jill Troyer
John Jackson
Judy O'Kane
Katherine Cole
Kathryn Reuschel
Kiana Keys
Leona De Pasquale
Lisa Cardelli
Lori Budd
Lucy Edwards
Luma Monteiro
Magdalena Kaiser
Marc Checkley
Marianna Hunt
Marisa Finetti
Martha Cisneros Paja
Matt Tinney
Matt Walls
Matthew Starr
Meg Maker
Michael Karam
MICHAEL WALKER
Michalis Georgiou
Michelle Gruben
Natalie Hazel
Natalie MacLean
Nicola Lee
Noah Chichester
Patrick Comiskey
Paula Sidore
PJ Alexander
Rana Masri
Raphaela van Embden
Raquel Jones
Robert Camuto
Robin Goldsmith
Rosamund Hall
Ruma Singh
Rupert Millar
Saket Joshi
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Sarah Doyle
Sophie McLean
Sophie Thorpe
Steve Leszczynski
Steven Norton
striker reese
Tim Atkin
Tom Hewson
Tom Kline
Toni Osoba
Victoria Brzezinski
Victoria Mason
W. Blake Gray
Wanda Mann
Wendy Narby
Will Lyons
Yve Sharples
-
Agnese Gintere
ALESSANDRA FEDI
Angus O'Loughlin
Árpád Czapp
Brendan Carter
Ilkka Sirén
Jamie Goode
Jamie Knee
Jane Anson
Jason Wise
Jessica Bassett
Julien Boulard
Konstantin Baum
Mark Fusco
Matthew Horkey
Natalie MacLean
Pete Turner
Pieter Walser
Sara Danese
Shawn Zylberberg
Shehnaz Hansraj
Simone Roveda
Sonal C Holland
Suzanne Mustacich (Desbois)
Tim Wildman
Tom Gilbey
-
Aleesha Hansel
Aleksandar Draganic
Alessandra Mastrantonio
Andrew Hurley
Angus O'Loughlin
Anthony Boddy
Antoine Desferet
Árpád Czapp
Brianne Cohen
Brooke Martin
Edward Taylor
Emma Hodges
Fikayo Ifaturoti
Jaclene Liew
James Peterson
Janelle Cotton
Janina Doyle
John Jackson
Katie Melchior
Konstantin Baum
Lawrence Francis
Luma Monteiro
Mackenzie Casey
Matthew Benson
Matthew Horkey
Michael Minnie
Mickey Taylor-Fallowes
Miquel Hudin
Nicole Muscari
Noah Chichester
Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA)
Pete Turner
Peter Richards
Pieter Walser
Rosamund Hall
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Shehnaz Hansraj
Sietze Wijma
Sonal C Holland
Tom Gilbey
Victoria Bryksa
VIRGINIE VALCAUDA
-
ADAM CASTO
Agnese Gintere
Allison Levine
Allison Slute
Andrew Neather
Angus O'Loughlin
Antoine Desferet
Brenna Quigley
David Master
Ed Merrison
Henry Jeffreys
Hough Richard
Jamie Goode
Jane Anson
Janina Doyle
Jason Wise
Jens Peter Nebsbjerg
Joe Fattorini
Kelly Cornett
Lawrence Francis
Marc Millon
Natalie MacLean
Oliver Styles
Pauline Vicard
Peter Richards
Peter Yeung
Pieter Walser
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Sara Danese
Shelly Wilfong
Suzanne Mustacich (Desbois)
Tim Atkin
Tšepang Molisana
Will Lyons
Xeniya Volosnikova
-
Jamie Goode
Jane Anson
Natalie MacLean
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Sara Danese
Suzanne Mustacich (Desbois)