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 is 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 Award categories
-
For any written wine content published on any platform that is between 1,000 and 25,000 words in length
-
For any written wine content published on any platform that is below 1,000 words in length
-
For any video wine content published on any platform that is over three minutes in duration
-
For any video wine content published on any platform that is below three minutes in duration
-
For any audio wine content published on any platform of any duration
-
For entrants that submit content across all three disciplines (writing, video, audio)
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.
2026 Entry rules
-
1. Participants may enter up to three categories
1a. Entries must be made by the author/communicator themselves. Submitting entries on behalf of other people is not allowed
1b. Participants that submit content across all three disciplines (writing, video and audio) will automatically be considered for the Berkmann Award for Best All-Round Wine Communicator, which recognises communicators across all media2. Each category allows a maximum of two content submissions
2a. Entrants can submit one form only. Multiple submissions are not allowed3. Each submission link must point to a specific, individual piece of content
4. If your content is behind an online paywall or only appears in print, you must either:
>>> provide details for us to access that content (eg login and password);
OR
>>> scan/upload the content and provide a link to it, using a URL that is not paywalled (eg a public link on Google Drive or Sharepoint)5. All entries must have been published between 4th March 2025 and 3rd March 2026
6. Submissions close on 8th March 2026, late entries will not be accepted
-
7a. Written entries must be in English
7b. Any tasting notes will not be included in the word count
7c. Long-form writing has a maximum word count of 25,000 words -
8a. Audio entries must be in English
8b. Guests appearing on audio entries (for example, as an interviewee on podcasts) can be considered for the Berkmann Award for Best All-Round Wine Communicator, but not for the Audio award itself
8c. For Audio entries that are co-hosted or co-produced, up to three participants can be named -
9a. Video entries can be in languages other than English, if English subtitles are included
9b. Guests appearing on Video entries (for example, as an interviewee on YouTube videos) can be considered for the Berkmann Award for Best All-Round Wine Communicator, but not for the Video award itself
9c. For Video entries that are co-hosted or co-produced, up to three participants can be named