Record Portugal entries at Decanter World Wine Awards

Strong team 1: Nick Oakley, Oakley Wine Agencies, Chris Sherwood, Bottle Apostle, Barbara Boyle MW, Wine Mason, Hilario Ribeiro, Laithwaites buyer

With around 900 entries this year, we have two Portuguese panels of judges for all five days at Decanter World Wine Awards.  A first.  

Quantity is one thing.  What of quality?  Compared with when I started judging for Decanter a decade or so ago, the overall quality is up.  I’m seeing cleaner, brighter wines.

Strong team 2: Lukasz Walkowiak, Sommelier Quest Champion 2016, Anne Forrest, Export Consultant, Director of Vinos Sin Fronteras, Danny Cameron, former Sales Director, Raymond Reynolds

We are finding plenty of wines to recommend for their regional and varietal typicity.  And Gold dust has been sprinkled!

The view from my desk this week

I am sure there will be more!

Trump that! Decanter’s Mar-a-Lago in east London. A fleet of buggies ferries judges to the venue

More top judges too.  I’m delighted The Yeatman’s Beatriz Machado, The Wine Society’s Jo Locke MW and Taberna do Mercado’s Ieva Markaityte are also on team Portugal.