"What brilliant idea to bring together wine and the team from the Ceva de Spus charity. And not just wine, but exciting wine too. I love what ROVINHUD does and am very happy to support this great event and great cause."

Caroline Gilby is a Master of Wine since 1992, the author of the recently published book: ”The Wines of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova”. She is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers and contributes as freelance writer to magazines including Decanter, Harpers, The Drinks Business, VinCE and Meiningers Wine Business International but also to Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, The Wine Opus and other books including Oxford Companion to Wine and Wines of the world, and while it was still being published Tom Stevenson’s Wine Report.
Caroline provides consultancy on wine quality; brand development; benchmarking against competitive products; range selection; technical specifications; copy writing for websites, back labels, shelf talkers and brochures. Clients range from major international PLCs to small boutique wineries.
Also she judge regularly at international wine competitions including being appointed Panel Chair for Hungary at Decanter World Wine Awards in 2011 and have since added Slovenia, Romania and Czech Republic to her responsibilities.

”Excited to be returning to Rovinhud for two reasons. First, and most importantly, to support one of the most exciting events in the wine calendar year, were we rise above the pure hedonism of tasting fine wine and remember our humanity. Plus such a beautifullly organised event. Secondly, following the publication of my rosé book and the contribution from Romanian producers, to follow this up and observe how Romanian rosé is developing.”

www.johnszabo.com

“I’m very grateful for the invitation to participate in Rovinhud. It’s rare that one has the combined occasion to share a passion for something one hold’s dear (volcanic wines), discover something new (the wines of Romania and the Transylvanian countryside), and participate in an excellent and worthy cause. What more can one ask?”

John was the first Canadian to add the “MS” after his name in 2004. Today, he’s a partner and principal critic for WineAlign.com, and writes regularly for Wine & Spirits Magazine, among many others in Europe and North America. His books include Pairing Food and Wine For Dummies (Wiley, 2012), and Sommelier Management. But volcanoes are John’s current fatal attraction; his multi award-winning Volcanic Wines, Salt, Grit and Power (Jacquie Small, 2016, UK) has caused a worldwide eruption of volcanic wines. Meanwhile, with Zen-like focus and unquenchable curiosity, he roams the planet to find the world’s finest fermented grapes. It’s a real job. And closer to the land, he is a partner in the small J&J Eger vineyard in Hungary.

Founder / Managing Partner, Wines of Hungary UK / Wine Communications

Lilla has over 15 years experience in marketing in the UK, product development from a range of disciplines as diverse as education, scientific publishing, to FTSE 100 multinationals and well known in the UK wine industry with her achievements in Hungarian wine. Lilla is a judge at the International Wine Challenge (IWC).

Wines of Hungary UK / Wine Communications - Managing Partner

Zsuzsa is a seasoned wine marketer, wine educator, also a qualified oenologist. She worked in the wine trade in Hungary as wine buyer and owned the largest WSET school before moving to London, where she headed up the European marketing communications team for a major multinational conglomerate. Zsuzsa is a judge at the International Wine Challenge (IWC)

”Since my first participation in 2016 I can say that Zoli and I became friends. Over the last couple of years, I had the opportunity to get to know a little more the wonderful souls at Ceva de Spus. I can say that these people have gave me more than I could ever give them. They gave me hope that one day we will live in a society when we will judge someone by their ability, rather than their disability. I believe without compassion we are not truly human. I almost forgot, the wines are not bad either. This is why I am here.”

Jérôme Legras continues on his father's steps, by elevating his champagne house Legras & Haas to the international recognition. He is the oenologist of the winery, and the creator of the champagne we will taste from this wine cellar.

"In November of the past two years I was honored with an invitation to go to Romania to participate at the ROVINHUD Wine Show. As you probably know by now, the main reason for the existence of this event is to help people with disabilities. But guess what? People with disabilities also "run the show,” making this event something extra special and very dear to my heart. I loved being part of these two editions so much that I made a commitment to go back to Timisoara to attend this amazing event for as many years as I can. So, Rovinhud 2018 is coming… and I am counting the days to see (and hug) some of my old friends, to make new ones, and to enjoy some of my favorite wines with fellow #winelover-s. If you love wine, if you love life... please join us!! It may change your life (just like it changed mine)... Cheers!!!”

"We all drink the wines we deserve. It is our duty, as consumers, to discourage poor winemaking and to pay for quality."

Zoltán is one of the first to graduate from WSET Level 4 (WSET Diploma) fron Romkania. Shortly after graduation, he set up an independent wine tasting school, TraWiS-Transilvania Wine School. In addition to standard WSET courses, wine lovers can also learn courses specially designed for those who want to know more about local grape varieties and wine regions in Romania.
Since he is a great fan of sherry wines, Zoltán became the first and only Sherry Certified Educator in Romania.
He firmly believes that no one is born a wine-taster, but with a suitable mentor and with a strong dedication, anyone can learn how to taste and appreciate a wine at its fair value.

Dan Balaban began his wine career by setting up a distribution company right after the fall of the communist regime.

In 1997, after starting the production of wine with purchased grapes, increasing not only the Davino Winery cultivated area to 100 ha (from 87 ha in 1999) but also the quality standard.

Believes in the wine potential of Romania, of the Dealu Mare region and the local varieties both in individual form as well as blended with international varieties.

Oliver Bauer is the oenologist of Ştirbey Winey and the owner/oenologist of Bauer Winey. He moved from Germany to Romania on the suggestion and offer of Mr. Jakob Kripp, owner the Ştirbey Winey, and began building the cellar and the brand together.

It just happened that he not only fell in love with the Drăgăşani area as well as the local grape varieties but also with the lady who became his wife. Together they established the Bauer Winery in 2012.

He believes in the value of local varieties and in the beauty of individually vinified varieties.

Barta Károly entered the wine business in 2003 when he bought 10ha on Öreg Király (Old King), in Tokaj and set up the Barta Winey. This is one of the most appreciated and famous terroirs in the Tokaj region, with a rich wine history.

Kovács Zoltán is the General Manager of the Royal-Tokaji Winery founded in 1990 by a group of people, Hugh Johnson being one of the famous other founding members. They own plots in the famous Nyúlászó, Szent Tamás, Betsek and Mézes Mály.

Filep Gergely is the vinification coordinator at the Disznókő Winery, part of the AXA Millésimes international holdings. Disznókő is at the same time one of the best terroirs for botrytisation of the grapes, required for the famous desert wines of the region.