speakers 2023
ELIZABETH GABAY MW
Graduated Faculty of History and became Master of Wine in 1998, Elizabeth Gabay is known as one of the most renowned experts on rosé wines and the Provence region of France. She started her career in the field of wine since 1986 and she is judging for wine competitions such as Decanter World Wine Awards, VinAgora, Mondial de Rosé, VinoBalkanika, Guide de Vins de Provence. As a specialist in Provence, she is the co-author of wine publications such as the Pocket Wine Book written by Oz Clarke, or the Worlds Atlas of Wine, written by Jancis Robinson.
She is the author of the books "Rosé: Understanding the Pink Wine Revolution" and "Rosés of Southern France" (together with Ben Bernheim).
ROD SMITH MW
He graduated Faculty of Arts, but met wine while working part-time for Oddbins, a major UK wine retailer. He obtained the title of Master of Wine in 2006 and in 2007 he moved to the south of France to lead the wine team at Vins Sans Frontières, the most important supplier of wines to the superyacht industry. The idea of founding the Riviera Wine Academy came to him due to the tastings, dinners and various events he organised for famous personalities, clients with refined tastes.
He is a juror of many international competitions, including Decanter World Wine Awards, Moscow Wine Fair, Shanghai International Wine Challenge.
He is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator and speaker. In his free time he enjoys cycling, jogging, traveling, literature, playing card tricks and movies
Wojciech Boňkowski MW
He is a wine writer from Poland, author of eight wine books, cofounder of Poland’s leading wine media: the Winicjatywa website and Ferment printed magazine.
He specialises in the wines of Italy, Greece, Central Europe, Champagne, and Port.
He regularly contributes to Meininger’s Wine Business International, www.timatkin.com, Club Oenologique, Falstaff, and is a judge at Decanter World Wine Awards and 50 Great Greek Wines. He was President of the Polish Wine Trade Association in 2016–22, and in 2023 became Poland’s first Master of Wine.
Bern Bernheim
Ben Bernheim writes and consults about wine, mostly rosé worldwide and the wines of the Western Mediterranean. He has experience working as a hotel sommelier and in the vines, his passions include vineyard cartography and walking through muddy fields.
László Bálint, DipWSET
Graduated WSET Diploma and he is WSET Certified Educator at Borkollégium. He is the president of the internation wine contest Winelovers Wine Awards, wine consultant, expert of Borigó publication and wine writer.
Imre Szakács-Orha, DipWSET
He is CEO Wine In Business, cofounder of East Cellars, Port & Sherry Educator, VDP Ambassador for Romania, International Wine Judge and student at the Institute of Masters of Wiine.
Isidoro Vaira
Isidoro is the third son of Aldo and Milena and was born in 1990. With his wife Francesca they have two children, Pietro and Anna.
During and after the university studies in viticulture and enology he worked in Tuscany (Chianti Classico and Montalcino), Australia (S.C. Pannell - McLaren Valley) and South Africa (Mullineux Family - Swartland). From 2014 he works with his father in vineyards and currently his responsibility is the management of the organic vineyards.
ELŐD ÁDÁM
Elod has worked in various sectors of the wine industry, including sommelier, wine director, importing and education roles.
He now runs his own wine importing business for the on trade in Romania focusing on importing niche, hand-crafted wines, as well as offering wine education and consultancy services.
Zoltán Kormos DipWSET
Zoltán is one of the first to graduate from WSET Level 4 (WSET Diploma) from Romania. Shortly after graduation, he set up an independent wine tasting school, TraWiS - Transylvania Wine School. In addition to standard WSET courses, wine lovers can also attend courses specially designed for those who want to know more about local grape varieties and wine regions in Romania.
Recently, he became the first Rioja Certified Educator from 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.
Ioan Bebeșelea
Chef and cook with extensive experience in Romanian and Transylvanian gastronomy. Passionate about quality local products and wild ingredients, he continuously works to re-popularize and refine old Romanian recipes.
Narcis Georgiu
Narcis Georgiu - Certified Sommelier at Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, worked for 7 years in France in Michelin stars restaurants, after which he returned to his origins, in Recaș representing the 2nd generation in the modern history of Recaș Winery.
Oliver Bauer
Oliver Bauer is the oenologist of Știrbey Winery and the owner / oenologist of Bauer Winery. He moved from Germany to Romania following the proposal of Mr Jakob Kripp, the owner of Știrbey Winery, and they started to build together the Știrbey winery and brand. Pushed by the curiosity of a true wine enthusiast, he took the unique opportunity and accepted the offer to take part in a journey within a wine area unknown to him until then, rich in traditions and valuable indigenous grape varieties. Oliver believes in the potential of indigenous varieties and in the beauty of single grape wines, but not in the concept of a "best wine".
