speakers

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

László Bálint, DipWSET
Graduated WSET Diploma and he is WSET Certified Educator at Borkollégium. He is the president of the internation wine contest Winelovers 100, wine consultant, expert of Borigó publication and wine writer.

Imre Szakács-Orha, DipWSET
CEO Wine In Business and cofounder of East Cellars.

Isidoro Vajra

Zoltán Kormos DipWSET
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.