Presidents & ambassadors
Our people
The IWSC has a dedicated team spreading the word all around the world
This team includes IWSC staff who run the awards, brand ambassadors who promote top-rated producers year-round, and the IWSC president, who is chosen each year for their stature and reputation in the industry.
Ambassadors & Advisors
Former Presidents
| Year | Name | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Michael Urquhart | Formerly Gordon & MacPhail | United Kingdom |
| 2020 | Tamara Roberts | Ridgeview Wine Estate | United Kingdom |
| 2019 | Sir George Fistonich | Villa Maria | New Zealand |
| 2018 | Facundo Bacardí | Bacardí | USA |
| 2017 | Chris Blandy | Blandy's | Portugal |
| 2016 | Matteo Lunelli | Ferrari and the Lunelli Group | Italy |
| 2015 | Neil McGuigan | Australian Vintage | Australia |
| 2014 | Dr Laura Catena | Bodegas Catena Zapata | Argentina |
| 2013 | G. Garvin Brown IV | Brown-Forman Corporation | USA |
| 2012 | Mauricio Gonzalez Gordon | Gonzalez Byass S.A. | Spain |
| 2011 | Prince Robert of Luxembourg | Domaine Clarence Dillon | France |
| 2010 | Prinz Michael Zu Salm-Salm | Prinz Salm Dalberg'sches Weingut | Germany |
| 2009 | Sir Ian Good | The Edrington Group | United Kingdom |
| 2008 | Rafael Guilisasti | Viñedos Emiliana SA | Chile |
| 2007 | Gina Gallo | E&J Gallo Family Estate | USA |
| 2006 | Anthony Von Mandl | Mission Hill Family Estate Winery | Canada |
| 2005 | Wolf Blass | Wolf Blass Wines | Australia |
| 2004 | Paul Symington | Symington Family Estates | Portugal |
| 2003 | Claes Dahlbäck | Vin & Spirit | Sweden |
| 2002 | Dominique Hériard Dubreuil | Rémy-Cointreau | France |
| 2001 | Warren Winiarski | Stags Leap Wine Cellars | USA |
| 2000 | Baroness Philippine de Rothschild | Baron Philippe de Rothschild | France |
| 1999 | Miguel Torres | Miguel Torres | Spain |
| 1998 | Sir Anthony Greener | Diageo | United Kingdom |
| 1997 | Jean Hugel | Hugel et Fils | France |
| 1996 | Dr Anton Rupert | Rembrandt Group | South Africa |
| 1995 | Marchese Leonardo de' Frescobaldi | Marchesi dé Frescobaldi | Italy |
| 1994 | Michael Jackaman | Allied Domecq | United Kingdom |
| 1993 | May de Lencquesaing | Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande | France |
| 1992 | Chris Hancock Hon MW | Rosemount Estates | Australia |
| 1991 | Peter MF Sichel | H. Sichel Söhne | USA |
| 1990 | Robert Drouhin | Maison Joseph Drouhin | France |
| 1989 | José Ignacio Domecq | Domecq | Spain |
| 1988 | Marchese Piero Antinori | Marchese Antinori | Italy |
| 1987 | Kenneth Graham FIAE | Whyte & Mackay | United Kingdom |
| 1986 | Dr Max Lake | Oenologist & lecturer | Australia |
| 1985 | Marquis de Goulaine | Château de Goulaine | France |
| 1984 | Mme Odette Pol Roger | Champagne Pol Roger | France |
| 1983 | Robert Mondavi Hon MW | Mondavi Winery | USA |
| 1982 | Dr Hans Ambrosi | Oenologist & lecturer | Germany |
| 1981 | Harry Waugh MBE Hon MW | Wine consultant | United Kingdom |
| 1980 | Peter Noble CBE | Wine consultant | United Kingdom |
| 1979 | Cyril Ray | Author & Journalist | United Kingdom |
| 1978 | Sir Reginald Bennett VDR | Politician | United Kingdom |
| 1977 | Lord Montagu of Beaulieu | Founder Wine Guild of the United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| 1976 | Sir Humphrey Edwardes Jones | Senior Commander Royal Air Force | United Kingdom |