Announcing the 2026 Emerging Talent in Wine Communication Shortlist

The IWSC is pleased to reveal the shortlist for the 2026 Emerging Talent in Wine Communication Award, celebrating individuals who are redefining how wine is written about, spoken about and shared. This category recognises communicators who bring clarity, originality and purpose to their work, and who are helping to make wine more accessible to a wider audience. 

This year’s judging panel comprises drinks writer and broadcaster, Rob Buckhaven, consultant and educator, Sarah Abbott MW and Digital Editor of Club Oenologique, Will Morris, all who bring a broad range of industry and communications expertise to the table. 

2026 Shortlist 

Sheelah Oguda: Founder of People in Wine Magazine (Kenya) 

Sheelah is building Africa’s first specialist wine focused publication dedicated to profiling the people shaping the continent’s wine culture. Through People in Wine Magazine, she combines storytelling, education and community building, giving visibility to voices rarely represented in global wine media. Her Women in Wine series alone reached over 500 monthly Substack readers and highlighted nine Kenyan women working across education, importation, sommelier roles, PR and competitions. 

Her Instagram storytelling regularly reaches more than 5,000 monthly views, with standout posts exceeding 23,000. Rob Buckhaven felt that her work was ‘really important… she’s taken the initiative to start this magazine, she’s got a team together, and she’s really thought it through.’ 

Keira Hodge: Founder of Being Wineful (Scotland) 

Keira brings a mindful, sensory driven approach to wine communication, blending sommelier level training with 25 years of marketing experience. Her Wine Pros podcast series features in-depth conversations with leading Edinburgh sommeliers, designed to reduce intimidation and show consumers how approachable wine can be. She supports this with longform editorial, community events and an AI powered food and wine pairing tool built on real sommelier knowledge. 

'There’s real integrity in what she’s doing… she’s intentional, thoughtful, and bringing the trade in. I really liked the intelligence of her approach.’ - Sarah Abbott MW 

Maisie Turner: Wine Buyer, MW Student & Content Creator (England) 

Maisie communicates wine through the lens of wellness and provenance. Her 2026 wine trends carousel reached more than 12,000 views, while a reel exploring value and enjoyment surpassed 51,000. Her Instagram following has grown by over 21% in three months, reaching 109,000 accounts. Maisie uses her platform to make even the more “elite” areas of wine culture feel visible and approachable, while bringing a clear, contemporary voice to wine communication. 

‘She has a gift for communication… properly informed, doing the MW, and getting over herself to go on social and explain how the industry works. She’s shaping the future of communication.’ - Sarah Abbott MW 

Marianna Hunt: Freelance Journalist (UK) 

Marianna writes for titles including Decanter, The Times, The Telegraph, The Spectator and The Independent, bringing wine into wider cultural conversations. Her work explores themes such as running, synaesthesia, sobriety and wellbeing, aiming to humanise wine and make it feel less eitist. Her travel writing champions underrepresented regions such as Albania, Georgia and the Czech Republic, introducing them to large national audiences. 

'She felt original… she has a distinct voice and a well-defined idea of why she wants to write about wine.’ - Will Morris 

Janina Doyle: Founder of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat (UK) 

Janina’s communication spans a weekly podcast and Instagram presence. Her recent DEI-focused miniseries featuring guests from around the world, blending personal stories with technical insight. Her podcast episodes regularly exceed 6,000 downloads in the first week, and her WSET Deep Dive content achieves an average consumption rate of 130%. Sarah Abbott commented, ‘she’s really finding her voice as a podcaster, she goes deep but in a way that still feels joyful and accessible.’ 

Polly Halstead: Founder of The Cork Club (UK) 

Polly has built one of the most compelling new models for engaging younger drinkers. Through The Cork Club, she has hosted 17 monthly tastings in London, welcoming more than 1,000 20–35 year olds with a remarkable 70% repeat attendance. Her structured yet social format - six wines, blind elements, interactive games - removes intimidation and builds confidence through shared experience.  

'Her communication format was really innovative… she’s actually bringing people out, getting them into a space, drinking and tasting wine.’ - Sarah Abbott MW 

What happens next?  

Our winners are announced on the 16th of April. So keep an eye on our socials.