Judges Profiles

Mark Andrew MW

Co-Owner Noble Rot & Keeling & Andrew
Mark is based in central London where, following a decade as wine buyer for a leading London merchant, he co-founded Noble Rot - a magazine (2013); three restaurants in Bloomsbury (2015), Soho (2020) and Mayfair (2023); and the book 'Wine From Another Galaxy' (2020). The magazine is now sold in 45 countries worldwide, the restaurants have won "Wine List of the Year" at the National Restaurant Awards a record five times, and the book won the Guild of Food Writers Drinks Book Award (2021). Keeling Andrew imports and distributes wines from many of the world's most renowned artisanal domaines, and manages wine lists for many prestigious restaurants and two Shrine to the Vine wine shops. In 2017 Mark became a Master of Wine, having completed his research paper on Assyrtiko from Santorini, and is a lifelong lover of Greece and Greek wine.

Tone Veseth Furuholmen MW

Product Manager at the Norwegian Wine Monopoly (Vinmonopolet)
Tone Veseth Furuholmen MW is a Senior Product Manager at the Norwegian Wine Monopoly (Vinmonopolet), where she is responsible for Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece. Her wine journey began in Italy, where she spent five years studying languages and developing a lasting fascination with Italian wine, food and culture. Following a period as a trade analyst for the Italian Trade Commission in Oslo, she joined leading Nordic wine importer Arcus Group before moving to Vinmonopolet. Today, Tone combines extensive commercial experience with a strong academic and educational focus. She holds a Master of Management degree from BI Norwegian Business School and became a Master of Wine in 2024. Alongside her role at Vinmonopolet, she teaches Sommelier education and WSET Diploma in Oslo, runs in-depth wine masterclasses and regularly speaks on wine-related topics. Tone is a contributor to several wine publications and online platforms and regularly serves as a judge at international wine competitions, including the Decanter World Wine Awards. Her particular areas of expertise and interest include the wines of Southern Europe, wine sensory science and wine faults.

Christophe Heynen MW

Serial entrepreneur in the wine business
Belgian Christophe Heynen MW is an alumni of the École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL Hospitality Business School), Switzerland. He founded his first wine company “Gustoworld” in Belgium over 20 years ago and has since created and acquired several successful wine distribution companies in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. Christophe was chosen as “Belgian Wine Personality of the Year” in 2020, shortly after being awarded the title of Master of Wine. Through his companies, Christophe works with many of the world’s best wine producers, an activity which takes him around the world. He also appears regularly on Belgian television to discuss wine, teaches sommeliers and MW students worldwide and has consulted several prestigious estates in the production of wines.

Evmorfia Kostaki DipWSET

Winemaker
Evmorfia Kostaki was born and raised on the Greek Island of Samos. She was already fascinated with wine since childhood, pressing grapes for the house wine every year with her father, the visionary who dreamed of and achieved free grape trade on the island. Fascinated by the process of must turning into wine, she chose to study Chemistry in Athens, followed by the Vniofera Euromaster. There she took classes in France and Italy, and completed her Master's thesis in California, focusing on viticulture. At the same time, she successfully completed the WSET Diploma with Weinakademie Österreich. 2020 was a pivotal year that marked her return to Samos, her acceptance to the Master of Wine program and the very beginning of Kostaki Winery – at least on paper. She is now a Stage 3 student at the Institute of Masters of Wine and has been making her own wine since 2023. In parallel, she is helping to revolutionise online wine purchases as Head Wine Expert at California startup VinoVoss. Since returning to Greece, she has worked alongside Yiannis Karakasis, first through regular contributions to his website and later by co-authoring the Greek Wine Explained report.

Wojciech Bońkowski MW

Wine Writer & Poland's first Master of Wine
Wojciech Bońkowski is Poland's first Master of Wine (2023). A wine writer with 25 years of experience, he published eight books in Polish including Chopin Gourmet on Chopin's favourite foods and wines (English, French and Polish editions, 2010). He founded Poland's leading wine website, Winicjatywa (2012), and wine magazine, Ferment (2017). Since 2024 he has been regional co-chair for Central and Eastern Europe at Decanter World Wine Awards. He was President of the Polish Wine Trade Association (2015–22) and is a member of the Académie Internationale du Vin. He is a regular contributor to many international wine media, most notably Timatkin.com where he has published special reports on the wines of Barbaresco, Etna, Jerez, and Austria (forthcoming). He currently focuses on the wines of Italy, Greece, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, Port, Madeira, and Champagne, as well as gin, rum, and tea, his other life-long passion.

Raimonds Tomsons

A.S.I.Best Sommelier of the World 2023
Raimonds is recognized as The Best Sommelier of World 2023 and Best Sommelier of Europe 2017 by the world's leading sommelier organization - A. S. I. (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) He studied in the famous Austrian Wine academy in Rust where he passed the WSET Diploma in Wines & Spirits. He also holds the world record for sabering 71 bottles of Champagne in 60 seconds. Raimonds is Wine Director at Wine Collectors and Global Brand Ambassador for Mosphera. He serves on the Board of the Latvian Sommelier Association and as a judge at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards. He is also a jury member of Star Wine Lists, the guide to the world’s leading wine lists, and Latvia’s Wine of the Year competition. Through Raimonds Tomsons Wine Consulting, he advises on wine, hospitality and beverage projects internationally, while also serving as Brand Ambassador for The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.