Wine Judge Profile: Leona De Pasquale - Examination of the Expertise and Background of Wine Taster Leona De Pasquale
In the world of wine, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is a highly anticipated event, and this year is no exception. The 2025 edition of the awards is set to be a grand affair, with a distinguished judging panel assembled from 35 countries.
At the helm of this prestigious panel are 72 Masters of Wine, 22 Master Sommeliers, Regional Chairs, and a five-person Co-Chairs team. While a detailed list of individual judges is not publicly available, the inclusion of such esteemed titles and roles underscores the high caliber of the DWWA 2025 judging panel.
One of the notable judges this year is Leona De Pasquale, a London-based Taiwanese wine educator, writer, and translator. Leona's career in the wine industry began in 2003, and she moved to the UK in 2012. Since then, she has made a significant impact, working for various UK wine companies and earning several prestigious qualifications.
Leona is a Master of Wine student, a Certified WSET Educator, and has become an Accredited Madeira Wine and Bordeaux Wine Educator in 2022, and a Rioja Wine Educator in 2023. She has also worked as a freelance translator for WSET and Wines of Rioja, translating professional wine educational materials from English to Chinese.
Leona's writing can be found in various international publications, including Falstaff Online, The Buyer, Club Oenologique, GuildSomm, The News Lens Taiwan, and Wine & Spirits Digest Taiwan. She is also the Champagne Bureau UK education consultant and the director and chief educator of Camellia and Vine, a wine and tea event and training company in London.
Leona's judging roles are in addition to her work at Camellia and Vine and her other commitments. She has been an external educator for WSET London School since 2022 and has judged at the IWSC, Mundus Vini, World Wine Awards, and Retailer Awards. This year, she will also be judging at the 2025 DWWA and the Retailer Awards.
Leona's addition to the DWWA 2025 judging panel is a testament to her expertise and dedication to the wine industry. Her contributions to the industry, both as a judge and an educator, are highly valued, and she continues to inspire and educate wine enthusiasts around the world.
- Leona De Pasquale, an esteemed wine educator, will be judging the Champagne category at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2025, leveraging technology to enhance her knowledge and understanding in the world of wine education.
- Amid the high-caliber judges at the DWWA 2025, Leona De Pasquale will be utilizing her expertise in various wine regions such as Madeira, Bordeaux, Rioja, and Champagne, to provide an informed and comprehensive assessment of the wines entered into the awards.
