2023 Jury

George Ignat

sommelier, wine event manager, Romania

George Ignat aka George Wine is recognized as the connoisseur of the wines and wineries from the western part of the Olt River, especially of those belonging to the Drăgăşani area. He is well-known as a wine events manager and sommelier, but he considers himself more of an oenophile – a friend of wine –, a friendship that also inspired his nickname. Originally, he was an engineer and managed an architectural glass design company, but his love for the French language and French wine guided his steps into the wine industry. George Wine is a respected member of the Romanian Sommeliers Organization, the Association of European Sommeliers, and the consul of the #winelover community in Romania. With a vast experience and expertise in the wine industry, the Wine Sherriff of the Oltenia wines joined as a jury member in various national and international wine competitions and contests, and since 2020 he became a teacher at European School for Sommeliers Romania. Website