Last year 14,120 wines were entered, 9,901 medals were awarded including 255 Gold medals and 118 Trophies. The Decanter World Wine Awards is the world's largest international wine competition.

This year Gerard Basset MS MW takes on the role of guest vice chair, working alongside chairman Steven Spurrier overseeing the 32 regional chairs and more than 200 judges.

The DWWA, now in its 10th year, is the world's most successful wine competition. The organisers of the DWWA have appointed 12 new regional chairs for 2013. They include The San Francisco Chronicle's wine editor Jon Bonne chairing the USA panels, Bob Campbell MW for New Zealand, Fabricio Portelli for Argentina, Essi Avellan MW for Champagne and Monty Waldin for Tuscany. All regional chairs' biographies and photos can be found on the Decanter World Wine Awards on Decanter.com.

'Decanter is the name trusted and followed by wine lovers everywhere and we look forward to introducing the 2013 winners to a keen audience of wine enthusiasts'.

Wines can be entered online or by post from 2 January 2013 to 1 March 2013 (the final date for entering wines). Judging takes place in London from 29 April to 3 May 2013, then on 9 - 10 May 2013 International Trophy judging.

Results are announced at the London International Wine Fair and on Decanter.com 20th May 2013.

For entry forms and full details on rules of entry visit:

Decanter.com/dwwa