As the owner of Cheeky and Dry non-alcoholic bottle shop in Seattle, Kirstin has curated over 250 AF products from around the world, with the proviso that they are 'only the kind I'd be happy to drink myself'.

Having spent many years working for an alcoholic drinks distributor in Seattle, she's well versed in the world of wines and spirits, with an experienced palate and is hugely looking forward to celebrating the top conteners in 2025's WAFA.

Her favourite category is what she calls 'Free Form Spirits' - AF products that aren't trying to mimic alcoholic drinks, but embrace their own unique identity. She finds their bold flavours and exciting combinations boundary-pushing, innovative and delicious.

That said, at the judging in March she's particularly looking forward to diving deep into non-alcoholic wines - a category she feels is 'really picking up steam'. 'I'm curious to see how far producers have pushed the boundaries,' she adds. 'I'm always on the lookout for wines that offer great flavour and an authentic experience - no compromise needed.'

There's not much compromise in her home life either. Kirstin is a big fan of cold plunging - 'like hitting the reset button for both body and mind', going on long moped rides with her husband and looking after her two chickens, Cheeky and Nugget.