Master of Wine (MW) is a
qualification
Qualification is either the process of qualifying for an achievement, or a credential attesting to that achievement, and may refer to:
* Professional qualification, attributes developed by obtaining academic degrees or through professional exper ...
(not an
academic degree) issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. The MW qualification is generally regarded in the
wine industry as one of the highest standards of professional knowledge.
The Institute was founded in 1955, and the MW examinations were first arranged in 1953 by the
Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the oldest Livery Companies of the City of London, England, thought to date back to the 12th century. It is one of the "Great Twelve" livery companies of London, and its motto is ''Vinum Exhilarat A ...
and the Wine and Spirits Association.
Qualification
Before enrolling in the MW study programme, prospective students must hold an advanced wine qualification, at least Diploma level from the
Wine & Spirit Education Trust
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, often referred to as WSET, is a global organisation which arranges courses and exams in the field of wine, spirits and sake. WSET was founded in 1969, is headquartered in London and is generally regarded as one ...
, or an appropriately high level sommelier certificate, such as Advanced
Sommelier
A sommelier ( or or ; ), or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. The role of the wine steward in fin ...
from the
Court of Master Sommeliers
The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) is an educational organisation established in 1977 to encourage improved standards of Alcoholic beverage, beverage service by sommeliers, particularly in wine and food pairing. From the court's inception throu ...
. Also, prospective students need to have a minimum of three years' professional work experience in the global wine community. Applicants must submit a basic essay, a tasting paper, a brief statement explaining their interest in becoming a Master of Wine, and a reference to support their application, from a Master of Wine or another senior wine trade professional.
The study programme is made up of three stages. Stage 1 is the foundation year and gives students the opportunity to meet Masters of Wine and fellow students in both professional and social settings. Stage 1 assessment includes six pieces of work evaluated during the year, culminating in an exam that takes place in early June. The exam involves one tasting paper and two essays. Stage 2 is a crucial time for students and can be very intense. Students must provide three pieces of work for assessment during the Stage 2 year, and must pass both the Theory and Practical parts of the June MW Examination. Stage 3 consists of writing a sole-authorship research paper of between 6,000 and 10,000 words in length on a topic of the student's choice. The qualification process takes at least three years to complete.
Membership
Until 1983, the examination was limited to United Kingdom wine importers, merchants and retailers. The first non-UK Master of Wine was awarded in 1988. As of March 2021, there are 416 MWs in the world, living in 31 countries. The MWs are spread across 5 continents, wherein the UK has 208 MWs, US has 45 MWs, Australia has 24 MWs and France has 16 MWs. There are 9 countries with 1 MW each on the list.
Today, members hold a range of occupations including
winemaker
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes:
*Cooperating with viticulturists
*Monitoring the maturity of grapes to ensure their quality and to dete ...
s,
viticulturists
Viticulture (from the Latin word for ''vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, ran ...
, winemaking consultants, wine writers and journalists, wine educators, and wine service, restaurant and hotel management. In addition, many are involved in the purchasing, importing, distribution, sales and marketing of wine.
[Fletcher, Janet, '']San Francisco Chronicle
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The ...
'' (September 22, 2006)
The Ultimate Test
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Notable Masters of Wine
Notable Masters of Wine include:
* Tim Atkin
Tim Atkin is a British Master of Wine, and a wine journalist, broadcaster and commentator. He is also a judge of several international wine competitions and a photographer.
Career
Atkin writes for a number of publications, including: a monthly co ...
* Gerard Basset
* Nicolas Belfrage
* Julian Brind
* Michael Broadbent
John Michael Broadbent, MW (2 May 1927 – 17 March 2020) was a British wine critic, writer and auctioneer in a capacity as a Master of Wine. He was an authority on wine tasting and old wines.
Career
Broadbent was born in Yorkshire. He was edu ...
* Clive Coates
* Mary Ewing-Mulligan
* Doug Frost
* Ned Goodwin
* Anthony Hanson
Anthony Hanson is a British Master of Wine and a senior consultant to Christie's International Wine Department, as well as an expert on Burgundy, an international wine judge and author. His book ''Burgundy'' was first published in 1982, and since ...
* Benjamin Lewin
Benjamin Lewin is a molecular biologist who founded the journal ''Cell'' and authored the textbook ''Genes.'' He is credited with building ''Cell'' into a recognized journal of cellular biology in a short period of time to rival ''Nature'' and '' ...
* Brian McGrath
Sir Brian Henry McGrath, GCVO, MW (27 October 1925 – 4 June 2016) was the Private Secretary to the Duke of Edinburgh.
He was educated at Eton College. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the Irish Guards, and after World War II, he joined Cann ...
* Jasper Morris
* Michael Palij
* Jonathan Pedley
* David Peppercorn
David Peppercorn (born 1931) is a British Master of Wine, French wine importer and author, known for his books about the wines of Bordeaux and long experience in his field, having collected tasting notes since the late 1950s. He is married to fel ...
* Lisa Perrotti-Brown
* Jancis Robinson
* Arne Ronold
* Serena Sutcliffe
Serena Sutcliffe, Master of Wine, (born 1945), is the head of Sotheby's international wine department, as well as a prominent writer on wine. She is married to fellow Master of Wine David Peppercorn. Joining the wine trade in 1971, she passed the ...
See also
* List of wine personalities
Instead of common selection criteria for the entire list, notability of people involved should be checked against the description of each sector.
Sectors are arranged from cultivation through processing, starting from vineyards to consumption ad ...
* Court of Master Sommeliers
The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) is an educational organisation established in 1977 to encourage improved standards of Alcoholic beverage, beverage service by sommeliers, particularly in wine and food pairing. From the court's inception throu ...
*Wine & Spirit Education Trust
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, often referred to as WSET, is a global organisation which arranges courses and exams in the field of wine, spirits and sake. WSET was founded in 1969, is headquartered in London and is generally regarded as one ...
References
External links
The Institute of Masters of Wine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Master Of Wine
Education in the London Borough of Wandsworth
Educational qualifications in the United Kingdom
Hospitality industry in the United Kingdom
Professional titles and certifications
Wine terminology