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 An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions commonly offer degrees at various levels, usually including und ...

) 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 continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

. The MW qualification is generally regarded in the

wine industry Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are ...

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 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. 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, 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 pa ...

'' (September 22, 2006)
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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 Gerard Francis Claude Basset OBE, MS, MW, MBA, OIV MSc (7 March 1957 – 16 January 2019) was the owner of Hotel TerraVina, a New Forest Hotel near Southampton in Hampshire, United Kingdom. At the time of his death, he was the only person in t ...

Nicolas Belfrage Nicolas Belfrage MW (19 July 1940 – 17 September 2022) was a British Master of Wine, a wine writer and considered one of the foremost experts on Italian wine. Life and career Belfrage was born in Los Angeles in 1940, the son of British socia ...

* Julian Brind * Michael Broadbent *

Clive Coates Clive Coates (21 October 1941 – 26 July 2022) was a British wine writer and Master of Wine, best known for his books about the wines of Burgundy.winepros.com.au. Biography Born in Wimbledon, London on 21 October 1941, Coates worked for Th ...

Mary Ewing-Mulligan Mary Ewing-Mulligan is an American author, wine educator and Master of Wine, the first American woman to achieve this accreditation.Matasar, Ann B. (2006). ''Women of wine: the rise of women in the global wine industry''. University of California Pr ...

* Doug Frost * Ned Goodwin * Anthony Hanson * Benjamin Lewin * Brian McGrath * Jasper Morris * Michael Palij * Jonathan Pedley * David Peppercorn * Lisa Perrotti-Brown *

Jancis Robinson Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW (born 22 April 1950) is a British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. She currently writes a weekly column for the ''Financial Times'', and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She ...

* 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 M ...

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

Qualification

Membership

Notable Masters of Wine

See also

References

External links