The newly inducted Masters of Wine. Image courtesy IMW
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) celebrated seven award winners and officially welcomed ten new Masters of Wine (MWs) to its membership this week at its annual awards ceremony.
Friends, family and Masters of Wine from around the globe flew into London for the occasion to welcome the new ‘MW vintage’, which includes MWs from six countries across three continents.
“Having successfully studied during the difficult pandemic period makes their achievement all the more impressive,” said IMW chair Roderick Smith MW. “Congratulations to them all.”
The new inductees were Neil Bernardi MW (US), Emily Brighton MW (UK), Benjamin Hasko MW (Singapore), Christopher Martin MW (UK), Victoria Mason MW (UK), Robert Mathias MW (UK), Dror Nativ MW (UK), Pietro Russo MW (Italy), Tone Veseth Furuholmen MW (Norway), and Wei Xing MW (China).
Each received a framed calligraphic certificate, and a 24K gold Master of Wine pin engraved with their unique membership number.
Following the inauguration, the individual awards included two new accolades this year: the award for the top performance in the business of wine paper, and the award for best performance in the contemporary issues paper.
The 2024 awards and winners in full are:
Quinta do Noval award
For the best research paper by a new MW.
Awarded to Victoria Mason MW for her paper, An investigation into the enablers and barriers to the adoption and practice of regenerative viticulture in Stellenbosch.
All research papers can be accessed at: https://www.mastersofwine.org/research-papers
Taransaud Tonnellerie award
For excellence in the production and handling of the wine paper.
Awarded to Emily Brighton MW.
Vintners’ Company award
For the top performance in the business of wine paper.
Awarded to Victoria Mason MW.
VSPT Wine Group award
For best performance in the contemporary issues paper.
Awarded to Dror Nativ MW.
Robert Mondavi Winery award
For the best performance across all the theory papers.
Awarded to Victoria Mason MW.
IMW outstanding achievement award
For outstanding achievement across all papers.
Awarded to Dror Nativ MW.
Madame Bollinger medal
For outstanding tasting ability.
Awarded to Dror Nativ MW.
In addition to celebrating the new Masters of Wine, the ceremony honoured four members for reaching their 50th year as MWs. John Brown MW, Charles Eve MW, Anthony Foster MW and Bill Gunn MW passed their MW examinations in 1974.
“We are delighted to welcome ten new MWs from across three continents, recognise the outstanding work of our award winners and honour our vintage members,” said IMW executive director Julian Gore-Booth. “Congratulations to all on your exceptional achievements. We are proud to have you as part of our global community.”
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