Master of Wine

In 1986, three candidates passed the Master of Wine examination. The Institute was beginning to evolve and had recently opened its doors to candidates outside the UK wine trade. Forty years on, David Gleave MW and Arabella Woodrow MW reflect on what becoming an MW meant to them, the changes they have witnessed across the wine industry and what they see ahead for the next generation. What does being an MW mean to you? David Put quite simply, it means I passed an exam 40 years ago.

In 1976, the Institute of Masters of Wine was still a relatively small and distinctly British institution. Two candidates became Masters of Wine that year, including the second female, at a time when women in senior roles across the wine trade were rare. Fifty years on, Serena Sutcliffe MW reflects on what it means to be an MW, the evolution of the wine industry and the IMW's role within it. What does being an MW mean to you? I think that being an MW still carries weight.

LONDON, UK, 20 AUGUST 2026 - The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is delighted to announce that seven new Masters of Wine (MWs) have joined the membership after successfully passing all three stages of the MW exam. Alice Archer MW (UK), Owain Hughes MW (UK), Weiran Liu MW (China), Gabriella Macari MW (US), Tiago Macena MW (Portugal), Jake Skakun MW (Canada) and Sue Tolson MW (Hungary) are the latest to earn the Master of Wine title.

LONDON, UK, 20 JULY 2026 - The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is delighted to welcome long-term collaborator, IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition), back as an official supporter. The relationship between the two organisations started in 2018, when IWSC began providing scholarships to Master of Wine (MW) students, before initially becoming a supporter in 2021.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, 26 JUNE 2026 - From Margaret River to Orange, a new wave of Australian wine professionals is preparing to step into one of the world's most influential wine events, bringing fresh ideas, new perspectives and a strong sense of purpose to the conversations shaping what comes next for the industry.

LONDON, UK, 22 JUNE 2026 - The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is delighted to welcome Amorim Family Estates, comprising the Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Taboadella and Herdade Aldeia de Cima wine projects, as an official supporter. The projects are led by Luisa Amorim and span three distinct Portuguese regions; the Douro, the Dão and the Alentejo.

LONDON, UK, 16 JUNE 2026 - The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has released the list of wines and accompanying questions from the 2026 stage two Master of Wine (MW) exam and stage one assessment (S1A), which were undertaken by students in Adelaide, London and Napa between 1-6 June.

31 March 2026 LONDON, UK, 31 MARCH 2026 — Principal supporter of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), Constellation Brands, has awarded scholarships to US-based Master of Wine (MW) students Amanda Charpentier-Boccia and Glycine Bonneville-Jiang.

19 March 2026 LONDON, UK, 19 MARCH 2026 — The Merendino Foundation has awarded scholarships to two Master of Wine (MW) Students. Megan McDonald and Nicholas Poletto will each receive $2,500 USD to support their studies in recognition of their promising performances in the 2025 MW stage two practical exam. Each year, with the support of an endowment from the Merendino Foundation, the Masters of Wine Endowment Company provides scholarships for students from the USA or Canada.

16 March 2026 DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY, 16 MARCH 2026 — Renzo Cotarella has been named the recipient of the 2026 Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) Winemakers’ Winemaker Award. The award was presented in association with the drinks business at a reception during ProWein by Patrick Schmitt MW, drinks business editor-in-chief,Sarah Harrison, IMW executive director and Roderick Smith MW, IMW chair. The award recognises outstanding achievement in the field of winemaking.