Avenue Vine

The new MWs are:

Essi Avellan, 30, is the first Master of Wine from Finland. She is the Editor of the Scandinavian Fine Wine Magazine.

Sarah Jane Evans, is a writer and broadcaster. She is a Trustee of the Andre Simon Memorial Fund and was Associate Editor of BBC Good Food magazine for a decade. Sarah Jane has a special interest in Spain, and is the author of the book, Seville.

Lisa Granik, 46, is the Fine Wine Manager of Empire Merchants in New York City, USA.

Geoff Labitzke, 45, of Sonoma California, is Vice President of Young’s Market Company, a large US wholesaler, where he is responsible for all imported wine sales, and is Director of Education.

Ken Mackay, 28, is a buyer for Willoughby’s in Manchester, England. He becomes the Institute’s youngest Master of Wine.

Rod Smith, 38, is the Wine Manager for Mentzendorff, a London, UK based distributor.

Paul Tudor, 43, is a self-employed wine writer and educator from Auckland, New Zealand, as well as being a qualified Librarian, currently working as Information Manager of Tonkin & Taylor Ltd.

Highlights of the results of the Theory and Practical Examinations:

· A total of 33 candidates achieved a pass in at least part of the examination.

· There were 14 theory passes and 19 practical passes.

· A further nine candidates achieved a conditional pass in the Theory exam, and thus have only one theory paper to sit next year.

· Four candidates achieved significant success by passing both parts of the written examination, and will now be going on to prepare a dissertation. Three of these candidates were sitting their first attempt at the examination.

· Nine candidates have now passed both parts of the written examination, and now only have the dissertation to complete.

Patrick McGrath, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, said, “These results demonstrate the phenomenal effort of our students and educators in preparing for an exam that is the pinnacle of wine trade education, and has always been exceptionally challenging. I congratulate all our new MWs on their considerable achievement, and have great pleasure in welcoming them to the Institute.

“I am particularly pleased with the growing international spread of the Institute. Last year I said that I hoped to welcome our first Finnish member before my term as Chairman ended, and I am delighted that I am able to do so.”

All new Masters of Wine, including Katherine Richardson MW, who passed earlier in the year, will be presented with their certificates by the Master of the Vintners' Company at the Institute's Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony on Monday 6th November 2006 in Vintners' Hall, London.

And a Little About The IMW:

The Education Programme--So you want to be a Master of Wine?

The road to becoming a Master of Wine involves a great deal of hard work and dedication and we recommend that you are as well prepared as possible before you start. You should have been successful in examinations in wine available to you locally; in the UK and several other countries this means the Diploma offered by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Experience in wine making as well as other aspects of the wine industry is also a very useful preparation.

Students are supported by the IMW Education Programme which is essential for everybody wishing to take the exam. This 2 year programme aims to develop and hone tasting technique, to outline the breadth of the MW syllabus, to introduce students to the advanced level of concept analysis and evaluation required to answer MW Examination questions, to facilitate "self-learning", and to monitor the development of each student's individual study programme.

Institute Master of Wine Website–(click here)