Drinks Business editor becomes Master of Wine

The drinks business is thrilled to announce that its editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt has become a Master of Wine, along with four other members of the wine trade.

The newly named MWs join an exclusive group of just 323 MWs worldwide following an intensive course of self-directed study comprising theory and practical examinations and the successful submission of a dissertation.

Patrick did his dissertation on falling dosages in Brut NV Champagne since the 90s and will be revealing some of the headline findings from the research in upcoming issues of the drinks business.

Sarah Jane Evans MW, chairman of the Masters of Wine, said: “On behalf of all Masters of Wine worldwide, I am delighted to welcome these new members to our community. Today is a memorable day for them – each one of us can remember that special moment when we received the news that we had become MWs. My congratulations to them on their achievement. They bring a range of experience to enrich the IMW and I wish them every enjoyment of the opportunities that being a Master of Wine brings.”

Of the new Masters of Wine one is Australian; two are Canadian; and two are British. They bring with them decades of experience across the wine trade, from retail to winemaking, wine journalism to wine education.

Click through for more on each of the five new MWs announced this morning….

Patrick Schmitt MW (UK)

Patrick Schmitt is editor-in-chief at The Drinks Business. He also chairs the publication’s annual awards programme. Patrick has been shortlisted two years running for Editor of the Year in the business and professional magazine category for the British Society of Magazine Editors (BSME). Patrick studied Geography at Oxford University and landscape architecture at the University of Greenwich before a job on a horticultural trade journal took him into a career as a journalist.

Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW (Canada)

Michelle is a London-based Italian-Canadian. She is a highly-respected wine lecturer, having taught since 2004 at the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). She has authored articles on wines, wine regions and wine-related events and is a frequent expert at major wine shows. Michelle is a chair judge for the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) and judges several other international competitions.

Miles Corish MW (Australia)

Miles originally moved to England from Sydney, Australia to play professional cricket. He is currently managing director of Bowland Forest Vintners, a wholesaler and retailer based in Lancashire. Miles is a WSET Educator, judges at wine competitions, consults for the on-trade and, whenever time allows, returns to the Hunter Valley in Australia to make wine under his own label.

Jennifer Docherty MW (Canada)

Jennifer Docherty was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She left at 18 to study fashion design in New York, but has called London home since 2005. Her love of gastronomy originally led her to pursue part-time WSET wine courses, which inspired her to change career. She is a wine buyer for Liberty Wines and has previously worked in education, sales and fine wine buying. She speaks English, Mandarin and French.

Victoria Stephens-Clarkson MW (UK)

Victoria joined the wine trade in 2000, working for a Grande Marque Champagne house in Epernay. Since then she has worked as a buyer for Direct Wines and Liberty Wines. Her current position is head of buying for Atlas Fine Wines, in London. Victoria speaks several languages, and has spent considerable time travelling amongst wine regions, making wine and overseeing winemaking projects to complement her buying experience.