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Five new Masters of Wine announced today

23 August 2024 By Patrick Schmitt

Five members of the wine trade from the US, the UK, Norway, Singapore and Mainland China have become Masters of Wine today, taking the total number of MWs to 421.

The candidates, who will now join the Institute of Masters of Wine having passed all stages of the MW exam, are Neil Bernardi, Tone Veseth Furuholmen, Benjamin Hasko, Victoria Mason and Wei Xing.

They complete the 2024 vintage of Masters of Wine, joining Emily Brighton MW, Christopher Martin MW, Robert Mathias MW, Dror Nativ MW and Pietro Russo MW, who passed in February of this year.

There are now 421 active Masters of Wine based in 30 countries, spanning a wide range of areas in the wine industry.

The MW exam consists of three parts: the theory and practical exams taken at the end of stage two and the research paper (RP) submitted at the end of stage three. The RP is an in-depth study on a wine related topic from any area of the sciences, arts, humanities or social sciences. Completion of the exam seeks to represent an all-encompassing knowledge of the industry, and only when an individual passes the RP do they become a Master of Wine.

All members must sign the IMW’s code of conduct before they have the right to use the title Master of Wine or the initials MW. By signing the code of conduct, MWs agree to act with honesty and integrity and to use every opportunity to share their understanding of wine with others, echoing the IMW’s mission to promote excellence, interaction and learning.

IMW Chair, Cathy van Zyl MW, shared her thoughts on the announcement: “The announcement of new Masters of Wine is always a happy day for the Institute, but more importantly marks a momentous achievement to those receiving the MW title. The journey to becoming a Master of Wine is no small feat and I share my heartfelt congratulations to Neil, Tone, Benjamin, Victoria and Wei. Your dedication, sacrifices, and pursuit of knowledge have led you here. Welcome to the IMW.”

She went on to say, “I’d also like to thank all the MWs who have contributed to our five new MWs’ journeys, those involved in the education programme and examination, as well as those who may simply have answered the odd question here and there, or shared words of encouragement.”

About the new MWs

Neil Bernardi MW (United States)

Neil Bernardi is Chief Operating Officer of Colgin Cellars in Napa Valley, with over two decades of leadership experience in many facets of the wine trade. Prior to joining Colgin, Neil spent 15 years with The Duckhorn Portfolio, where he held numerous leadership positions, including VP of Winemaking, General Manager for Sonoma County winegrowing, and Winemaker of Migration Winery, before becoming Vice President and General Manager of Kosta Browne, Canvasback, and Goldeneye wineries. Prior to that, he was Associate Winemaker for Littorai Wines. Bernardi holds a B.A. in Italian and a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, as well as being an Eagle Scout. In 2018, Wine Enthusiast recognized Bernardi as one of the “trailblazers shaping the future of wine in America,” naming him a “Top 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.” Neil lives in Northern California with his wonderfully supportive wife and three children.

Research paper: Sensory impact of lees mixing treatments on traditional method sparkling wine

Tone Veseth Furuholmen MW (Norway)

Tone lives and works in Oslo. She is a Senior Product Manager for the Norwegian Wine Monopoly with responsibility for Italy, Portugal, Spain, Lebanon and Greece. Tone’s passion for wine began during language studies in Italy where she spent five years before working as a trade analyst for the Italian Trade Commission in Oslo. She then joined the wine importer Arcus Group (Anora) and finally the Monopoly. She holds a Master of Management degree from BI business school. She currently teaches Sommelier Education and WSET Diploma in Oslo. Tone’s expertise covers different parts of the wine industry such as product development, branding, marketing, PR, distribution, education, sensory research and in-depth knowledge regarding the purchasing systems of the Scandinavian Monopolies. When Tone is not drinking wine based on rare and nearly extinct Italian or Portuguese varieties, she trains dressage with her Portuguese Lusitano horse or spends time with her husband and two sons.

Research paper: Mousiness in wine: An investigation into the effects of repeated exposures and systematic training on wine professionals’ sensitivity to mousiness

Benjamin Hasko MW (Singapore)

Benjamin is a passionate wine professional with 15+ years of experience in the Asia-Pacific region, having lived in Singapore for the past five years. Benjamin is the beverage director for a leading restaurant group, overseeing a team of sommeliers and curating wine lists for award-winning venues. Benjamin imports wines into Australia and Singapore, working with small producers focused on sustainability from Northern Italy, Germany, and Central Europe. Benjamin also supports wine education as a presenter and examiner. His passion for wine extends beyond work, leading him on global travels to discover emerging countries, regions and producers. Benjamin and his wife Meredith stay busy raising their three young children.

Research paper: Understanding the value of sub-regional identity in Margaret River: consumer perspectives from Singapore

Victoria Mason MW (United Kingdom – England)

After obtaining her BA in English Literature at Warwick University and her MPhil at Cambridge University, Victoria moved to London and started on the Waitrose graduate scheme. While the seeds may have been sown at Friday-night postgraduate dinners, it was later – in 2013 – that she well and truly tumbled down the wine “rabbit hole”. After three years as a horticulture buyer, spending much of her time on the ground, she made the seamless transition into Waitrose’s wine buying team in 2016. She went on to win the Wines from Spain Prize for outstanding results in her WSET Diploma and became a South Africa specialist. Victoria has spent almost all her time immersed in wine since then – tasting, travelling, judging, helping with harvest – with viticulture and soil life emerging as real passions. After Waitrose, she bought for fine wine merchant and trader, Bordeaux Index, before joining The Wine Society’s buying team in May 2024.

Research paper: An investigation into the enablers and barriers to the adoption and practice of regenerative viticulture in Stellenbosch

Wei Xing MW (China – Mainland)

After graduating from the Philosophy Department of Renmin University of China, Wei Xing developed a strong interest in wine during his postgraduate studies in France. Upon completing his studies in 2014 and returning to China, he began his journey as a wine educator, working alongside Fongyee Walker MW and Edward Ragg MW. During this period, he achieved the WSET Diploma and became a certified educator by WSET and several wine-producing countries and regions.

Since 2017, Wei Xing has been studying towards becoming a Master of Wine. Throughout his MW journey, he has explored various roles within the wine industry. He has founded a hybrid wine specialty store that integrates drinking, learning, and purchasing wine and has also contributed significantly to online wine education and social media video creation, amassing approximately 400,000 followers.

Presently, he serves as an independent wine educator and judge, teaching WSET and various wine courses across China, while conducting promotional masterclasses for wine associations and producers at exhibitions nationwide.

Research paper: Factors affecting Chinese wine consumers’ preferences for wine in on-trade and off-trade channels

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