The IMW announces seven award winners and welcomes five new Masters of Wine at annual ceremony
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) celebrated seven award winners and officially welcomed five new Masters of Wine (MWs) to its membership at a ceremony in Vintners’ Hall, London, this evening.
The IMW’s annual awards ceremony celebrates the inauguration of the new MWs and recognises individual excellence in areas of the MW examination. Friends, family and Masters of Wine from around the globe assembled in London for the occasion to welcome the new MW vintage, who are based across five countries.
Tonight, the IMW was proud to formally welcome new members Jit Hang Jackie Ang MW (Singapore), Amanda Barnes MW (Argentina), Sarah Benson MW (UK), Kathleen Van den Berghe MW (Belgium) and Qian Janice Wang MW (Denmark).
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, introduced into the ceremony in 1979 and sponsored by IMW supporters, were presented. Qian Janice Wang MW and Amanda Barnes MW both took home three awards, while Jit Hang Jackie Ang MW received one. The 2025 awards and winners in full are:
Quinta do Noval award
For the best research paper, as chosen by Christian Seely.
Presented by Christian Seely, Managing Director, AXA Millésimes.
Awarded to Qian Janice Wang MW for her paper, Communicating acidity: Investigating the relationship between language use, chemical composition, and temporal sensory perception of Riesling and Chenin Blanc.
All research papers can be accessed at:
www.mastersofwine.org/research-papers
Taransaud Tonnelier award
For excellence in the production and handling of wine paper.
Presented by Henri de Pracomtal, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Chêne & Cie.
Awarded to Qian Janice Wang MW.
Vintners’ Company award
For the top performance in the business of wine paper.
Presented by Richard Wilson MBE DL VR, Master Vintner, the Vintners’ Company.
Awarded to Amanda Barnes MW.
VSPT Wine Group award
For best performance in the contemporary issues paper.
Presented by Viviana Navarrete, Chief Winemaker at Viña Leyda.
Awarded to Amanda Barnes MW.
Robert Mondavi Winery award
For the best performance across all the theory papers.
Presented by Laura Diaz Muñoz, Chief Winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery.
Awarded to Amanda Barnes MW.
IMW outstanding achievement award
Sponsored by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB).
For outstanding achievement across all papers.
Presented by Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine.
Awarded to Jit Hang Jackie Ang MW.
Madame Bollinger medal
For excellence in tasting.
Presented by Étienne Bizot, Chairman and Chief Executive of Champagne Bollinger.
Awarded to Qian Janice Wang MW.
In addition to celebrating the new Masters of Wine, the ceremony honoured Patrick Millet MW (UK), who became an MW in 1975 and this year celebrates his 50th year as a Master of Wine.
IMW Executive Director Sarah Harrison commented: “We are delighted to formally welcome our five new Masters of Wine, from five different countries, into the Institute of Masters of Wine. We also celebrated individual success in different elements of the MW exam, and I would like to thank our supporters who award these prizes. It is not easy to become a Master of Wine and this evening, we recognise and celebrate their dedication, expertise and pursuit of excellence. Please join us in extending your congratulation to them all on their incredible achievements”
IMW Chair Roderick Smith MW added: “It is a great honour and privilege to welcome our new Masters of Wine in person in London for our most special evening of the year. Our Awards ceremony also offers a wonderful opportunity for our members and supporters to meet one another and share their congratulations on this most extraordinary achievement.”
Image, logos and docx press release can be downloaded here
All previous award winners can be viewed here
ENDS
For more information contact:
Laura Coles
Head of Marketing and Engagement
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)207 383 9136
lcoles@mastersofwine.org
Notes to editors:
About the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW)
The IMW is a membership organisation with an exceptional international reputation. For more than 70 years, its members—the Masters of Wine (MWs)—have been at the forefront of leadership and expertise in the world of wine. The IMW’s mission is to foster excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. MWs prove their comprehensive understanding of wine by passing the MW exam, recognised worldwide for its rigour and exacting standards. In addition to passing the exam, members must sign the code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. This requires them to uphold the highest standards of commercial conduct within the industry. Today, there are 427 Masters of Wine working in 31 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, journalists, shippers, consultants, viticulturalists, academics, educators and more. There are 320 students from 46 countries in the 2025-26 MW study programme. The IMW works with 38 supporters and four research and industry associates, who help promote the IMW’s mission. The five principal supporters are Austrian Wine, AXA Millésimes, Champagne Bollinger, Constellation Brands and VSPT Wine Group. The IMW’s International Symposium is a highlight of the global wine calendar, bringing together leading figures from across the industry. The 11th International Symposium will take place in Adelaide, South Australia, in April 2027, offering four days of world-class tastings, thought-provoking presentations, debate and opportunities to explore Australia’s diverse wine regions. Find out more here: https://imwsymposium.com/