Anne McHale MW is an award-winning Master of Wine, coach and educator based in London. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she studied French and Classics at Christ’s College, Cambridge, graduating with First Class Honours, before embarking on a career in the wine trade.

Anne worked across a range of businesses including Mistral Wines, New Zealand Wines and the John Lewis Partnership before joining Berry Bros. & Rudd, where she spent a decade as part of the Wine School team. During this period she completed the WSET Diploma, winning the Vintners’ Cup & Scholarship for top UK student, and went on to achieve the Master of Wine title in 2013, receiving three awards including the Bollinger tasting medal and the Wines of Austria prize for top overall candidate.

Since establishing her own consultancy in 2016, Anne has specialised in helping WSET Diploma students succeed through her signature programme, Diplomatherapy®. Through Diplomatherapy® she works with candidates worldwide on their D3, D4 and D5 modules, teaching strategic study and exam technique, supporting mindset development, and fostering a sense of community. She has also released a self-study D1 Wine Production course (Viticulture and Vinification) with Jasper Morris MW and a D2 Business course with Alun Griffiths MW, and she runs a biannual D6 workshop series focused on research techniques and the current assignment topic.

Alongside her coaching work, Anne designs and delivers engaging corporate and private wine tasting events for clients ranging from global hospitality groups to professional societies. From 2020 to 2023 she chaired the Institute of Masters of Wine Events Committee, and in 2021 she was named to the Murphia list of influential Irish people in the London hospitality scene.

Primary area(s) of work: Trade, Communication

Industry sector(s): Educator, Events

Wine styles: Cava, Champagne, Cremant, Dry wines, English sparkling wines, Fine and rare wines, Fortified wines, Madeira, Port, Prosecco, Sherry, Sparkling wine, Still red, Still rosé, Still white, Still wines, Sweet wines

Wine region expertise: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, France, Languedoc, Loire, Rhone, Roussillon, South-West France, UK

Market expertise: France, Italy, United Kingdom

Specialisms: Food and wine pairing, History of wine, Wine and health