Adam Porter MW wins the Noval Award
At the IMW ceremony on 1 December 2021, Adam Porter MW received the 2020 Noval Award. The prize is given to the best research paper (RP) by a new MW, judged by Christian Seely, managing director of AXA Millesimes, Noval’s owners.
The RP is the final stage of the Master of Wine exam. It is an individual project on a topic chosen by the MW student, resulting in work between 6,000 and 10,000 words. Adam’s RP, can premium wines be marketed in single serve cans in the UK retail market? is available to download from the IMW website.
As part of the prize, he wins a cheque for £1000, a framed print of Quinta do Noval, and a trip to the iconic property in the Douro to collect a case of wines and ports – including Noval’s fabled Nacional Vintage. Adam was presented with his Noval Award by Neil Hadley MW, Chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine, at the Vintners’ Hall ceremony in London (pictured).
Christian Seely commented afterwards: “Like all the research papers, the methodology and the research of Adam’s was excellent. It won out over the others in the extreme practicality of the approach and the study’s usefulness to a producer who might consider this form of packaging for this particular market. Excellent stuff.”
“I am chuffed to bits to win the Noval Award,” replies Adam. “For my RP, I had the opportunity to go deeper into a contemporary subject, and an alternative approach to packaging that can bring new consumers into drinking wine on different occasions. I am delighted that it has been recognised in this way. I have visited Quinta do Noval just for an afternoon, as part of a previous IMW students’ trip to the Douro. So I know how beautiful it is. Now, together with my wife Claire, we can visit the property and explore its rich history at a more leisurely pace. We are really looking forward to it.”
Based in the UK, Adam became interested in wine whilst reading history at Oxford University and participating in the university’s varsity blind tasting competition. He has 15 years of experience in the wine industry gained in various buying and marketing roles. Most recently, he was purchasing and channel strategy director at Jascots, an award-winning importer and wholesaler specialising in supplying the quality independent on-trade in and around London. Previously, he was at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in the trading team and started his career with a spell managing stores for Majestic Wine. He is now taking time out to look after his baby son, and is looking forward to returning to the wine trade.
NB: The event on Wednesday 1 December focussed on the 2020 Masters of Wine, as the awards ceremony was postponed last year due to the global pandemic. However, the IMW will announce the 2021 Noval Award winner at the next awards ceremony in March 2022.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Sarah Kirkpatrick
Head of Marketing, Communications and Membership
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)207 383 9131
skirkpatrick@mastersofwine.org
Fiona Campbell
Quinta do Noval’s UK PR
+44 (0)1225 782095
fionaccampbell@btopenworld.com
Notes to editors:
About the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW)
The IMW is a membership organisation with an exceptional international reputation. For almost 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 promote 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 act with honesty and integrity, and use every opportunity to share their knowledge of wine with others. Today, there are 418 Masters of Wine working in 30 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, journalists, shippers, consultants, academics, educators and more. There are 376 students from 41 countries in the 2020-2021 MW study programme.