Two Master of Wine students win the Commanderie de Bordeaux Peter Sichel travel scholar award
Master of Wine students Ben van Antwerp and Walden Pemantle have won the Commanderie de Bordeaux Peter Sichel Travel Scholar Award. Ben and Walden received this honour as the two highest performing North American students in the stage one assessment this year.
The award, named in honour of the late Peter Sichel, forms part of a longstanding relationship between the Commanderie de Bordeaux USA and the Institute of Masters of Wine North America (IMWNA). Each winner will receive $5000 to cover a trip to Bordeaux, including airfare, hotel and transportation costs. Award recipients travel together on a single trip that will be arranged by and coordinated with the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux.
Walden Pemantle is a fine wine specialist with Sotheby’s Wine. Walden joined Sotheby’s in 2024 after roles as the director of education at the Texas Wine School and sales manager at Vino Vero Wine Co. Before his career in wine, Walden worked as a line cook and still relishes using wine pairings to ignite new excitement over a bottle.
In response to receiving the award, Walden said: “I am beyond honored to receive the Peter Sichel Scholarship from the Commanderie de Bordeaux. The first chapter I remember reading in my first wine book was a history of Bordeaux with a primer on the communes of the left bank versus right bank. Bordeaux has remained so foundational to my love of wine, it is thrilling to be visiting on a trip like this years after reading that first chapter.”
Ben Van Antwerp rode his motorcycle across America to work his first vintage, he now has over a decade’s experience making wine across the globe. He is currently the winemaker for Ken Brown Wines in Santa Barbara County, California specialising in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
On winning the award, Ben remarked: “I’m just delighted to receive the Peter Sichel Travel Scholar Award. Bordeaux is a paragon of wine quality and serves as a benchmark for winemakers globally. Despite the elevated regional status, I’ve never been for a visit and I’m keen to abandon book learning for a bit and experience the iconic region through the lens of the folks responsible for growing, producing and selling the great wines of Bordeaux. I’ve heard the food is good too!”
The Commanderie has sponsored in-depth Bordeaux visits over many years for students and young wine professionals — all of whom have indicated that their Bordeaux travel scholar experiences have greatly advanced their wine careers. Award recipients provide a written report to the Commanderie in the two months following their trip detailing their impressions of the experience and how they expect to use their new-found knowledge to support the Commanderie’s mission of promoting the appreciation of Bordeaux wines and vignerons.
Eric Vogt Grand Maitre of the Commanderie de Bordeaux remarked: “Keen palates for wine are not universally distributed. And yet the wine industry depends upon the palates of a few to guide the experience and appreciation of many. The Commanderie is thrilled to award these scholarships to Walden Pemantle and Ben Van Antwerp who both show great promise in their ability to discriminate and describe the wonders of fine wine.
Julian Gore-Booth, executive director of the IMW, said: “These awards are part of a cherished partnership with the Commanderie and represent a valuable opportunity for the wine leaders of tomorrow. We are delighted that two such outstanding MW students have been selected as the recipients and look forward to hearing what they learn from their experiences in Bordeaux.”
Image l-r: Ben Van Antwerp, Walden Pemantle
About the Commanderie de Bordeaux USA
The Commanderie de Bordeaux was established Bordeaux in the 1950s, under the patronage of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux. The first chapter of the Commanderie de Bordeaux was established in New York in 1959. It has expanded into an international network with almost 100 chapters in multiple countries, on every continent. The mission of the USA Commanderie de Bordeaux is to foster appreciation for, promote, and educate people about Bordeaux wine. It does this by bringing together wine enthusiasts, collectors, sommeliers, and industry professionals to engage in tastings, dinners, and educational events.
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/