Winner of 2010 Selection Schwander Scholarship Announced
A Dutch student in the Institute of Masters of Wine education programme has been named as the recipient of the 2010 Selection Schwander Scholarship.
Winner Chantal Smeets, 27, was brought up in a wine-loving family and progressed through tastings and wine appreciation courses to completing her WSET Diploma in the Netherlands. In 2008, she started running her family’s small winery in Bordeaux, Château Cadaulan. There she is involved in practically every aspect of production, from vinification through to PR and sales.
The Selection Schwander Scholarship, established in 2009, rewards a student who performs exceptionally well in the First Year Assessment and whose first language is not English. The award contributes to the winner’s study, translation and examination costs up to a value of £3,000.
More than 270 students from 28 different countries are currently studying towards the Master of Wine title with the Institute. There are currently 289 Masters of Wine in the world, based across 23 different countries. Established in 1953, the Master of Wine remains the most highly respected and sought after professional qualification in the world of wine today.
Philipp Schwander MW founded his Selection Schwander mail order wine business in 2003, following a career in the wine trade, and is a regular columnist and broadcaster. He qualified in 1996 and is thus far the only Swiss Master of Wine.
Philipp Schwander MW said: “I am pleased to support the continuing internationalisation of the Institute by rewarding gifted students whose first language is not English. Chantal is a talented student and I wish her every success in her studies towards attaining her MW.”
Chantal Smeets said: “I feel that the MW education programme is very helpful to me as I get to meet and learn from people originating from every aspect of the wine trade and every kind of background. I am delighted to be the second ever recipient of this generous scholarship.”
Lynne Sherriff MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: “Our congratulations go to Chantal, whose hard work and talent has earned her this scholarship. More than 100 MWs now live and work outside the UK and the interest from all quarters of the international wine community continues to grow. Philipp’s initiative in providing the scholarship can only help to support these positive trends in the future.”