Inside the Masters of Wine
By: Sarah Chappell
Published: May 24, 2011

There are many ways to learn about wine, from attending free tastings to taking fun classes at your local shop to picking up a book or two. But for some wine lovers and professionals, the need to immerse themselves in wine is strong enough to pursue a formal education. The Institute of the Masters of Wine was founded in 1955 to promote education and professional standards in wine. To become a Master of Wine, one must typically work in the industry for a minimum of 5 five years and earn other wine certifications such as the Diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust before even applying. Once accepted, rigorous testing can take a minimum of two years, but frequently requires many more, and includes a dissertation and a practical blind tasting exam. These standards have resulting in only 289 Masters of Wine across the world. Check out this Brisbane Times article for some insight into what it takes to earn the right to put the letters MW after your name.