At its annual reception and awards ceremony at Vintners' Hall last Wednesday evening (after a tasting of 2005 bordeaux on which Julia will be reporting next week), eight Masters of Wine (MWs) were formally welcomed into membership of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW). The following received their certificates from the Master of the Vintners' Company, Sam Cox:
– Susie Barrie (UK)
– Michael Collier (UK)
– Roman Horvath (Austria)
– Isabelle Legeron (France, living in UK)
– Tim Marson (UK)
– Tuomas Meriluoto (Finland)
– Frank Roeder (Germany)
– Mai Tjemsland (Norway)
At the ceremony three of the new MWs were honoured with awards for outstanding performance in specific parts of the Examination:
Wine writer Susie Barrie MW received the Institute of Masters of Wine Outstanding Achievement Award. This award, supported by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, is for outstanding achievement in the overall IMW Examination and was presented by Willi Klinger of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board and Dr Josef 'Pepi' Schuller MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine. The Austrian Wine Marketing Board is a Principal Supporter of the IMW.
Having passed the MW exams at the first attempts, she was also the 
winner of the Noval Award for the best Dissertation, which was presented by Christian Seely, Managing Director of AXA Millésimes, owner of Quinta do Noval (above left). Her topic was 'UK market attitudes towards brut nature champagne'. AXA Millésimes is a Principal Supporter of the IMW.
As though this were not enough, Susie also received the Robert Mondavi Winery Award for excellence in the Theory part of the Examination. The award was presented by Mark de Vere MW of Robert Mondavi Winery. Constellation, which owns the Robert Mondavi Winery, is a Major Supporter of the IMW.
Susie's husband, wine writer Peter Richards (a specialist in Chilean wine), passed the MW exams this year, also at the first attempt, and is currently at work on his dissertation. Our Julia has been mentor to both of them.
Isabelle Legeron MW (extreme left of the front row in the picture below) was awarded the Madame Bollinger Medal for excellence in the Practical (tasting) papers of the Examination. This award was presented by Arnould d'Hautefeuille, president of Société Jacques Bollinger and of the Madame Bollinger Foundation. The Madame Bollinger Foundation has been a Major Supporter of the IMW for over 20 years.
Isabelle also received the Villa Maria Award for excellence in the viticulture paper. This award was presented by Charlotte Read of Villa Maria. Villa Maria is a Major Supporter of the IMW.
Roman Horvath MW (second from the right in the back row below) of Domäne Wachau received the Viña Errázuriz Award for excellence in the business of wine paper. This award was presented by Philip Tuck MW of Hatch Mansfield, agents for Viña Errázuriz in the UK. Viña Errázuriz is a Major Supporter of the IMW.
Dr Josef 'Pepi' Schuller MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of
Wine, said: 'I am really delighted that the Institute continues to increase its international membership year on year. I recognise just how many sacrifices these eight MWs – and their families and friends – have made to reach their goal.' He added: 'Speaking personally, I am delighted to be able to welcome a colleague from the Austrian wine industry to the Institute. Further, I cannot fail to highlight the continuing trend of outstanding performances by women candidates in the Examination, which is helping to increase the proportion of women members of the Institute overall.'
