The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is delighted to announce that four new Masters of Wine (MW) have joined the membership after successfully passing all three stages of the MW exam.
Karen Hong Liu MW (Hong Kong), Cristina Mercuri MW (Italy), Kim Oshiro MW (US), and Bryce Wiatrak MW (US) are the latest to earn the Master of Wine title. They are the first of the 2026 vintage of Masters of Wine and include the first female MW to be based in Italy.
There are now 422 active Masters of Wine across 30 countries, working at the highest levels of the global wine industry. The Master of Wine title is the wine world’s most coveted credential, awarded only to those who demonstrate an exceptional understanding of every aspect of wine.
The MW examination encompasses three parts. At the end of stage two, students sit a closed-book exam consisting of three 12-wine blind tasting papers and five theory papers covering the full spectrum of wine. The theory papers require detailed knowledge and analysis on the topics of viticulture, vinification and pre-bottling procedures, the handling of wine, the business of wine and contemporary issues. In stage three, they submit a Research Paper (RP): an in-depth, original study on a wine-related topic drawn from the sciences, arts, humanities or social sciences. Only upon successful completion of all three components do they earn the title of Master of Wine.
IMW chair, Roderick Smith MW, shared his thoughts on the announcement: “Every new Master of Wine brings fresh perspectives and energy to our community. I congratulate this year’s cohort on their remarkable achievement and look forward to the contributions they will make, not just to our membership, but to the advancement of the wine world.”
IMW executive director, Sarah Harrison, added: “We are delighted to welcome four Masters of Wine – Karen, Cristina, Kim and Bryce – into the membership of the Institute of Masters of Wine. For each of them, being awarded the MW title represents many years of dedication, learning and commitment. We are all incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”
