Wine Industry Report

The Institute of Masters of Wine is delighted to announce that Anzill Adams, of Dominion Wine, has won the 2006 Chairman’s Scholarship.

This scholarship is awarded annually at the discretion of the Chairman of the Institute, and provides the successful candidate with: three years Education Programme fees; up to two years’ examination fees; and two tasting cases of wine per annum, delivered to the winner’s home.

Adams, 39, grew up in the Western Cape, South Africa, and entered the wine industry in 1997 when he became the facilitator of the first land reform project in the wine industry, New Beginnings, based in Paarl. In 2003 he completed his Wine MBA at the University of Cape Town, and now advises the wine industry on transformation and strategy.

Anzill Adams said “I believe education is the most empowering process any individual can experience. South Africa, and particularly its wine industry, needs more educated people. I intend to use my knowledge in a manner that would empower others and in the end contribute to a more sustainable and viable environment for all.”

Joanna Locke MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: “I am delighted to award my first Chairman’s Scholarship to Anzill Adams. Anzill’s enthusiasm for the wine industry, together with his commitment to the development and transformation of that industry in his native South Africa, will be of real benefit to the Institute. I congratulate him on winning this scholarship, and wish him well with his studies.”

Note to interested applicants:

The Institute recognises that in many countries exchange rates and other economic factors restrict the potential of many individuals who would otherwise be excellent candidates for the Master of Wine Education Programme and Examination. The scholarship will, therefore, be open to candidates from countries where the Institute sees strategic importance, where it is not currently well represented and where such economic factors exist.

Application forms for the Scholarship and for the Institute’s Education Programme will be available from July 2007. Interested applicants should in the first instance contact the Institute’s Education Manager, Peter Csizmadia-Honigh, to obtain an application form and discuss any questions they may have.

The Master of Wine qualification is achieved by passing three examinations:
a Theory examination which comprises four three-hour question papers on viticulture, winemaking, the business of wine and contemporary issues relating to the wine industry
b Practical examination which comprises three 12-wine blind tastings of a range of international wines which are assessed for variety, origin, quality and style
c 10,000 word Dissertation on a subject selected by the candidate, relevant to the international wine industry

Candidates are required to pass all three parts of the examination, and to sign a Code of Conduct before achieving and using the qualification. There are now 257 Masters of Wine from 22 different countries.