This season's newly minted MWs, announced today by the Institute of Masters of Wine.
Wojciech Bońkowski MW is based in Poland (the first MW to be based in that country) and Joshua Grainer MW, based in the USA, have achieved the title of Master of Wine.
There are now 416 MWs globally – 267 men and 149 women living or working in 31 countries. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the first Master of Wine examination, held in 1953. Since the first exam, 500 people have become an MW.
Below are the biographies provided by the Institute.
Wojciech Bońkowski MW (Poland)
Wojciech Bońkowski, a wine writer from Poland, obtained an MA in Italian literature and PhD in musicology from the University of Warsaw. His book on Chopin’s favourite food and wines, Chopin Gourmet, was published in English by the Chopin Institute in 2010. Simultaneously he developed a career in wine, working in London for a year before returning to Poland where he published eight books and founded the country’s leading wine website, Winicjatywa (2012), and wine magazine, Ferment (2017). Wojciech is active internationally as a writer, wine-market consultant and judge, notably at Decanter World Wine Awards and 50 Great Greek Wines. He currently focuses on the wines of Italy, Greece, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland’s booming industry, Port, Madeira and Champagne.
Research paper: Towards a Tokaj classification. Applying the Austrian Erste Lagen approach to Hungary.
Joshua Grainer MW (USA)
Joshua is the managing director and winemaker for RdV Vineyards in Virginia, USA. Joshua discovered his love of wine in his early twenties while traveling through Italy. He went on to develop his craft in the USA, France and Australia before joining RdV for their inaugural vintage in 2008. When not in the vineyard or winery, he can be found enjoying the great outdoors with his wife and son.
Research paper: Evaluating phenology shifts of Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Merlot in Virginia by the mid-21st century.