The Institute of Masters of Wine is delighted to announce a new scholarship, the Chairman’s Scholarship.
The Institute recognises that in many countries exchange rate differences 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.
This scholarship will be awarded annually at the discretion of the Chairman of the Institute, and will provide the successful candidate with:
- three years Education Programme fees;
- two attempts at the exam; and
- two tasting cases of wine per annum, delivered to the winner’s home.
Following the Institute’s successful visit to South Africa in November 2004, Patrick McGrath MW, Chairman of the Institute, has decided that the first two years of the scholarship will be targeted at South Africa. He said “The Institute’s recent visit to South Africa was a great success. It reinforced our view of the vast improvements in the quality of South African winemaking in recent years, and of its immense potential for the future. It also brought home to us how relatively easy it is for those of us in Europe, Australasia and North America, with strong currencies and stable histories of democracy and economic growth, compared with winemakers in South Africa. We felt that with the conception of this scholarship we had the perfect opportunity to repay in part the great hospitality shown to us on this trip, while at the same time bringing to the Institute exceptional candidates who will hopefully go on to become Masters of Wine.”
Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa said: “We are honoured and enthused by the Institute’s initiative. Granting South Africans access to this locus of excellence and such wealth of erudition can only enhance our burgeoning industry. In a little more than ten years, we have moved from being an inward-looking industry to one that is able to compete internationally. This is despite our late entry into the market. What drives us is our passion and a desire to benefit from an ongoing exchange of ideas and dialogue with world leaders in wine. I am also confident that whatever is learned by the successful candidates will be shared among the wider South African wine community. We are immensely grateful you have chosen our country.”
Anthony Hamilton-Russell, proprietor of Hamilton-Russell Vineyards, said: “This generous scholarship indicates the firm commitment of the Institute of Masters of Wine to further developing the already dominant role they play in international wine education. It is exciting to see a focus on – and support for – South Africa. The long term benefit to our wine industry will be both real and meaningful. The ball is now in our court to pursue this opportunity.”
Enquiries:
Siobhan Turner Executive Director
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)20 7236 4427
Astrid Lewis Programme Manager, Education and Examination
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)20 7236 4427
Note to interested applicants:
Application forms for the Scholarship and for the Institute’s Education Programme will be available from July 2005. Interested applicants should in the first instance contact Astrid Lewis, the Programme Manager, to obtain an application form and discuss any questions they may have.