We’re extremely proud to be working alongside Mark Pardoe MW, Master of Wine, to build our Cellar Door portfolio. He joined the Wine Trade in 1978 and became a Master of Wine in 1989, also winning the Madame Bollinger Award as the best taster of the year. He ran his own award-winning wine merchant business in Surrey for 15 years until 2003, when it was acquired by Berry Bros. & Rudd, where he is now Wine Director. To this day, Mark still travels for several weeks every year, visiting the classic wine regions of Europe regularly to meet producers and taste each new vintage.
But what exactly is a Master of Wine?
Who can become an MW?
Did you know? There are only 425 active Masters of Wine across the globe.
The journey to become a Master of Wine is one that famously requires serious dedication, motivation and crucially, practical experience. After all, the knowledge required and acquired during the MW qualification spans many professions within the wine industry-students can be anything from sommeliers, to winemakers, to retailers.
However, what many don’t see is the knowledge already required to apply for this exclusive qualification. In fact, to become a Master of Wine, you must have studied wine to WSET Diploma (Level 4) or equivalent, which is comparable to having completed the first year of an undergraduate degree, notwithstanding the WSET Level two and three qualifications required before this.
In addition to existing qualifications, applicants must have been actively involved in the wine trade across the diverse range of careers the industry offers. This is non-negotiable and for good reason: the knowledge gained from the course is not just theoretical but is designed to be practically applied in the real world.
Sometimes, the best learning is not from books and the depth of understanding gained from being in the trade is not something that can be replicated in any other way.
What does the exam consist of?
Becoming an MW is not a quick process. In fact, the minimum study time required is three years! The programme itself is split into three different stages, which cover:
- Blind tastings: wines must be assessed for variety, origin, commercial appeal, winemaking, quality and style.
- Theory: Papers cover topics such as viticulture, vinification and pre-bottling procedures, the handling of wine, the business of wine, and contemporary issues. Students are also required to complete theory essays and assessments during each year of the course.
- Research paper: which, much like a university dissertation, can cover a topic of the students’ choice, so long as it is wine-related.
The benefit? When you’re really interested in the subject matter, studying rarely feels like a chore. Imagine completing a degree (equivalent) that centres around a millennia-old industry that spans the globe today and is the centre of communities, cultures and economies. While studying, students have the opportunity to take trips to the world’s wine regions, where they visit some of the world’s greatest producers- it’s certainly a perk.
What happens after you qualify?
Did you know? MWs have to sign a code of conduct to use the globally recognised post-nominals, to affirm that they will uphold good commercial conduct and safeguard those who buy and sell wine.
After passing the exams and officially becoming a Master of Wine, the title not only brings prestige, but opens doors to a network of like-minded wine professionals who, all with their own specialisms, become lifelong friends and colleagues- much like university friends. And, many become more active within the wine community by mentoring stage one and two MW students, teaching WSET courses, judging at international wine competitions and more. Above all, the qualification comes with knowledge that can be used across one’s career and personal life to great benefit.
Why is that relevant for Hambledon?
Having Mark Pardoe MW’s extensive expertise in the wine industry is invaluable to us as we search outside of the box for outstanding, sustainable, family-run wineries to feature in the Cellar Door Shop. Having spent decades travelling the wine-producing world in search of outstanding bottles to source, sell and share here in England, he comes with a little black book that’s bursting at the seams with hidden gems of the wine world. There's nobody we trust more to introduce us to some truly memorable bottles.
Join us at the launch party on 7th June to be the first to discover our new range of wines: not on the high-street, but very much at home here at Hambledon Wine Estate.