The first Masters of Wine of 2026 have been announced
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has revealed the names of four individuals who have passed all stages of the Master of Wine examination — a cohort that includes the first female MW to be based in Italy.
Announced this morning, the latest people to earn the Master of Wine title are Karen Hong Liu MW (Hong Kong), Cristina Mercuri MW (Italy), Kim Oshiro MW (US), and Bryce Wiatrak MW (US) – taking the total number of active MWs to 422, across 30 countries.
To achieve the qualification, candidates must pass a set of challenging blind tasting papers, along with a series of essay-based examinations on all aspects of wine production and trading, and finally, submit Research Paper (RP), which must comprise an in-depth, original study on a wine-related topic drawn from the sciences, arts, humanities or social sciences.
Among this year’s crop of MWs was an interesting mix of topics for this final stage of the exam, including a look at ‘wine, women and Fascism’, and the role of wine in the operas of Giuseppe Verdi.
See below for more information on the new MWs as ell as the the titles of their RPs.
Karen Hong Liu MW (Hong Kong)
Karen is General Manager of Pinnacle APEX Ltd., a Hong Kong–based fine wine importing and distribution company. She oversees fine wine and premium spirits sourcing, portfolio development and route-to-market strategy, supporting trade partners and private clients across Hong Kong and wider Asia. Prior to relocating to Hong Kong, Karen spent more than a decade in the UK as a fine wine consultant, advising collectors on acquisition strategy, cellar management and portfolio development. She began her career in IT strategy and business transformation, holding senior roles within a FTSE 100 multinational. Her work centres on developing structured, sustainable fine wine businesses and facilitating market access between producers and Asian buyers.
Research paper: An investigation into consumer motivations, trust, and behaviour in China’s wine live-streaming market.
Cristina Mercuri MW (Italy)
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Cristina is the first woman based in Italy to become a Master of Wine. A former lawyer in international law firms, she transitioned to the wine sector in 2015, earning the WSET Diploma in 2018. She is certified as a Sherry Educator, Cava Educator and Port Educator, and is an Italian VDP Ambassador. Cristina is Founder and CEO of Mercuri Wine Club, a consultancy and academy working with Italian and international producers on education, brand development and market strategy. She serves as Wine Editor at Forbes Italia and is an international judge for Decanter. As Brand Ambassador for Mack & Schühle Italia, she represents the company’s Italian portfolio. She teaches across multiple levels, including WSET Diploma, and delivers corporate training programmes.
Research paper: Wine, Women and Fascism: A visual analysis of the representation of women in propaganda in Enotria (1922-1942).
Kim Oshiro MW (US)
Kim has built a career spanning multiple sectors of the wine industry. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she began as a sommelier before becoming Beverage Director for a multi-state restaurant group, where she led beverage programme development and staff training. Her experience includes vineyard, cellar and winery laboratory work, as well as roles in distribution, direct-to-consumer sales, and both on- and off-premise channels. She is Founder of Bottle Thief™, a precision argon wine preservation system now used in more than 30 countries. In addition to her industry work, she is developing a wine-focused travel and education company centred on immersive regional study programmes.
Research paper: Mitigating Methoxypyrazines in Dry Red Wines: Strategies for reducing capsicum aromas with silicone and molecularly imprinted polymers.
Bryce Wiatrak MW (US)
Bryce is a Chicago-based wine professional, journalist and critic. His work has appeared in major US publications including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Wall Street Journal. He previously served as Staff Writer for GuildSomm and Junior Editor at Antonio Galloni’s Vinous. Bryce is the author of Dessert Wine: An Encyclopedic Guide to Sweet and Fortified Wines, forthcoming from the University of California Press, and Tokaji and the Wines of Hungary for the Académie du Vin Library. In 2021, he founded Vinalia, a venture-backed private label and import company. He holds degrees from Yale University, Chicago Booth and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Research paper: “Libiamo”: The role of wine and the drinking song in four operas by Giuseppe Verdi.
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