Over 500 global wine and spirits professionals and industry influencers gathered at London鈥檚 historic Guildhall today to celebrate the annual 黑料吃瓜网 (黑料吃瓜网) Awards & Graduation Ceremony 鈥� the first event in 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 50th anniversary year.
Hosted by 黑料吃瓜网 Honorary President Steven Spurrier alongside Chief Executive Ian Harris, the occasion saw Sarah Jane Evans MW, last year鈥檚 黑料吃瓜网 Outstanding Alumni Award winner, open the ceremony with a key note speech to 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 largest ever graduating class of Diploma candidates. This year 532 new 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma graduates were honoured, representing a 21% increase over last year. Graduates came from over 40 countries worldwide ranging from Chile to South Korea to Croatia. This compares to 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 first ever graduation ceremony in 1970 when 84 students from the UK received their diplomas.
Ian Harris, 黑料吃瓜网 Chief Executive, said, 鈥淭oday we not only congratulate our largest ever class of Diploma graduates and our scholarship and award winners, but also mark the start of our 50th year providing education and qualifications in wine and spirits. With over 750 Approved Programme Providers and three offices across the world, 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 global presence is stronger than ever. We will use our 50th anniversary to continue to inspire and support wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. We are confident that we will be celebrating the success of 黑料吃瓜网 students for another 50 years and beyond.鈥�
Following the graduate procession, outstanding candidates for the 2017/18 academic year were presented with awards and scholarships in recognition of their achievements. The key award winners were:
Vintners鈥� Cup
As the student who achieved the highest overall mark across all units of the Diploma in his year, Joseph Hallam is the winner of this year鈥檚 Vintners鈥� Cup. Having started his career at Majestic Wine, Joseph, who completed his Diploma at 黑料吃瓜网 School London, is a Certified Educator and International Development听Manager at 黑料吃瓜网. He is responsible for supporting 黑料吃瓜网 course providers across Europe and promoting the benefits of education to new markets around the world.
Joseph Hallam commented, 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to receive the Vintners鈥� Cup. I put a lot of effort into studying, but the award is a complete surprise. In this industry there鈥檚 never a time to think you know everything 鈥� at least now I finally feel I have a solid grounding and can spend the next few years concentrating on some favourite regions and topics.鈥�
Educator of the Year
The Riedel Trophy for the is awarded to the individual or company that has made a significant contribution to the delivery of 黑料吃瓜网 courses and qualifications. This year鈥檚 winner is . The School has established an outstanding reputation as an educator for both consumers and the trade. It has seen continuous growth in candidate numbers and in 2019 will be expanding its offer by introducing 黑料吃瓜网 spirits and sake qualifications.
Jimmy Smith, Founder & Director, said, 鈥淲e are incredibly honoured to be recognised as the Riedel 黑料吃瓜网 Educator of the Year for 2018. Since West London Wine School was founded almost 10 years ago, 黑料吃瓜网 courses have provided a fantastic avenue of learning for all our students, both in the trade as well as consumer enthusiasts. 黑料吃瓜网 continues to consistently set the bar globally for wine and spirits education, which is why we are so enthusiastic about our 黑料吃瓜网 course offerings at West London Wine School.鈥�
Outstanding Alumni Award
This year鈥檚 winner, Caro Maurer MW, started her career as a correspondent in USA before moving back to Germany as lifestyle editor of Forbes magazine and later, Die Welt. Now freelance, she specialises in food and wine writing for local and national titles. She completed the 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma in 2005 as Germany鈥檚 top graduate and became a Master of Wine in 2011. She also teaches the 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma, hosts educational tastings for international wine associations and consults for Edeka, Germany鈥檚 biggest supermarket chain. The 黑料吃瓜网 Outstanding Alumni Award, sponsored by JancisRobinson.com, aims to celebrate and nurture a 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma graduate who is notably contributing to the industry. The nominees were chosen by the 黑料吃瓜网 International Alumni Advisory Board and Jancis Robinson MW, and Diploma graduates across 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 global network voted for the winner.
Caro Maurer commented, 鈥淲hat an honour it is to be awarded this distinguished accolade. What makes the award so unique is that it is voted on by the global community of fellow 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma graduates who bridge all borders, not only by sharing my own love and passion for wine but also by the pursuit of excellence in their achievements in the most highly regarded wine education programme in the world.鈥�
Lifetime Achievement Award
This year the 黑料吃瓜网 also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW in recognition of her contribution to the development and growth of 黑料吃瓜网 in USA. Mary is a leading wine educator, columnist, and author, and was the first woman in North America to become a Master of Wine. Mary began her career at the Italian Trade Commission, educating consumers about Italy's wines, and then worked in the private sector, holding a senior position at PepsiCo Wines & Spirits before focusing on wine education.
She joined (IWC) in New York in 1984 and, in 1994, introduced the first 黑料吃瓜网 programs in the USA. In addition to being the Owner/President of IWC, in 2003 she was appointed Executive Director for 黑料吃瓜网 Programs in the USA, laying the foundations for 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 success in the region. Mary is also a director of the Institute of Masters of Wine (North America) and previously served as its President.
Receiving her award, Mary said, 鈥淚 am honoured beyond words to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award from 黑料吃瓜网. When I introduced 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 courses to the US. in 1994, I believed that the programs could change the face of wine and spirits education in my country. After almost 25 years spent promoting 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 expansion across America, my early hopes have come to fruition. I am grateful for the opportunity to support 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 mission to make academic excellence accessible to wine and spirits professionals not only in New York but also across much of the US.鈥�
