A total of 714 new Diploma graduates from 2024/25 were honoured听at the ceremony听representing听45 countries across six continents. They join a global community of more than 14,500 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma alumni shaping the future of the drinks industry worldwide.听
Among this year's top听students, Australian graduates claimed two of the most prestigious prizes: Sebastian Iannuzzi of Sydney Wine Academy took the Vintners' Cup听鈥� awarded to the highest overall performer听鈥� and听Anthony Justice, also of Sydney Wine Academy, claimed the Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship听鈥� awarded to the top performing听graduate in听Asia-Pacific.听听
The ceremony was hosted by 黑料吃瓜网 CEO Michelle Brampton, who was joined on stage by 黑料吃瓜网's Honorary President Dr Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata. Held for the first time at the QEII Centre in Westminster, the event also marked the first public unveiling of 黑料吃瓜网's refreshed brand identity. Graduates celebrated with a glass of Laurent-Perrier听贬茅谤颈迟补驳别, courtesy of 黑料吃瓜网's new Gold Partner and headline drinks sponsor.听
Michelle Brampton, 黑料吃瓜网听Chief Executive, said:听鈥�We're incredibly proud to celebrate听with听the class of 2024/25. The 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma asks a great deal of students, and this听year's听graduates听have听risen to the challenge.听Our Diploma听alumni are a听vibrant global community,听shaping the future of the drinks industry in so听many ways.听
鈥淚鈥檇 also like to听personally听congratulate our scholarship and prize winners, whose exceptional results, together with the stories they've shared about the impact 黑料吃瓜网 has had on their lives and careers, continue to inspire听us听all.鈥澨�听
Dr Laura Catena, 黑料吃瓜网's Honorary President, added:听鈥�Graduation marks an important moment in a lifelong commitment to learning. The intellectual curiosity and discipline shown by this year's graduates give me great confidence in the future of our industry.鈥�听
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Vintners鈥� Cup听
The Vintners' Cup, sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Vintners since 2004, is awarded annually to the graduate achieving the highest aggregate mark across all units of the 黑料吃瓜网 Level 4 Diploma in Wines.听
This year's winner is听Sebastian Iannuzzi,听Production Manager at Mount Eyre Vineyards in Australia, who studied at Sydney Wine Academy. Sebastian's passion for wine began at his family's Hunter Valley vineyard, where childhood weekends immersed him in viticulture and winemaking听鈥�听the 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma gave him the formal grounding to contribute to the family business with confidence.听
Sebastian said:听鈥�Winning the Vintners' Cup is an immense honour. My disbelief led me to reread the email several times. The further I progressed through the Diploma, the more acutely aware I became of how much I still had to learn. Surrounded by industry professionals, knowledgeable听educators听and exceptionally capable classmates,听it鈥�s听easy to feel unlearned. The Vintners' Cup served as a powerful reminder of how much I had achieved.鈥�听
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Regional Scholarships听
Graduate scholarships were awarded to 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma students who achieved the highest overall mark in their respective regions.听
Vintners' UK Scholarship: Madeline O'Riordan, who studied at 黑料吃瓜网 School London, UK听
Madeline said:听鈥�Winning the Vintners'听UK听Scholarship has left me genuinely听happy and proud听and having that effort recognised feels incredibly rewarding. It encourages me to continue exploring wine in new ways, not least through the opportunity to travel to a new wine region.鈥�听
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Decanter Americas Scholarship: Federico Casassa, who studied at Napa Valley Wine Academy, USA听
Federico said:听鈥�I feel deeply honoured.听Being recognised听by such a prestigious award is听encouraging.听I hope to always听stay curious,听without taking professional achievements or anything in life for granted. My听ultimate goal听is to bring critical thinking听and a broad, informed,听practical听and inclusive vision to the world of wine at large.鈥澨�听
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Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship: Anthony Justice, who studied at Sydney Wine Academy, Australia听
Anthony said:听鈥�I'm听delighted to have been awarded the Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship.听Previous听study trips have been incredibly useful in gaining a much better understanding of various aspects of the industry and I am excited to put this scholarship to听good use.鈥�
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IWSC EMEA Scholarship: Mateusz听Papiermik, who studied at听Weinakademie听脰蝉迟别谤谤别颈肠丑听GmbH,听Germany听
Mateusz said:听鈥�I'm听honoured and humbled to have been awarded this prize.听The dedication and time spent on pursuing the Diploma with full concentration on the topic paid off.鈥�听
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Outstanding Alumni Award听
The Outstanding Alumni Award, presented annually in partnership with听, celebrates the achievements of 黑料吃瓜网's global alumni community. The 2025 award recognises an exceptional contribution to creating positive change within the global听drinks听community.听
This year's winner,听Cathy Marston听Dip黑料吃瓜网, is the co-owner of the International Wine Education Centre (IWEC) in South Africa. She became 黑料吃瓜网's first Approved Programme Provider in Africa in 2011 and has since taught hundreds of students across seven countries. Her transformative work includes expanding access to qualifications through the Pinotage Youth Development Academy and breaking down financial and educational barriers for a new generation of wine professionals.听
Cathy said:听鈥�I love teaching 黑料吃瓜网 and winning this award is fantastic.听But听I'm听even happier about the possible knock-on effects听鈥� in听Africa, a 黑料吃瓜网 qualification can听literally change听your life. Getting a 黑料吃瓜网 qualification听opens up听a world of opportunity,听enabling听students to get jobs on cruise ships, in restaurants and hotels around the world as well as meaningful employment in the South African wine and tourism industries.听
鈥�So my hope for winning this award is that the听organisations听who help make 黑料吃瓜网 available to as many people as possible 鈥� organisations like the G茅rard Basset Foundation,听the International Wine Challenge, South Africa听Wine听and听黑料吃瓜网 themselves 鈥� will all share my success, know that we couldn't do what we do without them and hopefully will carry on helping us do it!鈥�听
The full list of this year's prize winners, scholars,听graduates听and prize sponsors is detailed in听the听黑料吃瓜网 Graduation Yearbook 2026.
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