Cristina Mercuri first Italian woman to join the exclusive club of Masters of Wine
Cristina Mercuri is Italy's fourth 'maestro': she has passed a very tough selection process to join the select group of international super-experts
Key points
Until 2021, Italia was excluded, now it has no fewer than four representatives, including the first woman. They are the Masters of Wine, the world's 'super-experts' of the wine industry. There are just over 400 of them in the world and in fact, as proof of the institute's exclusivity, it is said that 'there are more human beings who have been to space than Masters of Wine'.
Founded in 1953 in London The Institute of Masters of Wine is an organisation whose members "have," the website states, "a mission to promote excellence, sharing and knowledge among the diverse sectors of the global wine community".
A long course of study
The coveted qualification is not obtained by qualifications but after a long and complex course of study in which one has to demonstrate (in English, of course) skills ranging from viticulture to communication and economics. Skills that are indispensable when dealing with farms, importers and restaurants.
Until 2021 no Italia, now four
Masters of Wine are in fact not simply tasters or storytellers but are figures who often guide the wine purchases of large international chains of hotels and restaurants.
This exclusive club, from which Italia was excluded since it did not have its own representative, was joined in 2021 by the Tuscan (from Montalcino) Gabriele Gorelli, in '23 by the Veneto (from Valpolicella) Andrea Lonardi followed in '24 by the Sicilian (from Marsala) Pietro Russo. Now the poker of aces of Master of Wine all made in Italy is completed with the nomination of the first woman: Cristina Mercuri, a Tuscan transplanted to Milan, is the first Italian woman to obtain one of the most rigorous and selective titles of the international oenological panorama. An accolade that certifies technical competence, academic soundness and leadership skills.
