Wine Scholar Guild (WSG) is delighted to announce that Christopher Martin MW has joined the team as Director of Education. As one of the very most recent individuals to achieve the Master of Wine certification in February 2024, Christopher has a strong background in education, with over 18 years of teaching a range of students from primary schools to graduate-level courses. 

As a member, you are entitled to two free Master of Wine mentoring sessions a year. These are one-on-one sessions with Justin Martindale MW, our Membership & Community Manager to discuss absolutely anything wine-related that you might find helpful. Sessions last up to 30 minutes, and can be booked directly with Justin

Summary: What do “volatile acidity” and “reduction” smell like? What is the difference between a taint and an off-flavour? Find out at this webinar with sensory scientist Sietze Wijma. Hundreds of different flavour and aroma compounds have been identified in wine. These can be traced back to different grape varieties, winemaking techniques and microorganisms. However, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. The unintentional appearance of

Chris Martin MW joins the Wine Scholar Guild as our new Director of Education. Simon J Woolf spoke to him about his background and what he’ll be bringing to the role. There’s an assumption in the wine world that if you’re knowledgeable in your subject area, ergo you can teach. Chris Martin MW wants to challenge that idea. Unusually for the sector, he started out in the world of education and latterly cross-trained in wine.

If there’s one thing in the world I love, it’s judging. From driving, to elite sport, to other people’s parenting, if you’re looking for someone to cast ill-informed opinions out into the wind, I’m your man. So, when the opportunity arose to contribute to what is probably the world’s greatest wine judging competition, I signed myself up quicker than you can say ‘baby-lead weaning’. Thankfully this is one area where I’m at least a little more qualified to apply

Summary: The vineyards of the Loire Valley follow the twists and turns of France's longest river, from the Atlantic coast to the Paris Basin. The region boasts the largest number of French white wine AOCs and also produces increasingly sought after reds. This webinar will explore the distinctive terroirs that define the grapes of each sub-region, look at the historical context and present winemaking trends that define

Summary: Tokaj was the first region to classify its vineyards in the distant 17th century, and later forged an enviable reputation for its sweet, botrytised Aszú wines… which are now all but forgotten. Can this outstanding volcanic, cool-climate terroir reinvent itself with dry wines based on the region’s signature grape, Furmint? Wojciech Bońkowski, who wrote his MW Research Paper on a dry wine-driven reclassification of the vineyards, will discuss the current market and

Summary: The wines of Toscana’s Montalcino are revered the world over and the price of vineyard land within the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG reflects that renown. However, just a short 30 minute drive from Montalcino lies the largely undiscovered world of Monte Amiata. Previously primarily known, in wine circles, for the important role it plays in sheltering the vineyards of Montalcino from intense summer storms that can develop on the sun-soaked Tuscan coastline, today Monte

Summary In wine education and sensory science, we aim to train tasters who can exhibit consistency and accuracy in describing and quantifying aroma and taste. Any deviation from machine-like performance is seen as a flaw, and the popular press is quick to claim “wine experts can’t tell red wine from white wine!” In

Synopsis: Masterclass delving into what is new in terroir-focused Beaujolais, covering the region's recent soil mapping project, stylistic evolutions in the 10 crus and beyond, trends from the latest generation of winemakers, latest in sustainable winemaking and climate change adaptation, and more. About the Speaker: Jacky Blisson MW is an independent wine educator, video presenter, writer, and consultant with over two decades experience in all facets of the

Summary: We are delighted to be joined by three esteemed guardians of these incredible important pieces of living history from our specialist regions of France, Spain and Italy. Moderated by our Membership Manager Justin Martindale MW, this webinar will discuss the various factors involved in curating these unique vineyards, covering a broad range of topics, including: The relevance of low yielding vines The quality of the wines produced by old

Summary Join us for this very special event celebrating the launch of one of the most important new additions to the world of educational wine books. WSG is thrilled to welcome author and award-winning sommelière, Pascaline Lepeltier, in conversation with wine journalist Christina Rasmussen. Pascaline will share some of the

Summary: We were delighted to be joined by Isabel Gassier, viticulturalist at Domaine Gassier in France's Costières de Nîmes, to discuss their conversion to Regenerative Viticulture. In November 2023, the estate became France's first regeneratively certified producer, and in this interview Isabel discusses the motivation and journey behind this move, as well as the practicalities and 'on-the-ground' challenges in utilising this farming method in Costières de Nîmes.  You

Summary: Regenerative Viticulture is one of the most exciting developments in wine sustainability in a generation. Here we showcase three fantastic French producers who have taken the leap and converted their vineyards to this method of farming. All the details of the wines are downloadable in the pdf above, along with some links to further information you may enjoy. About the Speaker: Justin Martindale is the Wine Scholar Guild Membership Manager

Summary: 'The Heel of the Boot', and one of Italy's warmest wine regions, Puglia often flies under the radar compared to its illustrious Northern counterparts. But it's home to an array of really interesting indigenous varieties and unique wine styles that imbue a wonderful sense of place and individuality to the wines. Join us for this session, hosted by Master of Wine and Italian expert Michelle Cherutti-Kowal to explore: History of

Summary Meet your new Membership & Community Manager! Join us for this one-off special Q&A with Justin Martindale MW who is taking over the position from Anna this January. Justin will be chatting about his background and experience, as well as his journey through the Master of Wine qualification and vision for the Membership programme going forward. At the end you will have an opportunity to pose your own questions to Justin to help get to know him and his plans for the

Summary: Steep slopes and vertigo-inducing vineyards make Ribeira Sacra one of Spain's most stunning wine regions. With terraced vineyards that rival the Mosel or Douro, the region is known for its floral, austere expressions of Mencía. We'll take a deep dive into Ribeira Sacra's history and culture, and learn about why this region is producing some of the most exciting wines in Spain today. Following the presentation, a question & answer session will take place,

On June 25th, London played host to a prestigious gathering of Italy's top wine producers, unveiling their flagship wines to the UK trade and press.

The Science of Wine Tasting Course This multi-part series is designed for food and wine professionals, wine judges, wine educators, wine and food journalists, wine students and anyone who relies on their senses to assess, evaluate, critique and/or write about wine and food.  There are four parts to this series, each with three sessions. Part One: Neuroscience of Wine Tasting with Gabriel Lepousez

Science of Wine Tasting Course This multi-part series is designed for food and wine professionals, wine judges, wine educators, wine and food journalists, wine students and anyone who relies on their senses to assess, evaluate, critique and/or write about wine and food.  There are four parts to this series, each with three sessions.