The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) celebrated the winners of seven awards and officially welcomed five new Masters of Wine (MWs) to its membership at a ceremony in Vintners’ Hall, London, UK, on Tuesday, 11 November 2025.
The IMW’s annual awards ceremony celebrates the inauguration of the new MWs and recognises individual excellence in areas of the MW examination. Friends, family and Masters of Wine from around the globe assembled in London for the occasion to welcome the new MW vintage, who are based across five countries.
The IMW was proud to formally welcome new members Jit Hang Jackie Ang MW (Singapore), Amanda Barnes MW (Argentina), Sarah Benson MW (UK), Kathleen Van den Berghe MW (Belgium), and Qian Janice Wang MW (Denmark).
Each received a framed calligraphic certificate and a 24K gold Master of Wine pin engraved with their unique membership number.
Following the inauguration, the individual awards, introduced into the ceremony in 1979 and sponsored by IMW supporters, were presented. Qian Janice Wang MW and Amanda Barnes MW both took home three awards, while Jit Hang Jackie Ang MW received one.
IMW award winners for 2025
The 2025 awards and winners in full are:
Quinta do Noval Award for the best research paper
The award winner was chosen by Christian Seely, managing director of AXA Millésimes, who also presented the award.
Awarded to Qian Janice Wang MW for her paper, "Communicating acidity: Investigating the relationship between language use, chemical composition, and temporal sensory perception of Riesling and Chenin Blanc".
Taransaud Tonnelier Award for excellence in the production and handling of the wine paper
Presented by Henri de Pracomtal, chairman and CEO of Taransaud.
Awarded to Qian Janice Wang MW.
Vintners' Company Award for the top performance in the business of wine paper
Presented by Richard Wilson MBE DL VR, master vintner of the Vintners’ Company.
Awarded to Amanda Barnes MW.
VSPT Wine Group Award for best performance in the contemporary issues paper
Presented by Viviana Navarrete, chief winemaker at Viña Leyda.
Awarded to Amanda Barnes MW.
Robert Mondavi Winery Award for the best performance across all the theory papers
Presented by Laura Diaz Muñoz, chief winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery.
Awarded to Amanda Barnes MW.
IMW Outstanding Achievement Award
Sponsored by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB). Presented by Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine.
Awarded to Jit Hang Jackie Ang MW.
Madame Bollinger Medal for excellence in tasting
Presented by Étienne Bizot, chairman and chief executive of Champagne Bollinger.
Awarded to Qian Janice Wang MW.
In addition to celebrating the new Masters of Wine, the ceremony honoured Patrick Millet MW (UK), who became an MW in 1975, and this year celebrates his 50th year as a Master of Wine.
IMW executive director Sarah Harrison commented: "We are delighted to formally welcome our five new Masters of Wine, from five different countries, into the Institute of Masters of Wine. We also celebrated individual success in different elements of the MW exam, and I would like to thank our supporters who award these prizes. It is not easy to become a Master of Wine and this evening, we recognise and celebrate their dedication, expertise and pursuit of excellence. Please join us in extending your congratulations to them all on their incredible achievements."
IMW chair Roderick Smith MW added: "It is a great honour and privilege to welcome our new Masters of Wine in person in London for our most special evening of the year. Our Awards ceremony also offers a wonderful opportunity for our members and supporters to meet one another and share their congratulations on this most extraordinary achievement."
All research papers can be accessed at www.mastersofwine.org/research-papers.