Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
Institute of Masters of Wine
Master of Wine students David King-Chuang of Bryan, Texas, and Sunil Iyer of Chicago, Illinois, have won the Commanderie de Bordeaux Gregory Thomas Travel Scholar Award. David and Sunil received the honour as two North American students who succeeding in passing the 2025 stage one assessment.
The award, named in honour of the late Gregory Thomas, founder and former grand maitre of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in the United States, forms part of a longstanding relationship between the Commanderie de Bordeaux USA and the Institute of Masters of Wine. Each winner will receive $5,000 to cover a trip to Bordeaux, including airfare, hotel and transportation costs. Award recipients travel together on a single trip that will be arranged by and coordinated with the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux.
Sunil is based in Chicago and works primarily as a wine educator. He was previously based in California, where he worked in various sectors, including education, wine retail and for Silver Oak Cellars.
In response to receiving the award, Sunil said: "I'm very honoured to receive this prize, and look forward to deepening my understanding of Bordeaux wines and promoting them to others".
David King-Chuang works as a fine wine specialist for Southern Glazers and an instructor for the Texas Wine School. Previously, he spent over 15 years in Los Angeles as a beverage director/sommelier, including roles at Michelin starred Osteria Mozza and operating his own aperitivo concept named Baldoria.
On winning the award, David remarked:
"Ecstatic! Words cannot begin to express my excitement. I am sincerely grateful to the Commanderie de Bordeaux for the opportunity to explore one the world’s most historic, and greatest, wine regions. I will cherish this experience for a lifetime."
The Commanderie has sponsored Bordeaux visits over many years for students and young wine professionals, all of whom have indicated that their Bordeaux travel scholar experiences have greatly advanced their wine careers. Award recipients provide a written report to the Commanderie in the two months following their trip detailing their impressions of the experience and how they expect to use their new-found knowledge to support the Commanderie’s mission of promoting the appreciation of Bordeaux wines and vignerons.
Eric Vogt, grand maitre of the Commanderie de Bordeaux, remarked: “The U.S. Commanderie de Bordeaux is pleased to award these travel grants to Sunil Iyer and David King, in support of their immersion in Bordeaux and the enrichment of the insight and understanding they will carry forward to wine professionals and wine drinkers alike.”
Sarah Harrison, IMW executive director, said: “This scholarship offers an invaluable opportunity to forge a deeper understanding of Bordeaux through first-hand experience of its vineyards, châteaux and people. We are delighted to congratulate David and Sunil and sincerely thank the Commanderie de Bordeaux USA for their continued generosity.”