HortNews reports that seven candidates have completed all stages of the Master of Wine examination, Alice Archer, Owain Hughes, Weiran Liu, Gabriella Macari, Tiago Macena, Jake Skakun and Sue Tolson. Together with four MWs announced earlier in 2026, the new group takes this year’s total to 11, the largest annual intake since 2021, while Portugal and Hungary now have their first resident Masters of Wine, bringing active global membership to 427 across 31 countries.
Acceditations
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WSET Drops Greek Goddess From Logo
The Drinks Business reports that WSET is removing Ariadne from its logo and introducing a simplified identity as part of a broader brand overhaul. The updated look includes a new strapline, Global Drinks Education, reflecting WSET’s expansion beyond wine into spirits, sake and beer, with refreshed digital branding and redesigned student pins also planned.
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Uncorking a Scandal: Master Sommelier Lawsuit Heads to Trial
Reuters reports that three candidates who briefly held the Master Sommelier title in 2018 are suing the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas after the organisation voided the tasting exam over cheating allegations, with a five day jury trial scheduled later this year in San Francisco federal court. The article says the dispute centres on an email sent just before the blind tasting, containing shorthand that could be read as tips, and argues the case has become a referendum on due process and the credibility of one of fine wine’s key gatekeepers, with fewer than 300 Master Sommeliers worldwide.
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Enjoy Now Wines Claims New Milestones In Gen Z And Millennial Outreach
Wine Industry Advisor carries a press release saying Enjoy Now Wines is building a national network of younger credentialed sommeliers to make wine feel less intimidating for Gen Z and Millennials, and it highlights early metrics such as social growth, volume of short-form content, and a set of endorsed wines using its simplified evaluation format.
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New Masters of Wine Announced for 2026
JancisRobinson.com says the Institute of Masters of Wine has announced the first four new Masters of Wine for 2026, Karen Hong Liu (Hong Kong), Cristina Mercuri (Italy), Kim Oshiro (US) and Bryce Wiatrak (US), with Mercuri noted as the first woman based in Italy to become an MW. The update also says there are now 422 active MWs across 30 countries, and it highlights each new MW’s professional background and research paper topics.