The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is pleased to announce that Constellation Brands has awarded the first of two MW student scholarships this year to Kathryn House McClaskey. 

Constellation Brands is a principal supporter of the Institute and offers two annual MW Study Programme scholarships for students based in North America. Kathryn House McClaskey achieved the highest overall score of a North American student in the stage 1 assessment. The assessment is the exam taken at the end of stage 1 and involves a 12-wine blind tasting paper and two theory essays. 

Kathryn, a winemaker, viticulturist, and wine educator behind House of Wine based in Idaho, sat for the stage 1 assessment in June of this year and will now progress to stage 2 of the MW Study Programme. She will receive a $1,000 scholarship award sponsored by Constellation Brands to help on her MW study journey. Kathryn will also be invited to visit the Robert Mondavi Winery for a tour of the vineyards and winery, and to taste some special wines. Kathryn will be welcomed and hosted on the visit by three Masters of Wine and Constellation Brands employees, Nova Cadamatre MW, Mark de Vere MW and Peter Marks MW. 

Kathryn is the founder of House of Wine; a wine education laboratory located in Boise, Idaho.  She received her Master of Science degree in horticulture with an emphasis in viticulture and enology from Washington State University and worked for wineries throughout the state of Washington. However, it was her love of learning and teaching that led her to embark on her Master of Wine journey through working for Bob Betz, MW.  She relocated to Boise, Idaho in 2010 after noting the demand for wine production assistance and education in the growing region.

Upon hearing the news, Kathryn said, "I am honored and humbled to be selected for the Constellation Brands Master of Wine scholarship.  Throughout my journey in the Master of Wine program, what I have learned about wine, my colleagues, and myself has far surpassed my expectations. The stage 1 assessment was a wonderful opportunity to put into practice my wine knowledge and skills gained thus far. I look forward to continuing my MW journey and the many experiences that are sure to follow."

Constellation Brands has supported the Institute and its mission of excellence, interaction and learning across the global wine community for many years. Masters of Wine work in their wine and spirits division and they also have employees currently studying to achieve the Master of Wine title. 

Peter Marks MW, vice president of wine education said, “Constellation Brands is committed to educating and developing the next generation of Masters of Wine – individuals who will go on to advocate and promote their understanding of all aspects of wine. We are excited to work with the Institute to offer this scholarship and congratulate Kathryn on her impressive score on the stage 1 assessment. We look forward to continuing our partnership and offering more scholarships over the coming years to support the MW Study Programme, a wonderful resource which aims to assist and advise students as they prepare themselves to take the MW examination.” 

The second Constellation Brands scholarship will be announced later this year, an opportunity for stage 2 North American MW students.

About the Institute of Masters of Wine

The Institute of Masters of Wine is a membership organisation with an unsurpassed international reputation. The Masters of Wine (MWs) hold the most respected title in the world of wine. The IMW promotes excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. There are currently 380 Masters of Wine today, working in 30 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, buyers, journalists, shippers, business owners, consultants, academics, and wine educators. There were over 340 students in the 2017-2018 MW study programme, from over 40 countries.