Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/391696
{ SOMMjournal.com } 101 28 countries." Since that time, two MWs have been guiding the introduction of the research paper into the Institute's study program and a pool of more than 34 act as both research paper advisors and examiners for candidates who have passed the theory and practical portions of the exam. During an interview conducted earlier this year by Geoff Kruth MS, IMW Examiner John Hoskins MW indicated that the focus of the tasting exam is also evolving and "being shifted away from origin because the boundaries of terroir are being blurred by winemaking and other factors like climate." Hoskins' sage advice for candidates "Taste like a detective, defend like a lawyer." Noting progress within the last three years, Antony Moss AIWS MW, Director of Strategic Planning for the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, cites, "The IMW has greatly expanded the quantity and quality of support and advice available to students, with the result that candidates are far clearer regarding what examiners expect of them." Growing Mastery In 2014, a record number of candidates—106—sat the MW exam and applications for the first year of the Institute's Study Program were up by almost 30 percent over last year. The Institute and its membership are clearly growing, as is the Wine & Spirits Education Trust which it helped found in 1969. According to Moss the WSET Diploma is the "default" route for admission, but the program also recognizes the Master Sommelier (MS) and academic degrees. WSET's impressive double-digit growth, which was largely centered in Asia in 2013, will continue to boost conversion rates between the two programs. "There are about 300 to 350 Diploma graduates each year," stated Moss. Ten percent of Diploma grads enter the MW study program each year, while 70 percent of MW candidates hold the WSET Diploma. As the IMW is a membership organization, Moss sees its biggest challenge to growth as being the members' capacity for training future MWs. "These are extremely busy people, mostly in senior positions, but in my experience almost all are very generous with their time when it comes to supporting aspiring MW members." What lies ahead for the IMW? While Richards indicates there is informal discussion among MWs about modifying the structure of the organization in a way that will allow students to achieve different levels within the program, for now, there's nothing official on the drawing board. Valette, who, at last count, sits on the board of directors for five organizations and whose experience spans seven industries, points to innovation. "Some of the best practices for consumer products like coffee and beer have come from the wine industry. We're working with a wide price band—from $6 to $150—and we're such a laboratory; everything has been tried to determine what contributes most to margins." But it's what Valette and Richards describe as a professional and social network that functions like a "global neural network" of brain trust and volunteerism that fuels the organization. "So many MWs volunteer in the study program, guiding candidates at seminars round the world, and in other course days. A hundred came to this year's Symposium in Florence, and 140 attended the 60th celebrations in London last year." In terms of what the immediate future holds for the IMW, the institute is trial - ing new exam software that would enable candidates to use their own computers, a move that would benefit and facilitate many. Moss, who sees firsthand how the organization is perceived around the globe, is optimistic ". . . here we really do have a success story of an organization that has successfully dealt with some very serious problems of image and the opacity of the assessment process. But, as educators, we're not complacent—we are busy looking at ways to continue to improve!" "We realized that even candidates themselves weren't entirely sure about how the examination is conducted." Editor's Note: At press time, it was announced that Sara Jane Evans, MW is now Chairman of IMW as Jean-Michel Valette, MW finishes his term.