MW Perspectives - MW Perspectives - GuildSomm International

MW Perspectives

These essays are written by Masters of Wine. They are intended as a resource for those pursuing WSET qualifications and the MW study program, as well as anyone interested in these programs or the varied topics covered. The essays are the opinions of the authors, shared by GuildSomm for educational purposes, and do not adhere to specific standards from any certifying or educational body.

Methods for Influencing Alcohol Levels in Wine

Rebecca Gibb

How can a winemaker influence the final alcohol level of a wine, and why might this be required? There are many ways a winemaker can influence the final alcohol of wine before fermentation, during fermentation, and after fermentation. This essay will...
- 23 Aug 2019
Considering Wine Closures and Containers

Demetri Walters MW

Discuss whether the glass bottle with a natural cork is the best container for wine. When determining if the glass bottle with a natural cork is the best container for wine, the principle consideration must be the nature of the wine in question....
- 11 Jan 2019
Evaluating the Impact of Old Vines

Yiannis Karakasis MW

Discuss the impact of old vines on the quality of wine. Within the wine industry, there is widespread belief that old vines produce better wines, and thus many producers are demanding a higher price for their Vieilles Vignes wines. Interestingly, man...
- 5 Oct 2018
Sulfur Dioxide and Its Alternatives

Jean K Reilly

Discuss the use of sulfur dioxide up to the end of the fermentation process. What alternatives to sulfur dioxide exist? Sulfur dioxide is used in winemaking for four principal reasons. It acts as an antioxidant, an antimicrobial, and an antioxidasic,...
- 2 Aug 2018
Comparing Reductive and Oxidative Winemaking

Amy Christine

MW Amy Christine considers the benefits and drawbacks of reductive and oxidative winemaking techniques.
- 3 Jul 2018
Digital Disruption in the Wine Industry

Andrea Pritzker MW

Andrea Pritzker MW outlines the impact of digital disruption on various facets of the global wine industry.
- 20 Apr 2018
Blending: The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts

Mary Margaret McCamic MW

Mary Margaret McCamic MW considers how the statement “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” relates to blending.
- 24 Jan 2018
Vineyard Factors Influencing Rootstock Selection

Nicholas Paris, MW

Nicholas Paris MW discusses the vineyard factors that ought to be considered when selecting rootstock for a specific location.
- 17 Jan 2018
Measures for Mitigating Smoke Taint in Wines

Bree Boskov

Bree Boskov MW addresses the topic of smoke taint, offering recommendations for how winemakers can mitigate this issue.
- 10 Jan 2018