Master of Wine study guide
Master of Wine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Master of Wine (MW) is a professional credential in the wine trade, awarded through the Master of Wine Examination administered by the Institute of Masters of Wine. Historically the Examination had three parts, and the third was the Dissertation: an independent piece of original research submitted by candidates who had already progressed through the earlier stages. This page covers the Dissertation, which the Institute's own announcement confirms has now been replaced, as of the 2015 Examination round, by the Research Paper. The credential suits serious wine professionals - winemakers, buyers, educators, journalists and consultants - who want to demonstrate both broad tasting and theoretical competence and the ability to design and defend original research. Preparation for the research component means choosing a tightly scoped, answerable question, mastering the relevant viticultural, oenological, market or business literature, and gathering evidence rigorously. Because completed Dissertations form part of the Examination process, they are not released publicly in the form submitted to the Examiners; the Institute instead publishes a précis of successful submissions. Topics on this exam: Dissertation / Research Paper. The Master of Wine study guide has 1 section and about 394 words.
01Dissertation / Research Paper: Designing and Defending Original Wine Research
This domain tests whether you can move beyond tasting and trade knowledge to produce original, defensible research of professional value to the wine industry. The Institute of Masters of Wine assesses the Research Paper as a standalone piece of work: a defined question, an appropriate method, transparent evidence, and conclusions that answer the question actually asked. It is neither a long essay nor a business report. A research question that is narrow, answerable within your time and resources, and genuinely unresolved in the literature.
394 words, about 2 minMore study resources for Master of Wine
- Practice questionsIn the MW research paper, what is the primary function of a clearly stated research question?
- FlashcardsResearch question. A single, focused, answerable statement of what the study sets out to establish.
- Cheat sheetThe MW research paper is assessed on the candidate's ability to frame a clear, answerable research question, apply sound method, and draw conclusions that are useful to the trade - not on novelty alone.
- Key termsResearch question. A focused, answerable statement of what a study sets out to establish, narrow enough to be investigated with available evidence and specific enough to rule some outcomes out.
- Study planDefine a defensible research question for the Dissertation/Research Paper that is narrow enough to complete within the exam cycle and anchored in a testable hypothesis.
- Common mistakesCandidates often start from a subject they find interesting and assume the dissertation will narrow itself as they read.
- Exam-day guideBring the exact ID document the exam regulations require (typically a current passport or government-issued photo ID).