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MW-arms
(Image credit: MW-arms)

The new chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), Lynne Sherriff MW, is set to focus on expanding the London-based Institute's global presence.

Sherriff, who was recently elected to a two-year term, plans to capitalise on the strong efforts of her immediate predecessor, Dr. Josef Schuller MW, by further broadening the IMW’s global programmes, especially in Japan, China and India as well as CEE countries including Russia.

The first IMW programme in China was introduced in July, and the first programmes in India will begin in November 2010 and in February 2011. 

‘It’s an unusual time for the Institute,’ Sherriff told Decanter.com. ‘Our natural heritage will always be in the UK, but we’ve found that different cultures enhance the world of wine.’

‘So we want to promote the Institute to a wider audience – both the trade and public – and identify new, untapped international talent to further wine education, knowledge and, ultimately, enjoyment.’

Sherriff, a native of South Africa, is the second non-UK chairman in the institute’s 55-year history.

To date, there are 289 Institute members – those who hold the Master of Wine (MW) qualification – from 23 countries.

Written by Darrel Joseph

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Darrel Joseph
Darrel Joseph
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer & DWWA Judge

Darrel Joseph is based in Vienna and began writing about the wines of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in 1995, after his palate was captured by Hungarian Tokaji and Austrian Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Since then his interests have broadened to include Croatia, Slovenia and all Balkan wine countries, plus Georgia and Russia, as well as the aforementioned Austria and Hungary. Joseph's writing has appeared in Decanter, Wine Spectator, Wine Business International and Harpers Wine & Spirit, and he has also contributed to Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book and wein.pur's Best of Austria, and Guide to Grüner Veltliner. He was also the English language editor of Lászlo Alkonyi’s book, Tokaj, The Wine of Freedom. When he's not writing, Joseph conducts wine tastings and seminars internationally, and translates a wide range of wine texts from German to English.