WSET celebrated a major milestone yesterday as it honoured its most globally diverse cohort of WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines graduates.
The annual ceremony and prize reception took place at the Guildhall in the City of London for the last time – the sixteenth graduation WSET has hosted at this historic venue. From next year, the ceremony will move to the QEII Centre in Westminster to accommodate WSET’s growing global community.
A total of 809 new diploma graduates from 2023/24 were honoured at this year’s event – the highest number in WSET’s history. Graduates from 46 countries across six continents, studying with 37 different WSET course providers, took part in the hybrid ceremony.
The commemoration was hosted by WSET CEO Michelle Brampton, who was joined on stage by WSET’s Honorary President Dr Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata, and world-renowned wine writer Jancis Robinson, OBE MW – WSET’s most distinguished alumna.
This year’s event follows a landmark year for WSET, which marked its 55th anniversary in 2024 with a special dinner hosted by the Vintners’ Company at Vintners’ Hall in the City of London.
Michelle Brampton, WSET’s CEO, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate such a diverse and international cohort of diploma graduates this year. The WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines is a demanding and prestigious qualification that requires dedication, resilience and a deep passion for the world of wine.
“This year’s graduates join our growing WSET diploma community – a vibrant global network of 13,800 WSET alumni who continue to shape the future of the drinks industry. I would also like to personally congratulate our scholarship and prize winners for their exceptional exam performance. Their achievements, and the stories they have shared about how WSET has impacted their lives and careers, continue to inspire us.”
Dr Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata and WSET’s Honorary President, added: “I’m honoured to represent WSET as Honorary President for a third term. Over the past two years, it’s been a privilege to work so closely with the team to support greater diversity and promote sustainability within the world of wine. WSET’s unparalleled global reach and international perspective are what make this role so exciting and meaningful to me. There’s still work to be done, and I look forward to carrying it forward in 2025/26.”
Vintners' Cup
The Vintners’ Cup, which was established in 1946, is led by The Worshipful Company of Vintners, one of the City of London’s livery companies whose history is rooted in the UK wine trade. It’s awarded annually to the graduate achieving the highest mark across all areas of the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.
This year’s winner is Jo Kitley, a doctor based at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust who studied for her diploma at Enjoy Discovering Wine in the UK.
Jo said: “I've sat a lot of exams in my life, but the D3 exam was more challenging than anything I've ever done. I was terrified by the blind tasting and felt like an imposter amongst people who clearly knew what they were doing! Obtaining my diploma and winning this award has given me the confidence to 'talk wine' with just about anybody, allowing me to retain and enjoy all the fascinating things I've learnt.
Regional scholarships
Graduate scholarships were awarded to WSET Diploma students who achieved the highest overall mark in their respective regions.
- Vintners’ UK Scholarship: Emily (Nga Kit) Chan, who studied with WSET School London, UK
- Decanter Americas Scholarship: Rebecca Miles-Steiner, who studied at American Wine School, USA
- Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship: Kwok Yuen Lui who studied at AWSEC, Hong Kong
- IWSC EMEA Scholarship: Mahir Sencan who studied at WiSP in France
Emily (Nga Kit) Chan said: “Winning the Vintners' UK Scholarship was an unexpected but proud moment, particularly as a remote learner outside the wine trade. I was driven by my love of learning and curiosity for the world of wine, and while completing the Diploma was a huge milestone, it feels like just the beginning of my learning – as I’m often reminded as a member of the Cambridge University Varsity Blind Wine Tasting Team! I’m excited for the adventures of my Bourse de Voyage, and to see my passion in wine might lead, whether in education, writing, or simply continuing to explore and share great wines.”
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award, which is presented annually in partnership with JancisRobinson.com, celebrates the achievements of WSET’s global alumni community. This year, alumni were invited to nominate their winner by shining a spotlight on the inspiring work of diploma graduates around the world. The 2024 award recognises an exceptional contribution to creating positive change within the global drinks community.
This year’s winner Gus Jian Zhu MW achieved a Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis and became the first Chinese national Master of Wine in 2019. He’s a research scientist at Harv 81 Group, where he oversees quality control and sensory research on cork and oak products. His book, Behind the Glass: The Chemical and Sensorial Terroir of Wine Tasting, has been acclaimed for making wine science accessible and engaging.
Gus commented: “I simply feel honoured and lucky to be recognised. I also feel very thankful to everyone who taught me and inspired me in life.
“The WSET Diploma is truly the best introduction to every sector of the global wine industry, offering solid depth across each subject. It helped me become well-versed in understanding the similarities and differences of wine regions around the world, which provided an excellent foundation for the Master of Wine programme.”
The full list of this year’s prize winners, scholars, graduates and prize sponsors is detailed in the WSET Graduation Yearbook 2025.
