A total of 714 new Diploma graduates from 2024/25 were honoured at the ceremony representing 45 countries across six continents. They join a global community of more than 14,500 WSET Diploma alumni shaping the future of the drinks industry worldwide.
Among this year's top students, Australian graduates claimed two of the most prestigious prizes: Sebastian Iannuzzi of Sydney Wine Academy took the Vintners' Cup – awarded to the highest overall performer – and Anthony Justice, also of Sydney Wine Academy, claimed the Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship – awarded to the top performing graduate in Asia-Pacific.
The ceremony 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. Held for the first time at the QEII Centre in Westminster, the event also marked the first public unveiling of WSET's refreshed brand identity. Graduates celebrated with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Héritage, courtesy of WSET's new Gold Partner and headline drinks sponsor.
Michelle Brampton, WSET Chief Executive, said: “We're incredibly proud to celebrate with the class of 2024/25. The WSET Diploma asks a great deal of students, and this year's graduates have risen to the challenge. Our Diploma alumni are a vibrant global community, shaping the future of the drinks industry in so many ways.
“I’d also like to personally congratulate our scholarship and prize winners, whose exceptional results, together with the stories they've shared about the impact WSET has had on their lives and careers, continue to inspire us all.”
Dr Laura Catena, WSET's Honorary President, added: “Graduation marks an important moment in a lifelong commitment to learning. The intellectual curiosity and discipline shown by this year's graduates give me great confidence in the future of our industry.”
Vintners’ Cup
The Vintners' Cup, sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Vintners since 2004, is awarded annually to the graduate achieving the highest aggregate mark across all units of the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.
This year's winner is Sebastian Iannuzzi, Production Manager at Mount Eyre Vineyards in Australia, who studied at Sydney Wine Academy. Sebastian's passion for wine began at his family's Hunter Valley vineyard, where childhood weekends immersed him in viticulture and winemaking – the WSET Diploma gave him the formal grounding to contribute to the family business with confidence.
Sebastian said: “Winning the Vintners' Cup is an immense honour. My disbelief led me to reread the email several times. The further I progressed through the Diploma, the more acutely aware I became of how much I still had to learn. Surrounded by industry professionals, knowledgeable educators and exceptionally capable classmates, it’s easy to feel unlearned. The Vintners' Cup served as a powerful reminder of how much I had achieved.”
Regional Scholarships
Graduate scholarships were awarded to WSET Diploma students who achieved the highest overall mark in their respective regions.
Vintners' UK Scholarship: Madeline O'Riordan, who studied at WSET School London, UK
Madeline said: “Winning the Vintners' UK Scholarship has left me genuinely happy and proud and having that effort recognised feels incredibly rewarding. It encourages me to continue exploring wine in new ways, not least through the opportunity to travel to a new wine region.”
Decanter Americas Scholarship: Federico Casassa, who studied at Napa Valley Wine Academy, USA
Federico said: “I feel deeply honoured. Being recognised by such a prestigious award is encouraging. I hope to always stay curious, without taking professional achievements or anything in life for granted. My ultimate goal is to bring critical thinking and a broad, informed, practical and inclusive vision to the world of wine at large.”
Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship: Anthony Justice, who studied at Sydney Wine Academy, Australia
Anthony said: “I'm delighted to have been awarded the Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship. Previous study trips have been incredibly useful in gaining a much better understanding of various aspects of the industry and I am excited to put this scholarship to good use.”
IWSC EMEA Scholarship: Mateusz Papiermik, who studied at Weinakademie Österreich GmbH, Germany
Mateusz said: “I'm honoured and humbled to have been awarded this prize. The dedication and time spent on pursuing the Diploma with full concentration on the topic paid off.”
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award, presented annually in partnership with JancisRobinson.com, celebrates the achievements of WSET's global alumni community. The 2025 award recognises an exceptional contribution to creating positive change within the global drinks community.
This year's winner, Cathy Marston DipWSET, is the co-owner of the International Wine Education Centre (IWEC) in South Africa. She became WSET's first Approved Programme Provider in Africa in 2011 and has since taught hundreds of students across seven countries. Her transformative work includes expanding access to qualifications through the Pinotage Youth Development Academy and breaking down financial and educational barriers for a new generation of wine professionals.
Cathy said: “I love teaching WSET and winning this award is fantastic. But I'm even happier about the possible knock-on effects – in Africa, a WSET qualification can literally change your life. Getting a WSET qualification opens up a world of opportunity, enabling students to get jobs on cruise ships, in restaurants and hotels around the world as well as meaningful employment in the South African wine and tourism industries.
“So my hope for winning this award is that the organisations who help make WSET available to as many people as possible – organisations like the Gérard Basset Foundation, the International Wine Challenge, South Africa Wine and WSET themselves – will all share my success, know that we couldn't do what we do without them and hopefully will carry on helping us do it!”
The full list of this year's prize winners, scholars, graduates and prize sponsors is detailed in the WSET Graduation Yearbook 2026.
