From a career in law to wine education and consultancy: a journey shaped by rigour, research and a
contemporary outlook, culminating in the Institute of Masters of Wine ceremony.
On 27 October, Cristina Mercuri was formally honoured as a Master of Wine, becoming the first
Italian woman to earn one of the most demanding and selective qualifications in the international
wine world. Held as part of the Institute of Masters of Wine’s Annual Reception, the ceremony marked
the culmination of years of study, discipline and research, recognising an approach that brings
together technical expertise, academic rigour and a keen awareness of how wine is communicated.
Before entering the wine industry, she worked as a lawyer at international law firms, specialising
in mergers, acquisitions and intellectual property. In 2015, she chose to change direction, bringing
the methodical approach and analytical rigour of her legal career to the world of wine. That turning
point set her on a path into education and consultancy, ultimately leading to the Master of Wine
qualification.
“It was an exceptionally demanding journey, requiring daily study, with no shortcuts. It taught me
discipline, humility and complete dedication to my work,” says Cristina Mercuri.
After passing Stage 2 in 2022, she completed Stage 3 with her research paper, “Wine, Women and
Fascism: A Visual Analysis of the Representation of Women in Propaganda in Enotria (1922–1942)”.
Drawing on visual semiotics, the study examines the illustrated covers of Enotria, Italy’s first
specialist wine magazine, and explores how representations of women were used in propaganda.
Her research also invites reflection on the present: communicating wine means questioning the
language, stereotypes and cultural frameworks through which its stories are told, with particular
attention to the role of women in the industry.
