(WR) Cristina Mercuri has been proclaimed a Master of Wine (MW), becoming the first Italian woman to earn one of the most prestigious, rigorous, and selective titles in the international winemaking scene, awarded by the exclusive Institute of Master of Wine. This recognition certifies technical excellence, academic solidity, and strategic vision, developed through years of study and extraordinary resilience.
Born in Pisa and living in Milan for almost twenty years, Cristina Mercuri is the Founder and CEO of Mercuri Wine Club , a strategic consulting firm and training Academy that supports companies and professionals in developing wine positioning, communication, and culture, integrating traditional and digital channels.
Before entering the world of wine, Cristina Mercuri built a career as a lawyer in international law firms, handling mergers, acquisitions, and intellectual property matters. A turning point came in 2015: she changed her career path and applied the same analytical method, rigor, and discipline she had developed in the legal profession to wine. In less than ten years, she became a benchmark in the industry, ultimately earning her MW degree.
The path to becoming a Master of Wine is known for its complexity: years of study, highly selective exams, and an original research thesis. Mercuri passed Stage 2 in 2022, after only two attempts, and then completed Stage 3 to obtain final recognition. “It was a very demanding journey, made up of daily study and no shortcuts. It taught me method, humility, and total dedication to work,” he said.
The culmination of this journey is the final thesis: Wine, Women and Fascism: A Visual Analysis of the Representation of Women in Propaganda in Enotria (1922–1942) . The study applies visual semiotics to the illustrated covers of Enotria , the first Italian magazine specializing in wine, analyzing the use of female representation in propaganda during the 1920s. This research opens a contemporary reflection on wine communication, which today must go beyond the product to question languages, stereotypes, and cultural models, with particular attention to the role of women in the sector.
The new MW has always promoted a more informed and contemporary approach to wine communication. “Because Italian wine isn’t just about talking about it,” explains Cristina Mercuri , “it’s about bringing it to life, with new words and a finally freer perspective.” A message that encapsulates a modern vision of wine and a milestone that marks a historic turning point for Italian winemaking.