IN BREVE
- Cristina Mercuri is the first Italian woman to become a Master of Wine, a title that requires years of study and various exams.
- Founder and CEO of Mercuri Wine Club, she offers strategic consultancy and training courses in the wine sector.
- Mercuri’s final thesis analyzes the representation of women in wine propaganda in Italy between 1922 and 1942.
- Mercuri Wine Club also supports scholarship and training programs for young professionals and women in the industry.
- Cristina Mercuri is Wine Editor for Forbes Italy and an international judge for Decanter, with a strong background in consultancy and training.
Cristina Mercuri has been proclaimed Master of Wine (MW), becoming the first Italian woman to obtain one of the most selective titles in the international wine scene. The recognition certifies technical expertise, academic rigor, and leadership skills.
Born and raised in Tuscany and a resident of Milan for nearly twenty years, Mercuri is the Founder and CEO of Mercuri Wine Club, a strategic consultancy firm and training academy operating in the wine sector.
THE MASTER OF WINE TITLE AND THE MW JOURNEY
The journey to becoming a Master of Wine requires years of study and passing multiple levels of examination. Cristina Mercuri passed Stage 2 in 2022, after two attempts, and then completed Stage 3, obtaining the final proclamation. “It was an incredibly tough journey, built on daily study and no shortcuts. It taught me method, humility, and total dedication to work,” says Cristina Mercuri.
The culmination of the journey was her final thesis titled Wine, Women and Fascism: A Visual Analysis of the Representation of Women in Propaganda in Enotria (1922–1942). The research applies visual semiotics tools to the analysis of the illustrated covers of Enotria, the first Italian magazine specializing in wine. The study highlights how female representation was used for propaganda purposes and offers a reflection on wine communication and the role of women in the sector.
MERCURI WINE CLUB: TRAINING, CONSULTANCY, AND STRATEGY
Founded by Cristina Mercuri, Mercuri Wine Club integrates an academy and consultancy. Its activities include in-person and online courses, tailored training programs, and development projects for companies in the wine supply chain.
On the B2B front, the company supports wineries, restaurants, and operators with staff training, sales strategies, wine list reviews, brand positioning, and digital communication management. Incoming activities dedicated to wineries and associations are also planned, with the aim of facilitating connections between producers, importers, and international journalists.
Among its social impact initiatives, Mercuri promotes scholarship programs and training paths dedicated to young professionals and women. “Because Italian wine isn’t just something to talk about,” concludes Cristina Mercuri, “it’s something to be experienced, with new words and a finally liberated perspective.”
WHO IS CRISTINA MERCURI MW
Cristina Mercuri is the first Italian woman Master of Wine and the Founder & CEO of Mercuri Wine Club. She is the Wine Editor for Forbes Italy and an international judge for Decanter. With a legal background and a WSET Diploma, she supports wineries, consortia, and companies as a product and market development consultant. She is also active in training for hospitality, distribution, and luxury.
