IN BREVE
- The International Master Wine Symposium will take place in Adelaide from April 15 to 18, 2027, and is open to all enthusiasts.
- The 2027 program will include tastings, debates, and sessions dedicated to decolonization and inclusion in the wine sector.
- The second day will focus on old vines, with a plenary session and comparative tastings.
- The third day will address the relationship between wine and society, gene editing, and quality in the context of climate change.
- Participants can join in-depth trips to various Australian wine regions, before and after the symposium.
The International Symposium of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), considered one of the most significant events on the global wine calendar, will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from April 15 to 18, 2027. It will be the eleventh edition of the event, which began in Oxford in 1982 and was most recently hosted in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 2023. Local organization is entrusted to the Government of South Australia, with support from Wine Australia. The event is open to all wine professionals and enthusiasts: you don’t need to be a Master of Wine to attend.
THE INSTITUTE OF MASTERS OF WINE SYMPOSIUM
The Symposium represents the flagship event of the Institute of Masters of Wine, the IMW which promotes excellence, education, and dialogue among the various sectors of the international wine community. In addition to the MW study program, the IMW organizes events worldwide, with tastings and seminars dedicated to the technical and cultural exploration of wine.
THE SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
The 2027 program aims to critically analyze the present and future of wine, through high-level tastings, research presentations, debates, and discussion sessions. The event will unfold over four days.
DAY 1: INCLUSION AND AUSTRALIA
The opening will feature a “Welcome to Country” in the Kaurna language, in recognition of the traditional custodians of the land. This will be followed by a session dedicated to the decolonization of the wine sector and themes of inclusion. The day will continue with a tasting dedicated to the Australian trade and conclude with the opening dinner at the National Wine Centre.
DAY 2: OLD VINES
The second day will focus on the theme of old vines. The program includes a plenary session on the latest scientific research dedicated to their value, followed by a comparative tasting in which four producers will present pairs of wines differentiated solely by the age of the vines. Dinners in wine territories are also scheduled.
DAY 3: CHALLENGES AND CHANGE
The third day will address some of the sector’s main challenges. On the agenda: the relationship between wine and contemporary society, the evolution of wines under cork and screw cap, gene editing applied to vines, and quality production in the context of climate change. The day will close with the gala dinner hosted by the Government of South Australia.
DAY 4: THE VALUE OF WINE
The final day will open with a session dedicated to a central question: does wine still matter? This will be followed by a masterclass on some of the world’s great wines, with a focus on value, the secondary market, and the role of benchmarks. The closing keynote will be delivered by Felicity Carter, before the closing lunch.
TRIPS TO AUSTRALIAN REGIONS
Alongside the official program, participants will be able to join in-depth trips to various Australian wine regions, before and after the symposium. The experiences are organized directly by regional consortia. Pre-event offerings include Great Southern and Margaret River, in Western Australia, from April 11 to 14, and various destinations in South Australia and New South Wales from April 12 to 14, including Barossa, Coonawarra, Hunter Valley, and Langhorne Creek. After the symposium, from April 19, extensions are planned in Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, and Tasmania, with programs dedicated to the climatic, varietal, and cultural specificities of each territory.
