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The number of Masters of Wine (MWs) in the world, who live and work in 25 different countries. The MW qualification is generally regarded as one of the highest achievements of professional knowledge in the wine industry. A related qualification–the Master Sommelier–is more focused on wine service. There are 38 MWs in the U.S., 14 of whom are women.

What is Constantia?

A. The name given to the wine districts north of Vienna during the Austro-Hungarian Empire

B. An ancient Greek settlement along the coast of Turkey which was an important center for the production of amphoras

C. A sweet South African wine that was once a favorite among European nobility

D. A place in historic Constantinople renowned as one of the ancient world’s top winegrowing districts

Constantia is a sweet, muscat-based South African wine that was at one time the most sought-after dessert wine in all of Europe. The small district of Constantia, situated just south of present-day Cape Town in South Africa, was settled by Dutch colonists in the 1600s. The wine district was so established that by the 1700s, Constantia wine had become renowned among the nobility throughout Europe. It was reportedly never absent from the table of King Frederick the Great of Germany, and even Napoleon Bonaparte ordered Constantia by the case.

The Bottle’s Beginnings

We have grown so used to bottled wine that we perhaps forget that wine bottles are a relatively recent invention. For most of wine’s history, it was sold (and often consumed) directly from barrel. The… Continue reading

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