For Members
Sparkling Wine Podcast - Listen Now
The IWFS sponsored episode of the award winning and highly successful Wine Blast podcast featuring Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, is now available, so tune in now. This recording titled Top of the Pops: Classic Fizz Beyond Champagne features our latest sparkling wine monograph and interviews the author – Essi Avellan MW. Find out about the 'magnum effect' and the need for 'deliciousness' in wine. You can listen while you work, walk or run… It is just under an hour long.
Wine Blast presenters Susie Barrie and Peter Richards, husband and wife team and fellow Masters of Wine, chat with Essi about everything sparkling - Essi's love of sparkling wine is infectious and encyclopedic. Some sparklers are also put to the taste test by Susie & Peter, from the better known producers, to new arrivals and to some surprise entrants! Please do listen and let us know what you think – just email us on sec@iwfs.org
For an added insight from the IWFS, Mimi Avery is also interviewed giving her overview of how the Society is embracing the arrival of top quality sparkling wines - from blind tastings to featuring in festivals. Mimi is the English Sparkling Wines consultant for our Vintage Guide, she is a longstanding IWFS member, has 33 years experience in the English wine trade and the daughter of the late John Avery MW (past IWFS Hon President).
Before you head off to listen .... For those of you who haven't yet listened in to a Wine Blast episode. It is an award winning and highly successful podcast with listeners spanning 200 countries primarily in the UK, US, Australia and Canada with individual episodes attracting 10,000+ unique downloads. Congratulations are also in order to Susie & Peter as Wine Blast has recently topped 1.01 million downloads – nicely done.
Make sure you are part of the following.... and please do pass on the podcast link to friends and contacts who may not know about the Society and what benefits and fun membership can bring.
Wine Blast One Million Giveaway
To celebrate Susie & Peter’s Wine Blast podcast topping one million downloads with their Wine Blast podcast, Masters of Wine Susie Barrie and Peter Richards are organising a celebratory giveaway. Prizes totalling more than £1,000 are up for grabs, including fine glassware, grower champagnes, a wine book bundle, VIP Fine Wine Encounter tickets and a limited edition Coravin. The deadline for entries is 31st Jan 2026. For more details including how to enter click here.
ASK ANDRE AI
Please put Ask André to the test. This is the latest addition to our member app using AI technology and is now available to download. This wine and food pairing app is your AI assistant providing the perfect matches for your future events or just dinner at home. We have also been working on improving the quality of the information provided, so please take a look.
However you choose to use Ask André the password is wine&food (please do not share with non-members of the IWFS – it is a benefit for you!). Thanks to our
member Mark Geller based in the USA for his work on this. We have been very impressed with the results. We hope you are too.
MERCHANDISE FOR MEMBERS
BRANDED CHEFS APRON
These have proved extremely popular with a repeat order just being placed. They are an ideal way to promote the IWFS within your local community with branch members and also local restaurants. The IWFS logo is stitched onto the bib, taking centre stage, above the large front pocket.
BLIND TASTING BOTTLE KITS
These kits allow you to present a blind tasting - professionally. Each kit comes neatly packed in a carry bag and comprises 10 bottle bags with the embroidered IWFS logo, numbered 1 to 10.
BLIND TASTING BOTTLE KITS
The IWFS lapel pins are a discreet, but smart, way to show your membership and support of the Society. The most cost effective way to purchase them, as they are only small, is for your branch to place one order for the members. They come packaged in a presentation box so you can keep it safe. Don’t go out without one...
To view all merchandise click on your region below:
Americas / Asia Pacific / Europe Africa
2025/26 – Branch Directory
The updated edition will be available shortly on the website and is an incredibly useful resource providing members with a contact for each branch around the world. To view this online only directory go to iwfs.org - Resource Directory and Branch Contacts / Global. You can also view it via the member App but have to be signed in to view this information, as it is strictly for members only.
Visitors to our HQ in London
It was a pleasure to meet briefly with Chicago branch member Matthew Smith while he was visiting London in November. His visit was an ideal time to soak up the festive celebrations of London as the city’s famous streets switch on their lights. The In & Out had also joined in with the festive spirit. Do remember that members are invited to stay at The Club at an affiliate rate.
ASK SID – Chateau Pichon Baron vertical tasting
Sid recently had the fortune to taste, at a dinner at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, no less than 8 vintages from Château Pichon Baron, second Grand Cru Classé in 1855. This was his second opportunity to taste wines from the estate this year and was an affirmation of their ability to age. This is a great insight for those joining the Americas Paris & Bordeaux festival in May 2026. Click here to get Sid’s views on the wines.