Stage two MW student Åsa Wahlström awarded the 2018 George T. Gamblin Memorial Scholarship
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is pleased to announce that stage 2 Master of Wine student Åsa Wahlström has been awarded the 2018 George T. Gamblin Memorial Scholarship.
The George T. Gamblin Memorial Scholarship was established in 2018 by Mary Margaret McCamic MW in honour of her late father, a retired doctor and former U.S. Naval officer. It was founded with the hope of inspiring wine students to relate wine to something beyond the textbook. A man who viewed the world with an intelligent yet impassioned perspective, George T. Gamblin was able to pass this outlook onto his children as he encouraged them to pursue excellence in academia while also appreciating the natural world around them. Mary Margaret fondly remembers how her pursuit to become a Master of Wine drove many conversations that she had with her father about life, history, and human culture.
The new scholarship will be awarded annually to a stage 2 Master of Wine student who demonstrates a particular appreciation for how wine taps into our creative senses. Eligible students are required to submit a wine-related creative piece, and the topic will vary in format each year. This year students were asked to write on the following creative topic: Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote that ‘wine is bottled poetry.’ Explore how wine has the capacity to tap into our creative senses and provide inspiration.
Åsa Wahlström is the first recipient of the award. She will receive $500 USD to be used toward her Master of Wine studies. Currently Åsa resides in Sweden and serves as the Quality Manager for Solera Beverage Group, an importer of wines and spirits into the Nordic markets. Åsa has held positions as a sommelier in Stockholm, as well as in education with teaching positions at the Restaurant Academy and Örebro University. She continues to write and educate about wine as a Certified Educator with the WSET.
Though there were many outstanding essays, Åsa’s winning submission was chosen unanimously by Mary Margaret McCamic MW and her family. “Åsa’s piece demonstrates the unique ability to tie wine to personal struggles and triumphs, the drive to succeed professionally, and the desire for personal happiness. It also offered a beautiful poetic voice,” said Mary Margaret McCamic MW. She added, “There are many talented wine professionals in the world, but very few can effectively relate wine to the human condition. I hope this scholarship encourages students to think beyond conventional notions about their wine studies and to consider wine both intellectually and creatively.”
Upon learning that she had won the scholarship for her work, Åsa commented, “I feel deeply honoured that the family selected my submission and believe that the George T. Gamblin Memorial Scholarship is an opportunity for MW students to remember why we started loving wine in the first place. I know I did.”
Åsa’s winning piece can be found published on the George T. Gamblin Memorial Scholarship website.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Sarah Kirkpatrick
Head of Marketing, Communications and Membership
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)207 383 9131
skirkpatrick@mastersofwine.org