Ep. 2652 Cristina Mercuri MW: Becoming Italy’s First Female Master of Wine | #openbarstevie

In this special episode of the Italian Wine Podcast, host Stevie welcomes Cristina Mercuri, the first Italian woman to achieve the prestigious Master of Wine (MW) title, celebrating her historic accomplishment. The conversation unfolds with a rapid-fire 'this or that' game showcasing her wine preferences, followed by a heartfelt reflection on her seven-year journey to becoming an MW. Mercuri shares the emotional intensity of receiving the news—crying in Italian at home with her family—and reveals that while stage two was challenging, stage three was the most devastating due to multiple failures before finally succeeding. She emphasizes her unwavering determination, comparing herself to a small dog clinging to a bone, and discusses how the process transformed her personally and professionally, fostering greater self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking. Now, just one month post-achievement, she’s already seeing changes in her personal life—more celebrations—and professionally, with new opportunities and a renewed mission to improve wine education in Italy, promote diversity, and make wine more accessible to younger generations through clearer communication. She also shares her unique travel hack: always carrying a kiwi to maintain a sense of home, no matter where she is.