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

Welcome to #openbarstevie and Episode 2652 of the Italian Wine Podcast. 

It’s a casual video podcast filmed in the office, where wine people drop by, open a bottle or two, and hang out with moi! 😝 Sometimes they come alone, often in pairs or small groups. The conversation flows naturally and is not limited to wine. It touches on family, friendships, work, failures, successes, current events, and above all the Italian way of living.

This is not an interview series in the traditional sense. It is closer to friends meeting at aperitivo time. Wine is the excuse, NOT the subject. The focus is on lived experience. What it really means to live and work in Italy today. The beauty, the contradictions, the chaos, the privilege, and the everyday rituals that define Italian lifestyle.

💡 Format:

30 to 45 minutes

Filmed in the office with a relaxed, low-production setup

1 to 3 guests per episode

Guests can be producers, communicators, importers, educators, creatives, or friends of the wine world. Any recommendations for potential guests⁉️

Today’s guest is Cristina Mercuri MW.

More about today’s guest:

Cristina Mercuri MW is an acclaimed wine educator, presenter, and Founder & CEO of Mercuri Wine Club, an innovative academy and consultancy supporting leading Italian wine brands in education, communication, and marketing. She conducts masterclasses, judges internationally, consults for private and promotional events, and contributes regularly to Forbes. Formerly a lawyer, she transitioned to wine in 2015, achieving her WSET Diploma in 2017 and joining the MW programme in 2018/19. In 2026, she successfully passed her research paper and became Italy’s first female Master of Wine. Between 2019 and 2022, she became a Certified Sherry, Cava, and Port Educator, as well as Italian VDP Ambassador. Cristina trains students from beginners to WSET Diploma candidates and provides bespoke corporate training focused on sales strategies and marketing tools. She collaborates with consortia, wineries, distributors, restaurants, and luxury brands. She is also among Italy’s most-followed wine educators on Instagram (@cristinamercuri_wine).

Connect:

Website: https://www.wine-club.it/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristinamercuri_wine/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-mercuri-dipwset-004376a/ 

More about the host:

Stevie Kim is an Italian wine marketing & communication expert, bandpositioning specialist, and public speaker based in Verona, Italy. As Managing Partner at Vinitaly, she leads key initiatives, including OperaWine, Vinitaly International Academy, wine2wine Business Forum, and 5StarWines. A passionate Italian Wine Evangelist, she harnesses social media and education to promote Italian wine on a global scale.

The Italian Wine Podcast is part of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, a brand Stevie launched in 2020 to make wine more accessible through books, maps, videos, and the Italian Wine Travel with Stevie YouTube series. Stevie often joins Professor Scienza in his shows to lend a hand keeping our Professor in check! You can also find her taking a hit for the team when she goes “On the Road”, all over the Italian countryside, visiting wineries and interviewing producers, enjoying their best food and wine – all in the name of bringing us great Pods!

Connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steviekim222/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevie-kim-0646b04/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

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Until next time, Cin Cin!