South African is new chair of Institute of Masters of Wine

The former winemaker, who trained in Stellenbosch, Germany and France and while in South Africa, worked under the legendary Günter Brözel at Nederburg Winery during the 1980s. She was previously the Institute's deputy-chairperson for two years and prior to that served as deputy vice-chairman for a year.

The Institute has granted just 280 Masters of Wine to its students across 23 countries since the inaugural examinations were held in 1953. Sherriff, who holds the South African Cape Wine Masters (CWM) qualification and is a former director of the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Academy, was one of the first two South Africans to earn her MW, in 1993.

Sherriff, who in terms of the Institute's constitution can serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms in her new position, succeeds Josef (Pepi) Schuller MW of Austria, who holds a PhD in wine marketing from the University of Stellenbosch.

Still closely involved with SA wine industry

Although living in the UK for almost 20 years, she remains closely involved with the South African wine industry. She launched and developed Arniston Bay, one of the country's top-selling brands in Britain. She returns home regularly, serving on the Veritas judging panel for the annual SA National Wine Awards and consults to local producers.

She features regularly in the British media as a leading authority on wine, as well as on German and Austrian television and radio, and has judged on international wine competitions in the UK, Europe, Australia and Japan.

Sherriff is being honoured by the Institute of Cape Wine Masters at a dinner in Stellenbosch today, 14 September 2010.