Masters of Wine and MW students are invited to an online debate on one of the most candid conversations on the business of wine this year.

Format: CDP Seminar
Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Duration: 1 Hour Minutes (45 min conversation + 15 min live Q&A)

Hosted by: Charles Curtis MW is a chef-turned-Master of Wine (22nd in the US, 2004), with a career spanning Moët Hennessy and Christie's, where he built out the Hong Kong wine department. He now runs WineAlpha, a fine wine advisory, and consults for Zachys on Burgundy. He's a published author, Decanter contributor, and IMW board member — bringing a fine-wine/auction-market perspective on marketing, investment strategy, and distribution.

Joined by: Barry Dick is one of a small group of winemaker MWs with hands-on retail commercial experience, having sourced wine for both Sainsbury's and Waitrose and held senior winemaking roles including Chief Commercial Winemaker at Accolade Wines. He passed the MW in 2013 and now serves as Head of Wine at Fero Drinks, bringing a rare combination of knowledge across the entire supply chain, key commercial markets, and the wine consumer to today's discussion.

Joined by : Mitch Fowler is co-founder and CEO of Fero Drinks, the technology-led supply chain financing platform he built with fellow ex-finance professional Dan Gibney to help modernise how the drinks industry funds and moves inventory. A former commodity trader, Mitch has led Fero through rapid growth — including a record-breaking $550m securitisation deal for the drinks sector, and, just this month, Fero surpassing $1 billion in inventory funded through the platform. He now brings that front-line view of the industry's financial plumbing to today's debate."

This online CPD seminar, hosted by Charles Curtis MW, brings Masters of Wine and MW students together for a debate with Barry Dick MW and Mitch Fowler of Fero Drinks, unpacking what's really going wrong across the supply chain. Working closely with producers, distributors, and retailers across the industry, Fero draws on its expertise in inventory-backed finance, trading, and logistics to explore the three flows that keep the industry running: product, money, and information. The session shows how breakdowns in each are driving today's stress points, from inventory imbalances and working capital strain to poor visibility and increased business complexity.

Connecting directly to the business of wine syllabus and recent stage two exam themes, the session gives students a chance to sharpen the financial acumen needed for exam success — while giving practising MWs a deeper understanding of an issue fundamental to keeping the industry sustainable.

The session will close with an open Q&A.

Register your place: Confirm your spot and you'll receive the webinar link directly.

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