Master Classes

Natasha Hughes MW and Cathy van Zyl MW provide a range of bespoke courses and services aimed at helping you to explore the world of wine, whether you’re studying for academic qualifications or just want to get the most out of each glass.

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Pathways to knowledge

Thinking of applying for the MW study programme?

Our bridging course is designed to help you explore the differences between the skills needed to pass the WSET Diploma and those required by MW candidates.

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Already on the MW study programme?

If you’re already an MW student, our courses can help you work out how to meet the examiners’ exacting requirements.

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Just want to learn from an MW?

Cathy and Natasha are both experienced, adaptable presenters who are as much at home leading fun, informal tastings for small groups as they are hosting seminars for large numbers of attendees.

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Just want to travel with an MW?

Join us for one of our trips to the world’s most amazing wine regions and enjoy an exciting programme of visits and tastings.

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What they say…

‘Cathy and Natasha’s course stands apart from typical bootcamps. They methodically break down various practical exam questions, and the corresponding answering techniques, while imparting practical tasting skills that genuinely inspire improvement in practice.

Natasha brings brilliant insight and academic rigor – she pinpoints weaknesses in our approach with laser precision, helping us refine our arguments with remarkable efficiency. Cathy complements this approach perfectly with her warm, approachable teaching style, offering the nurturing encouragement that makes even the most stressful exam preparation feel manageable. Their synergistic teaching approach creates an exceptional learning experience. I gained immense value from their course and couldn’t recommend it more highly!’
Cherie, Practical-Only MW Candidate

‘I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Tuscany, Piedmont and Burgundy with Natasha. Each trip was planned meticulously and thoughtfully, with just the perfect amount of structure and room for spontaneity – which is just as well, as Natasha opens all kinds of doors (and people open special bottles for Natasha). It is a privilege to travel to any wine region with her.’
David, Private Client

‘Cathy van Zyl MW has been an invaluable part of my MW journey. Her patient expertise and good humour during our tasting sessions has helped hone my tasting skills and my approach to practical paper answers.’
Andrew, Stage 2 MW Candidate

‘Natasha has been of enormous help to me in terms of improving my tasting abilities and writing better tasting notes. Her experience as a member of the IMW’s Education Committee has led to her creating an extremely useful coaching programme that would benefit any student wanting to pass their MW exams.’
Helen, Stage 2 MW Candidate

‘It was a great experience to benefit from Natasha and Cathy’s complementary strengths as educators. Their different perspectives converged towards the same goal, offering twice the guidance and support. Their course combines kindness with tough love (when needed), but they are always fair. I came away feeling more confident and better prepared for the MW journey, which is why I would recommend it wholeheartedly!’
Laury, Stage 2 MW Candidate

‘Cathy’s teaching and feedback has been absolutely invaluable to me in my MW journey. She combines a razor-sharp eye for detail with excellent communication skills, enabling her to refine and polish essays and tasting notes to a high degree. She has always gone the extra mile for me, and her support and encouragement have helped me maintain my enthusiasm and desire to become an MW. If and when I do pass, it will be largely down to her.’
Cathy, Practical-Only MW Candidate

‘Natasha created a bespoke wine tasting event for us that exceeded our expectations. She was knowledgeable and engaging, and – most importantly – the event was great fun.’
Shaunn, Corporate Client

Natasha Hughes MW

Natasha Hughes MW graduated as a Master of Wine in 2014, winning four out of the seven prizes awarded that year, including the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Natasha began her wine trade career as the deputy editor for Decanter’s website but left in 2001 to begin freelancing as a journalist, and has written for numerous publications, including Decanter, Club Oenologique and Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine. Her online work has been published by The World of Fine Wine, Wine Scholar Guild, jancisrobinson.com and timatkin.com, among others. Natasha has contributed material for a number of books, and her first solo effort, The Wines of Beaujolais, was published in September 2025 as part of the prestigious Wine Library series.

Natasha teaches tasting and theory to Master of Wine students and leads trips to wine regions for both private clients and members of the wine trade. She was a valued member of the Institute of Masters of Wine’s Education Committee for over a decade, as well as that body’s Council, and still chairs its Trips Committee, setting up visits to wine regions around the world for groups of Masters of Wine. She also hosts wine events, seminars and tutored tastings for both consumers and wine trade professionals, consults for restaurants, retailers, private clients, wine producers and generic bodies, and judges at wine competitions around the world.

Cathy van Zyl MW

Cathy became a Master of Wine, the first on the African continent. when she passed the examination in 2005.

She immediately volunteered to assist the Institute of Masters of Wine deliver its candidate support programme and, after organising the Stage 2 seminar in Bordeaux for seven years, was appointed Chair of the Education Committee. Four years later, she was voted onto the IMW’s Council and, after six years as a Council member, was elected as Chair of both Council and the IMW for a two-year term that ended in September 2024.

At the same time as ‘giving back’ to the Institute, Cathy begun presenting wine courses for the Cape Wine Academy in South Africa, and more recently for WSET. She has delivered masterclasses on South African wine in Japan and China, and has judged in competitions around the world.

Cathy has been a taster for Platter’s SA Wine Guide since 2005, and Associate Editor for close to 15 years. She occasionally contributes to wine journals and websites around the world, is a Director of South Africa’s Old Vine Project and the ‘on-the-ground MW’ in South Africa for Fine Vintage Tours. In 2019, Cathy was named  as the Institute of Cape Wine Masters’ Personality of the Year for her passionate promotion of South African wine.