The Future 50 is a new initiative created by WSET and IWSC, in celebration of our joint 50th birthdays, to select 50 under 40 future influencers of the global drinks industry.
The Future 50 have been identified as the wine, spirit and sake industry’s up-and-coming young professionals from all areas of the trade who have made a significant contribution in the last three years in a range of areas including, career, academia, social responsibility and innovation.
There were more than 600 nominations for the first round, a longlist of professionals working as winemakers and distillers, in product development, design and distribution, marketing, journalism, hospitality and everything in between. Choosing the winners was an exhaustive two stage vetting process using the knowledge and authority of an illustrious panel of expert judges from around the world.
The final list is an exciting collection of the brightest talent from around the globe covering fourteen countries and roles as diverse as distiller, viticulturalist, historian, bartender and food and beverage activist.
The Future 50
Adrian Goh De Jun | Sake
Agnes Herczeg | Wine
Amelia Singer | Wine
Dr Anne Brock | Spirits
Ashtin Berry | Spirits
Chris So | Spirits
Christian Zhang | Wine
Christina (Wanyi) Lee | Wine
Christina Veira | Spirits
Christine Clair | Wine
Dan Q. Dao | Spirits
Emilie Steckenborn | Wine
Fernando Mora MW | Wine
Gus Zhu MW | Wine
Hannah Lanfear | Spirits
Heidi Mäkinen MW | Wine
James Forsyth | Wine
James Hook | Wine
Jason Barrett | Spirits
Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre | Wine
Jessica Marinzeck | Wine
Joel Harrison | Spirits
Julie Dupouy | Wine
Julien Camus | Wine
Kelsey Ramage | Spirits
Konstantin Baum MW | Wine
Leonid Fadeev | Wine
Lingzi He | Wine
Lora Hemy | Spirits
Madison Pantlin | Wine
Michael Vachon | Spirits
Micky Chan | Wine and Sake
Monica Samuels | Sake
Natsuki Kikuya | Sake
Nick Glaetzer | Wine
Nick Korn | Spirits
Oliver Hilton Johnson | Sake
Paulo Brammer | Wine
Qian Janice Wang | Wine
Rebecca Gibb MW | Wine
Regine Lee MW | Wine
Ryan Hartshorn | Spirits
Santiago Mayorga Boaknin | Wine
Sarah Heller MW | Wine
Sovna Puri | Wine
Terry Xu | Wine
Victoria Chow | Spirits
Will Lowe | Spirits
Yang Lu | Wine
Yuchen Zhong | Spirits and Sake