Wojciech Bońkowski
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Wojciech Bońkowski MW (born 1973) is a Polish wine writer, critic, and musicologist. In February 2023, he became the first person from Poland to receive the Master of Wine (MW) title, one of the most prestigious global qualifications in the wine industry. He is a leading figure in Central Europe’s wine scene, known for his writing, judging, and consulting work across Europe and internationally. He is the founder of Winicjatywa, Poland’s leading wine website, and the editor-in-chief of Ferment, a modern print magazine devoted to wine and wine culture. He is also a tea expert and a published scholar on the music of Fryderyk Chopin.[1]
Education and Early Career
[edit]Bońkowski obtained an MA in Italian literature and a PhD in musicology from the University of Warsaw, with a dissertation on Chopin’s editions published in Polish and English (2006). He also authored Chopin Gourmet (2010), a book exploring Chopin’s favorite food and wines, published in English by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute.[2]
He began his wine career while living in London, later returning to Poland to focus on wine writing and education.
Wine career
[edit]Bońkowski began writing about wine in 1999. From 2002 to 2010, he was deputy editor-in-chief of Magazyn Wino, Poland’s first specialist wine publication. In 2012, he launched Winicjatywa, which has grown into Poland’s most-read wine website. In 2017, together with Ewa Rybak and Ewa Wieleżyńska, he founded Ferment, a print magazine that now anchors a wider media group including a wine events agency, wine school, and publishing house.
Bońkowski was President of the Polish Wine Trade Association from 2015 to 2022 and is currently a member of the Académie Internationale du Vin.
He works as a consultant, educator, and wine market analyst, with expertise in strategy, communication, market access, and wine tourism. He is a frequent judge at international competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards and 50 Great Greek Wines, and contributes regularly to publications such as Meininger’s Wine Business International and TimAtkin.com.[3]
He has contributed to numerous national and international outlets, including Newsweek Polska, Twój Styl, Elle, Café, Decanter.com, Wine Business International, Porthos, and TimAtkin.com.[4]
He is the author or co-author of eight books on wine, including multiple editions of Wina Europy (The Wines of Europe), written in collaboration with literary critic Marek Bieńczyk. He specialises in the wines of: Italy, Greece, Central Europe (especially Tokaj, Croatia, and Poland), as well as Champagne and fortified wines, gin, rum and natural wines.[5][6]
Master of Wine
[edit]Bońkowski became Poland’s first Master of Wine in February 2023, following a multi-year qualification process under the Institute of Masters of Wine in London. His research paper, submitted as part of the MW examination, focused on the market and image of Polish wines, a topic that has gained increasing relevance due to the rapid growth of Polish viticulture.
As of 2025, Bońkowski remains one of only a few MWs in Central Europe.[7]
Other Work
[edit]Trained as a musicologist, Bońkowski collaborates with the Fryderyk Chopin Institute and has written scholarly and popular articles on Chopin, Beethoven, and other composers. He is also active as a translator of Italian literature, including works by Antonio Tabucchi and Umberto Saba.[8]
Selected Publications
[edit]- Wina Europy, with Marek Bieńczyk (2003, 2005, 2008)
- Ferment – Magazyn o Winie (Editor-in-Chief, 2017–present)
- Polish Wine Guide (online blog and archive)
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Wojciech Bońkowski MW | The Institute of Masters of Wine". Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Chopin Gourmet by Wojciech Bońkowski. Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina, 2015 – Vantage Music". Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ Tomar, Shivani (2024-11-01). "DWWA Regional Chair for the Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, and Croatia & Slovenia: Dr Wojciech Bońkowski MW". Decanter. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Wojciech Bońkowski MW – Tim Atkin – Master of Wine". 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "About the author". Wojciech Bońkowski. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Interview with Wojciech Bońkowski Master of Wine". winesofhungary.hu. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
- ^ "Two new Masters of Wine | The Institute of Masters of Wine". Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ Saba, Umberto (2001). Triest i Poeta (in Polish). Teta Veleta. ISBN 978-83-911443-1-2.