Pancho Campo resigns from Institute of Masters of Wine

Pancho Campo, the first Spanish Master of Wine has resigned. It follows last year's controversy around the organisation of wine tastings in Spain where allegedly Campo had been charging Spanish wineries for access to Jay Miller, the correspondent for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

To become an MW (Master of Wine) is considered to be the pinnacle of any wine professional's career as it's the hardest educational standard in the wine world. Only a couple of hundred have passed and many have failed.

An investigation has been completed by the Institute and they were due to consider the report this week. However the following statement from Campo was released 'Pancho Campo has today informed the Institute that in light of his move into more sports and music events and away from wine, he has decided to resign his membership of the Institute of Masters of Wine, effective immediately.'

Decanter.com understands the report recommended that Campo - who became the first Spanish Master of Wine in 2008 - should be suspended from the Institute for a period of two or three years.