Susan R. Lin ’00 (BA, mass communications) has been named Master of Wine by the Institute of Masters of Wine. The Master of Wine credential is recognized globally for the highest standards of rigor in its holistic examination of all aspects of wine. Lin joins a prestigious group of 418 Masters of Wine around the world, and is one of 56 Masters of Wine in the United States.
The Masters of Wine exam has been given since 1953 and tests the breadth and depth of the candidate’s theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the art, science, and business of wine. Lin earned the title by passing the three stages of examination consisting of a series of theory papers and blind tasting exams, and the passing of an academic research paper.
Lin is the Head of Wine Expertise for online fine wine retailer Belmont Wine Exchange in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving customers worldwide. As a consultant she curates wine collections, designs wine programs, and specializes in wine and spirits music pairings and events.
“I am incredibly honored to become a Master of Wine,” said Lin. “Being a Master of Wine entails great responsibility. I am even more inspired to bring my best to the industry and to continue sharing my passion for wine with our customers and colleagues.”
After graduating from UC Berkeley, Lin began a career in high tech. She worked for Advanced Micro Devices; Google, where she managed Google Search quality; and then Google Maps for East Asia to strive for a better local user experience.
A lifelong devotee of music, Lin is a classical pianist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in classical piano performance and musicology. She has performed internationally as a Chinese classical and folk dancer. Lin also works with performing arts organizations to grow their audiences through innovative programming and events, integrating wine whenever possible. Her joy is to create memorable experiences through wine and the performing arts.
