The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has announced the addition of 15 new Masters of Wine, which includes for the first time candidates from Hong Kong, Japan, Spain and Brazil.

The Institute said the passes this year demonstrate its "growing internationalisation", with candidates from the UK, USA, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland also obtaining the qualification.

Joanna M Locke MW, chairman of the IMW, said, "I am absolutely delighted to welcome so many new Masters of Wine to the Institute this year, and I congratulate them all on their tremendous achievements.

"Students have been successful around the world, and we are delighted to welcome new Masters of Wine based in eight different countries. The news is particularly good for Asia in 2008, where we now have three Masters of Wine."

The new Masters of Wine will be presented with their certificates by the Master of the Vintners' Company at the Institute's Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony on November 5 2008, in Vintners' Hall, London.

This year's successful candidates are:

Sarah Abbott, 37, UK
Joanne Ahearne, 46, UK
Francisco (Pancho) Campo Carrasco, 46, Spain
James Cluer, 38, Canada. (Cluer passed his Dissertation and became a Master of Wine in May this year)
Martin Hudson, 53, UK
Jeannie Cho Lee, 40, Hong Kong, originally from Korea
Benjamin Lewin, 62, USA
Christophe Macra, 36, France
Debra Meiburg, 47, Hong Kong (originally from USA)
Sara Muirhead, 37, UK
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 41, Singapore (originally from USA)
Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, 35, USA
Madeleine Stenwreth, 40, Sweden
Dirceu Vianna Junior, 40, UK, originally from Brazil
Tim Wildman, 38, UK