Hasko is based in Sydney and runs Cru Wines, a specialist wine importer and distributor, and Bootleggers, an exclusive online wine retailer. After successfully completing the exam, Hasko can now proudly wear the letters MS after his name.
The Master Sommelier examination takes years to prepare for with some even claiming that it is harder than studying for a medical degree. Entrants must have already graduated as an Introductory Sommelier, Certified Sommelier and Advanced Sommelier to take the exam and entrance to the exam is by invitation only.
Since the Court’s inception in 1969, only 236 (with Ben being officially no. 236) have graduated and each year the pass rate is normally less than 5 per cent. In 2016, just six people passed the Master Sommelier examination.
Hasko completed the exam on his first attempt, something that has only happened a handful of times. The average candidate sits the exam around three times before passing.
“It is a pretty intense experience. There are three components to the MS diploma. If you pass one or two components the first time you try then they say ‘the clock has started’. You then get two more attempts over the next two years to be successful in the remaining components. If you aren’t, then you have to start all three from scratch. I am very fortunate to have achieved all three components in one sitting and I’m very honoured to have been awarded the inaugural Dom Ruinart Trophy in recognition of this," Hasko said.
On offering advice to future students, Hasko added, “You need to commit both your time and considerable finances in pursuit of the diploma. I am fortunate that my job involves travel, and meeting some great sommeliers and winemakers around the globe. It also gives me a lot of exposure to high quality – and often high priced - wines, which helped reduce the financial side of things. But balancing work time, family time and study time was a real challenge. Particularly as our companies Cru Wines and Bootleggers only started two years ago.”
Ben first developed an interest for wine whilst he was studying engineering and his first dream was actually to achieve the Master of Wine. He wasn’t long into studying for the WSET Diploma before he decided he needed to turn this passion into a career and got a job within the wine industry, first with Rockpool in Sydney and then Vue de Monde in Melbourne.
Ben will now continue to study for his Master of Wine exams in June next year, while continuing to search for wines from across the world for his businesses Cru Wines and Bootleggers.
Image: Ben Hasko pictured right with his father and business partner David Hasko
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