If you have been in the wine world for more than a minute you have probably stumbled on the word wine sommelier. A wine sommelier is a wine professional that has formal education and training in all aspects of wine such as wine production, wine service, wine pairings, and wine storage. A wine sommelier can be a great job opportunity if you are curious about wine and enjoy learning about different wine palates. Most traditional wine sommeliers work in restaurants where they help customers pick the perfect wine and properly present and pour it. But today modern sommeliers are not limited to the floor, they develop wine lists for multiple restaurants, manage staff training, and work alongside chefs to develop new dishes that complement the wine or vice versa. The best wine clubs also work aside with wine sommeliers, they help create wine subscription packages to fit the customers’ needs based on questionnaires. This way they provide customers with their best match. Sommelier is an impressive, highly paid, and highly respected profession. So it is easy to see why a career as a sommelier can be an attractive option. However, becoming a sommelier is not an easy task to do since you need a vast knowledge of wine to pass the four sommelier certifications. The four certifications must be completed sequentially. As there are different levels of higher education, there are different levels of sommelier certification. The Court of Master Sommeliers has four levels of accreditation.
This article will go over the levels and the requirements you needed to achieve each one.
Introductory Sommelier Certificate (CMS I)
The Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination is usually a 3-day course in person or online. Where students are induced to the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Court of Master Sommeliers Tasting Methods, and the Court of Master Sommeliers Service Standards. The course is taught exclusively by Master Sommeliers. In-Person Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination can cost about $699. Anyone older than 21 can attend the course, no matter if they want a career as a professional sommelier or are just interested in learning more about wine. Even though is a beginner’s course you still need a general understanding of wine and the major wine-producing countries and regions. The examination consists of 70 multiple-choice questions where you need a minimum score of 60% to pass.
Certified Sommelier Examination (CMS II)
The Certified Sommelier Examination is t the hospitality course where candidates learn to demonstrate proficiency in deductive tasting, wine & beverage theory, and learn salesmanship skills in table-side service. In order to get the CMS II, you must have passed the Introductory Course & Examination within the past three years. The Certified Sommelier Examination is a one-day examination with three sections: tasting examination, theory examination, and service examination. The tasting examination is a 30 minutes test where candidates must describe and identify four different types of wines. Theory examination tests the candidates’ knowledge and understanding of the wine and the sommelier trade. Here you get a test with 45 questions within 35 minutes. The theory test contains all sorts of questions such as multiple-choice questions, short answers, simple math, and matching questions. And the service examination where candidates are expected to demonstrate salesmanship and knowledge while performing a variety of tableside tasks. This usually takes place in a real restaurant or restaurant-like environment. You must achieve a minimum of 60% in each section to pass the exam. The Certified Sommelier Examination usually costs about $595.
Advanced Sommelier Certificate (CMS III)
Advanced Sommelier Course is a 5-day program, three-day educational program, and two-day examinations. The advanced course gives candidates the opportunity to explore the Court of Master Sommeliers’ standards and provides them with a template for upper-level wine knowledge. Applicants must wait a minimum of one year after passing the Certified Sommelier Examination in order to adequately prepare for the Advanced Sommelier Course. They need to have two years of restaurant experience. The examination format is similar to the Master Sommelier exam, it contains a theory portion and a practical and tasting portion. The theory portion of the exam is a written test and the practical and tasting exam is verbal. The passing requirements are the same as the previous, you must achieve a minimum of 60% on each section within one calendar year in order to pass. The Advanced Sommelier Examination price is not cheap it costs around $995 to take the exam each time.
Master Sommelier Diploma (CMS IV)
Master Sommelier Diploma is the final exam that consists of three parts: a theory examination, deductive tasting of six wines, and a practical wine service examination. The minimum passing score for each of the three sections is 75%. However, you first need to pass the theory examination in order to continue to the next two. If you pass one or two exams, you can retake the ones you failed in the next two years. If you do not pass all three parts in a three-year period, then you have to retake the entire exam. The theory examination is verbal and is around fifty minutes you need a great understanding of wine to pass. The Practical Restaurant Wine Service and Salesmanship exam is also verbal you need to be able to discuss, recommend and serve wines, have knowledge of their ingredients and production methods, and be able to serve them correctly. In the practical tasting examination, you need to clearly and accurately describe six different types of wines within twenty-five minutes. The price for the Master sommelier diploma cost around $1,195 per course or exam and rises each year.
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