How to Become a Master Sommelier

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posted on 14 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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A master sommelier must know much more than how to serve or recommend wines to go with a meal. This level of sommelier needs to be an expert in wine history, wine-making and salesmanship, be able to identify wine vintages, qualities or flaws by taste, and be knowledgeable about other alcoholic beverages, spirits, and even cigar production. To gain this knowledge and service experience, a series of courses and exams can be taken. Follow these steps to become a master sommelier.

Steps

Register for sommelier classes or exams. The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) is an international organization that offers sommelier courses and qualifying exams in North America or the United Kingdom to get certified as a master sommelier. You may need to create a CMS Student ID before you can register online for a CMS course. Have at least 3 years of experience in wine service or a related food/hospitality industry before taking the first-level sommelier course. Pay the required course or exam fees. They can range from 150 to 800 U.S. dollars. Your employer may pay the fees for you.

Begin with the 2-day Introductory Sommelier Course. You will learn proper wine service, how to do blind tasting of wines, and receive an overview of wine-growing regions, alcoholic beverages and spirits. You must pass the written, multiple choice exam at the end of the course with a minimum score of 60 percent.

Take some time to study and prepare for the Certified Sommelier Exam after finishing the introductory sommelier course and exam.

Take the Certified Sommelier Exam. This is a 1-day exam and may be known as exam level 2. You must be professionally dressed in business attire and properly equipped to perform wine service. Equipment for wine service can include a corkscrew, ice bucket, the proper types of wine glasses, and a tastevin, which is a sort of silver cup sommeliers may wear around their necks and use to taste wine. The exam involves blind tasting 2 wines, a written exam demonstrating knowledge of wine, beer, and spirits, and a practical exam demonstrating your ability to serve wine, champagne or perform decanting. The latter means pouring wine from its bottle into another container for serving.

Take the Advanced Sommelier Course. This course is 3 days of intensive lectures and tastings given by Master Sommeliers.

Apply to take the Advanced Sommelier Exam. This level of testing is 2 days and tests your salesmanship and serving ability with restaurant wine. It also includes a written exam to test the more in-depth knowledge needed for this level of sommelier and a blind tasting of 6 different wines.

Get invited by CMS to take the Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. You must wait at least 1 year after passing the Advanced Sommelier Exam before taking the Master Sommelier exam for the first time.

Pass the 3-part Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. The exam consists of serving and recommending appropriate wines and spirits, an oral exam to demonstrate knowledge of wine-making and other related subjects such as other alcoholic beverages and cigar production, and clearly and correctly describing 6 wines in a blind tasting. You have 3 straight years to pass all 3 parts of the Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. This gives you time to retake any portions of the exam you did not initially pass.