Sommelier Training Programs
As interest in fine wines continues to grow in our culture, so have the demands for professionally trained sommeliers. A sommelier is a wine steward with expert knowledge about a variety of wines, the foods they pair best with, serving wine and different vintages.
Various sommelier schools offer accreditation and sommelier certification programs for wine-lovers who are looking to pursue a career in the field.
The Court of the Master Sommeliers
The Court of the Master Sommeliers is a United Kingdom-based organization dedicated to improving the understanding of fine beverages and service. As one of the world’s most respected organizations offering sommelier accreditation, the Court of the Master Sommeliers bestows one of the most coveted sommelier certifications, the Master Sommelier.
The different certification levels at the Court of the Master Sommeliers are:
Introductory Course and Exam: This course’s materials will give a student an understanding of spirits, beers, wines and cigars from around the world. The cost of the class is about $500.
Certified Exam: This is a three-part test that includes a written portion, a blind taste test and a service exam. Those who pass the test become a Certified Sommelier. The cost of the exam is roughly $300.
Advanced Sommelier Course and Exam: To take this course and exam, you must have a minimum of five years’ experience in the "wine/service" industry and must have passed the Introductory Sommelier Exam and the Certified Sommelier Exam. The Advanced Course delves into the industry in more depth. The cost of this course is roughly $900.
Master Sommelier Diploma: This test is only available by invitation and costs $800.
In 1969, the Court of Master Sommeliers had its first successful Master Sommelier test in England. The United States Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers opened in 1977. To date, fewer than 200 people worldwide are certified Master Sommeliers.
The International Sommelier Guild
The International Sommelier Guild is another well- respected sommelier school located in the United States, Canada and China. The sommelier accreditation runs as follows:
Wine Fundamentals 1: This class covers the basics of wine, terminology, food pairings and service.
Wine Fundamentals 2: Students learn about topics (such as appellation laws and viticulture) while building on topics learned in Wine Fundamentals 1. Students will also start blind testing.
Sommelier Diploma Program: This is a more intensive program to develop professional sommeliers. The test for the Diploma has six sections, including essays.
International Grand Sommelier Master’s Degree: This final program is a comprehensive study that ends with a five-part, 12½ hour exam. It can take up to seven years to complete this course.
Other Sommelier Certification Programs
American Sommelier Association: The American Sommelier Association offers a series of courses that can result in a Sommelier Certificate. Topics covered include vinticulture and vinification, as well as blind tasting.
United States Sommelier Association: The U.S. Sommelier Association offers a Sommelier Certificate Course. Students can also take courses online.
By: http://www.tasting-wine.com/articles/sommelier-definition/sommelier-school.php
More Articles
5 Secrets To Ordering A Great Bottle Of Wine Every Time
Sommelier Tips For Pairing Wine With Meat
What Is A Sommelier And What Do They Do?
Alessi Corkscrews - More Than Just A Sommelier's Tool
Sommelier Tips: What Do You Do If You’re Faced With A Tainted Wine?
Wine Tips In Restaurants And Sommeliers
How To Become A Master Sommelier
Related Items And Information
More Articles
Proper Wine Etiquette For Being Served, Serving And Tasting
... It is not proper etiquette or an acceptable practice to return a wine simply because you do not like it as much as you thought you might. After you have taken a sip, the proper etiquette is to nod, say "thank you", "it's fine" or some signal for the sommelier to begin pouring. Wine etiquette dictates that the glass is filled about one third full to allow enough space to swirl the wine. Sparkling wines pour along or against the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles. Wine etiquette may seem unnecessary, ...
5 Secrets To Ordering A Great Bottle Of Wine Every Time
... to the wine in question and any astute server will get the message. Resist the temptation to order the cult favorites like Opus One or other highly sought after wines with name recognition. These wines are expensive because like Gucci or Cartier the brand s status is part of what you are paying for. Many times you can find wines that are similar in quality for much less especially if you are willing to try lesser known grape varietals or regions. Ask your sommelier or server they will be able to recommend ...
Alessi Corkscrews - More Than Just A Sommelier's Tool
... 18/10 mirror-polished stainless steel device is more than merely utilitarian. It is a work of art. Using one will make you feel like a philosopher king. Elsewhere, you may not be in the mood to be waited on hand and foot. The Alessi Anna G. corkscrew is the next best thing. In various colors and made from chrome-plated zamak, this delightful tool lets you be your own sommelier without feeling like a servant. Based on a statue in Bremen, Germany, the Anna G design (first created in 1996) was soon adapted ...
... customers with regards to taste and budget limitations. You will also be involved in conducting and attending several wine-tasting events which are designed to educate and attract wine lovers the the restaurant. You will thus be in the enviable position of being able to guide, educate and talk to people about wine. As an experienced Sommelier, you will be able to describe the regions, grapes and even the vineyards and vintages of a variety of wines. As a Sommelier, you would also be traveling frequently ...
Sommelier Tips For Pairing Wine With Meat
... steamed halibut, you may try an elegant, fruity ros Cabernet Sauvignon. All in all you have to keep things simple. Forget about rules and concentrate on the taste. Think of those big-shot chefs that cook dishes you would never imagine to cook because the combination of ingredients seemed weird to you. It s all a matter of personal taste. Think of what would get the palate excited and then move on to something richer. This should be your cardinal rule. In fact, the best way to go is your heart s choices, ...