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The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word sommelier as a wine steward. But most people think of a sommelier according to how the word is used by the Court of Master Sommeliers. It's an educational body that awards sommelier certification. In this article, we’re concerned with the word as used by the Court of Master Sommeliers and commonly understood as certified wine professional.
Sporting a shiny sommelier pin on their lapel, certified sommeliers have passed multiple sommelier levels on their way to becoming respected and sought-after wine pros. They earn a sommelier salary and have sommelier movies made about them. So, let’s look at just what they had to do to get there.
First, we’ll cover how many levels of sommeliers there are, then we’ll go over what each sommelier level consists of. And finally, we’ll look at some alternatives to sommelier certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers. If you're looking for somewhere to start on your journey of how to become a sommelier, you're in the right spot.
The Court of Master Sommeliers
How Many Levels of Sommeliers Are There?
There are 4 levels of sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Introductory Sommelier is the first level, followed by Certified Sommelier, Advanced Sommelier, and Master Sommelier-the fourth and final level. Each level must be completed before moving on to the next.
Sommelier Levels
Each sommelier level covers similar content, though it gets more detailed with each one:
- Theoretical wine knowledge like understanding classic wine regions, history, geography, and grapes.
- Wine tasting, which is crucial to being able to describe wines, help guests navigate digital wine menus, and find the right wine bottle price range. And if price range isn’t a thing, the ability to speak knowledgeably about how wines interact with our senses is a great way to upsell cocktails at a restaurant or bar.
- Each level covers wine service, from all the necessary steps to hitting a standard 5-ounce wine pour every time, the proper wine serving temperatures, and how to decant wine.
Level 1 Sommelier: What Is an Introductory Sommelier?
The level 1 sommelier course, also called the Introductory Sommelier course, requires two full days of in-person study. The course covers three primary topics at an introductory level:
- A review of wine and beverage theory.
- An introduction to deductive tasting methodology.
- Wine service etiquette, covering all service steps and related topics like corkage fees.
There isn't a requirement of experience in the hospitality industry to sign up for the Introductory Sommelier course. It’s enough to be considering a career in the industry. At the end of day two, students take a multiple-choice evaluation that they must score at least 60% on. If they do, they’re eligible to take the certified sommelier course.
Level 2 Sommelier: What is a Certified Sommelier?
A Certified Sommelier is someone who has earned the level 2 sommelier certification. The level 1 sommelier certification is designed to introduce students to the three basic fields of study for a wine professional. But the level 2 sommelier certification demands candidates demonstrate proficiency in them.
To become a Certified Sommelier, you must take and pass a one-day assessment that covers theory, tasting, and service. Certified Sommelier is the minimum certification needed to begin getting sommelier jobs in the hospitality industry.
To sit for the Certified Sommelier assessment, candidates must have passed the introductory course within 3 years (or 5 years if vouched for by a Master Sommelier by whom they’re directly mentored). A minimum of 3 years in the hospitality industry is strongly recommended.
It’s also recommended that 1 year be used for study between passing the introductory level and sitting for the Certified Sommelier evaluation.
Level 3 Sommelier: What Is an Advanced Sommelier?
To become an Advanced Sommelier or level 3 sommelier, candidates must attend the three-day Advanced Sommelier course. After that, they sit for the three-day Advanced Sommelier assessment.
To qualify for the course, applicants must be a Certified Sommelier, have a minimum of 2 years of restaurant service experience, and haven't previously taken the Advanced Sommelier course.
To qualify for the assessment, applicants must have taken the Advanced Sommelier three-day course, have a minimum of 3 years of restaurant service experience, and be currently employed in the hospitality or beverage industry.
The same three topics are covered during the course, though in greater detail. The assessment consists of a written theory section, a verbal tasting section, and a practical service and sales section. To pass, a 60% score on each section is needed.
About 25–30% of all students who sit for it pass it. And if you pass it, you can sit for the evaluation to become a Master Sommelier.
How Many Advanced Sommeliers Are There?
Roughly 14 students pass each Advanced Sommelier evaluation, and the Advanced Sommelier exam is offered 3 times per year.
How did we determine this? We know from the Court of Master Sommeliers that roughly 25–30% of those who sit for the Advanced Sommelier pass. We also know that 23 people passed once, which turned out to be a 43% passing rate. That means 52 people sat for it, which we took 25–30% of.
And if you’re one of the lucky few, you can go on to fight the boss: the Master Sommelier course.
Level 4 Sommelier: What Is a Master Sommelier?
A Master Sommelier is a wine professional who has passed the fourth and final level of sommelier certification. Doing so earns them a Master Sommelier Diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers. It is the highest level of sommelier certification possible.
This level is the reason for the sommelier’s hard-won reputation. This is the level they make documentaries about. Since the inception of the Court of Master Sommeliers in 1977, only 274 people have been awarded the Master Sommelier Diploma. The current Master Sommelier list includes 269 people.
The Master Sommelier assessment is similar to the Advanced Sommelier one in terms of format and content. It consists of a written theory section, a verbal blind tasting section, and a practical wine service section. This time, though, the minimum score to pass is 75% on each section.
A candidate for the Master Sommelier Diploma must first pass the theory portion of the assessment. They then have 3 consecutive years to take the tasting and service sections. If all 3 parts are not completed within 3 years, the entire exam must be retaken.
What’s With the Sommelier Pins?
You may have heard of or seen sommelier pins, which are awarded to sommeliers after each level they pass. Proudly displayed on a sommelier’s lapel, each pin has a thick colored border with an image of the face of Bacchus in the center. The design is simple, but the wine knowledge it represents is complex.
In the Court of Master Sommelier tradition, each pin is as follows:
- The Introductory Sommelier pin has a red border with a silver interior.
- The Certified Sommelier pin has a purple border with a pewter interior.
- The Advanced Sommelier pin has a green border with a pewter interior.
- The Master Sommelier pin has a red border with a gold interior.
Other Wine Certifications
The Court of Master Sommeliers isn’t the only game in town. Let’s look at some other bodies that award certification for wine expertise. Two specifically: The Institute of Masters of Wine and The Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
The Institute of Masters of Wine
The Institute of Masters of Wine offers a three-level wine education and certification program. The program is often called one of the most academically rigorous.
What Does MW Mean in Wine?
MW means Master of Wine. It's the title awarded to those who complete the three-stage certification process through the Institute of Masters of Wine.
What is the Difference Between a Master Sommelier and a Master of Wine?
Where sommelier certification focuses on theoretical wine knowledge, tasting, and wine service, the MW covers a broad and very developed understanding of the wine industry and the world of wine as a whole.
The MW requires a more research-oriented focus. The final step is the submission and acceptance of a research paper of up to 10,000 words on any wine-related topic.
The Wine and Spirit Education Trust
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, known as WSET, also offers wine educational and certification programs. Similar to the Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET offers 4 awards in wine.
They call them level 1, level 2, level 3, and level 4. After completion of each WSET level, the student is awarded a lapel pin.
Is WSET a Sommelier?
A wine professional who has completed one or more of the WSET courses could likely find a job as a sommelier. Then of course they’d be called a sommelier. But, unlike students who complete a Court of Master Sommeliers certification, they wouldn’t be called a sommelier just because they finished the course.
That’s because the Court of Master Sommeliers uses the word sommeliers to refer to their students and graduates. WSET doesn’t.
What is the Difference Between WSET and Sommelier?
The WSET wine awards are purely academic, which is to say there is no wine service component to them. That means they’re a good fit for wine writers, oenologists, or any other wine professionals working outside of the hospitality industry.
Those who have passed sommelier certification have demonstrated advanced skills in wine and table service.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Sommelier
How long does it take to become a Certified Sommelier?
It depends on the amount of time you have available to prepare for and attend the course. Overall, most sommelier certification courses take at least 1 year.
How long does it take to become a Master Sommelier?
After earning level 3 certification and becoming an Advanced Sommelier, you should take 2-3 years to prepare for the Master Sommelier certification.
Who is the youngest Master Sommelier?
Toru Takamatsu, age 24, is the youngest Master Sommelier in the world.
In Vino Veritas
This was the cold, hard truth about sommelier levels. The material was mainly focused on the education and certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
There are some educational bodies that issue wine certification and use the word sommelier. There are others that don’t use the word sommelier at all. But no one certification has a monopoly on the industry.
Of course, the Court of Master Sommeliers is the most well-known. And it’s the one geared primarily toward practical application in the hospitality industry.
If you’re a server or considering how to become a bartender, working in the biz and you want to get some wine education, it’s probably the way to go. If you’re learning about wine storage or how to run a bar and you’ve got an eye on becoming a beverage director or wine director, it’s also probably the way to go.
You should also look into what a wine negociant is, so you can find the best vintages.