A sommelier certificate is very helpful, if you want to get a responsible position in the wine business. Whether in a restaurant, in a big department store or as a sales rep for a winery - a sommelier can handle it. 

Please note, that the term sommelier has no legal protection. You may be judged by the reputation of the institute where you have earned your certificate and / or the reputation of your practical performance. Sommeliers can be some kind of rockstars to the hospitality industry like some famous chefs. I've heard from a guy, who was already working as chef sommelier in a well-know New York hotel before he took his Sommelier Introductory Level course with the CMS. So do not underestimate your colleagues!

Before you attend a sommelier course, you should have worked in a restaurant as a server or in a wine shop before to get at least your basic skills in the business before you specialize.

In Germany you normally attend a 3-year apprenticeship in the hospitality business or in sales and gain some experience after that before you can go for your sommelier certification. A high personal passion for wine is key to succeed in every way.

In search for a suitable sommelier course, there are many providers offering different education programs in different designs for different prices. Let's have a look at the three best known of the trade.

"I am a certified sommelier, which eventually means I drink a lot."

Madeline Puckette

Co-Founder of Wine Folly

The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) is a very reknowned institute offering 4 seminars of increasing levels to one of the world's most prestigious titles in the business: the Master Sommelier (MS). In 2017 there were less than 250 Master Sommeliers worldwide. The exam has an infamously low pass rate. The levels you must all pass to become a MS are:

• Sommelier Introductory Level
• Certified Sommellier
• Advanced Sommelier
• Master Sommelier

Each level demands a much higher performance of knowledge, skill and wine tasting abilities from a candidate.

Each seminar is held in a few days only, so you must already gained a good deal to tons of knowledge to have a chance of following the lessons there...and it's not cheap at price.

Although a certificate from the CMS is quite prestigious, some candidates say, in the oral exam you never know, what you're up to, what can be seen as some critique.

In the video above, Whitney Adams explains her path to become a certified sommelier, which was very varied...and therefore I chose it!  Many sommeliers have a much less colourful career path like helpout-server, waiter, assistant sommelier, sommelier, assistant restaurant manager, restaurant manager, etc.

The Wines and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in London offers a very systematic approach to wine knowledge for every trade where wine knowledge is required. In the end, WSET is more suitable for the persons working outside the hospitality branch, because service skills are just a minor part of the WSET education.

Contrary to the CMS, WSET sub-divides their seminars for wines, spirits and sake on different levels since 2018. So wine people and bar people can get exactly what they want. These levels are:

• Level 1 - Absolute beginners
• Level 2 - Intermediate (higher skill than German successfully completed apprenticeship level)
• Level 3 - Advanced - International professional standard
• Level 4 - Expert level - for people aiming for an executive position in their business

Only for wines there is a full 4-level-sceam in practise so far. Level 4 in wines is also called the WSET diploma (DipWSET), that entitles you to start your studies for your Master of Wine (MW) at the Institute of Masters of Wine - the most prestigious title outside the hospitality industry in wine, and the legit pendant to the Master Sommelier of the CMS. In 2017 there were less than 370 Masters of Wine worldwide. You may guess the exam is as difficult as the MS exam.

Besides wine knowledge, wine tasting skills and wine assessment is an important topic with WSET seminars the more advanced you get. The seminars can be held from a few days (Level 1) to some years (WSET Diploma).

WSET seminars are highly standardized. The book you get for learning is the guaranteed stuff you may be asked in your exams. So learn well & the certificate will be yours!

These two institutes are the most renowned but costy alternatives worldwidely available.

Now let's take a look at my country: Germany.

In Germany the local Chambers of Commerce (IHK) are one important institution for professional training. Outside an academic career they provide well-accepted certificates of good reputation nationwide. So if you want to become a sommelier in Germany, the IHK-certifications are a great idea beside the international certificates to boost your career.

I mention the German way, because the IHK-certificate has some great USPs, some international competitors do not have. Nowadays, there are 3 levels to take. The most important is the IHK-certified Sommelier:

• Assistant / Commis Sommelier IHK
• IHK-geprüfter Sommelier (with practical work in a winery plus many business administration skills)
• Sommelier Meister IHK

The WSET level 1 in wines opens the door to your wine world and level 2 expands your wine knowledge and skills.

Between WSET level 2 and level 3 stands the Introductory Sommelier of the CMS and the IHK-Assistant Sommelier.

WSET Level 3 is almost equal to the Certified Sommelier of the CMS. The CMS is something ahead of the game, because of the advanced wine service part in the exam. Something beyond of the Certified Sommelier of the CMS is the IHK-certified Sommelier, because of the good deal of business administration skills and the practical experience in a winery.

WSET level 4 (DipWSET), the Advanced Sommelier of the CMS and the IHK-Sommelier-Meister are on one level, but only a successfully completed WSET diploma will offer you a chance to study at the Institute of Masters of Wine.

The Master Sommelier and the Master of Wine are on the same level and the high end of the journey for expertise in wine. But remember: Staying on top is the toughest job.

Eventually, the offer you take is depending on your career goals, your financial situation and the time you can take out for attending and studying. Choose well & become successful in every way you may like. Good luck!

The crème de la crème of the wine world are the Master Sommeliers and the Masters of Wine. Let's see how they do in a friendly competition when it comes to tasting wine and pairing food. Enjoy the expertise!

By the way: There are a very few badass-superheroes, who hold both titles, MS & MW, on this planet. Chuck Norris would be proud of them.

Becoming a vegetarian or vegan sommelier is a road you must go on your own. There is no certification for it yet. The focus of the common sommelier is always the meat or the fish in a dish, because it's normally the major part and their proteins react best with wine.

When you decide to be a vegan sommelier, the huge & classic wine topic cheese is skippped, too. Now the vegetables are in your focus and of course the sauce served with it. This needs you to take a new point of view to get your job done again. Stand up to the challenge, if you truly want to entertain vegetarians & vegans on a very high level. It is possible & worthwhile!

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