Returning to the wine cellar, sommeliers must ensure that the wines are stored under ideal conditions and are easily accessible to all staff members. They must also ensure that the wine stock does not age too much. Every wine reaches its peak drinking period sooner or later, and sommeliers are responsible for ensuring that wines are enjoyed during this optimal window. It would be a significant financial loss to regularly dispose of wines that have passed their prime! Sommeliers also select the wines for open service and determine the wine pairings for establishments with regularly changing menus.
No Protected Job Title
As you can see, sommeliers bear a huge responsibility for the economic success of their establishments. Therefore, it is surprising that the term sommelier is still not protected. While it generally refers to wine waiters, there are also cheese sommeliers, beer sommeliers, and even water sommeliers. Additionally, there is no standard training path for sommeliers. Most start with a regular apprenticeship in the hotel or restaurant industry before deciding to pursue specialized wine training. However, such training is not mandatory. In fact, even an interest in wine is not a prerequisite.
For instance, if a restaurateur with no prior experience creates a separate wine list and actively promotes these wines at guests’ tables, they can call themselves a sommelier without facing any consequences. Even in the wine retail sector, some people are beginning to refer to themselves as sommeliers because customers find it easier to understand than the term “wine specialist.” When people hear “sommelier,” they immediately associate the person with wine expertise. The fact that the complete service aspect may be missing is irrelevant to most.
Training to Become a Sommelier
Since the title of sommelier is not protected, it logically follows that there is no standardized training path. Until about 15 years ago, it was quite common for experienced sommeliers to take younger trainees under their wing and teach them everything directly. This approach is still practiced in some establishments today. However, there are now enough opportunities to receive standardized training.
In almost every country, there are continuing education programs offered by chambers of commerce. These organizations set the study focus and officially conduct the exams. Various providers are available for the training itself. In Germany, for example, you can add the title “IHK-certified” in parentheses after “sommelier” or “sommelier” once you have completed the training. As this process varies in different countries, let’s focus on the two international training paths for sommeliers.
Court of Master Sommeliers
The Court of Master Sommeliers was founded in London in 1969, offering training according to standardized international criteria. There is also a branch in Santa Barbara, California. The training is divided into four levels. Most participants stop after successfully passing the Certified Sommelier exam, which is the second level.
Those who want to reach the pinnacle of wine knowledge continue to the top level, the Master Sommelier exam, which is legendary for its difficulty. Only a few sommeliers pass what is considered the most challenging wine exam in the world. Since 1969, only 273 sommeliers worldwide have successfully completed it, earning the right to add the initials “MS” (Master Sommelier) after their name.
Association de la Sommellerie Internationale
The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) is an international association for sommeliers. The non-profit organization was also founded in 1969, but in Reims, France. Its goal is to develop, promote, and maintain quality standards for the profession of sommelier worldwide.
The ASI offers seminars and training in numerous countries. Additionally, regional branches of the association hold sommelier competitions in their respective countries. Sommeliers can then progress to become the best sommelier in their country. The next step is to become the best on their continent. Every three years, the ASI hosts a rigorous competition to crown the best sommelier in the world. This prestigious competition, which can be followed online via live stream, was last held on February 12, 2023, in Paris. The winner was Raimonds Tomsons from Latvia.