It All Starts With a BoycottWe earned the wrath of many sommeliers when we wrote the article “Time to Boycott the Court?” At the time, the CMS-A had been caught in a wide range of unethical/sexist/racist scandals, and we felt it was time to call them to account. We also criticized the Court for being […]
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SOMM is an independent board that plays a crucial role in the wine education industry. They review professional certifications in the wine trade and develop and analyze wine education protocols for the United States. This includes analysis of offerings from prominent organizations such as the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine & Spirit Education […]
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Sommelier Courses and Education LevelsThere are four major sommelier courses available in the United States. Choosing the right one is an important first step. This article breaks down everything you need to know about your options. Of the four, WSET and NWS offer more of the classroom experience, with regularly scheduled weekly classes that culminate […]
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The Rise of Online Wine CoursesIn an age where online education is steadily becoming the norm, the sphere of wine education too, has gracefully adapted to this digital metamorphosis. Before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, online sommelier courses were relatively obscure in the grand tapestry of wine education. However, as the pandemic dramatically altered […]
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In a digital age where learning can be done in the comfort of one’s home, online sommelier courses have seen a surge in enrollment. These programs offer wine enthusiasts and aspiring sommeliers a chance to deepen their understanding of wine varieties, tasting techniques, and the wine industry at large. Among the top contenders in providing […]
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IntroductionIn the world of wine, sommeliers are the gatekeepers of taste, with their expert knowledge and finely tuned palates shaping what we sip and savor. But how are these wine professionals trained, certified, and evaluated? SOMM, a leading authority on sommelier education, has released its annual review of sommelier education with insights from top sommeliers, […]
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Thanks to everyone for participating. The annual survey is now complete. To review the results, please go here: https://somm.us/sommelier-education-2023/Dear Judges,We appreciate your contribution to the world of wine education. The annual survey will take less than 6 minutes. However, your input is invaluable to us and our readership. We will send you the results of […]
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You’ll find fantastic wine coming from every grape-growing country globally, but French wine is on another level. It’s not that French wine is better than the rest (sometimes it is), but you can’t beat the tradition, lore, and history behind every French wine style and grape.France has influenced every other wine-producing country on the planet. […]
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The Top Wine Instructors in AmericaThere are a handful of wine educators that dominate wine education. They have founded the top wine schools in America and blazed trails into sommelier training. These men and women are essential to the world of wine. If you love wine, your bucket list should include taking a class with […]
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Sommeliers Speak OutAfter writing an omnibus article on the problems facing the Court of Master Sommeliers, we heard from many high-profile sommeliers who did not like how we portrayed the Court. Below are excerpts of the comments.Note: We removed many of the ad hominem attacks from their statements. We also edited comments for clarity and […]
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