How to Become a Sommelier

A career in wine is often seen as a glamorous and exciting profession, the antithesis of a regular office job or work in a high-pressure environment. While there are undoubtedly perks to working in wine, the amount of hard work and stress in this field is often underestimated.

In truth, somms are a group of folks who know how to make a tough job look easy. If you are a hard worker with a passion for wine and interacting with people, you may have found your calling.

What Does a Sommelier Do?

When you search for the definition of a sommelier, the typical answer is a “wine waiter or butler.” Unfortunately, that is only partly true. There are two kinds of sommeliers.

The first is a restaurant sommelier, known colloquially as a “somm.” This is someone who provides customers with tableside wine recommendations. Behind the scenes, a somm will teach fellow staff members about the wine on offer, update the wine list, and meet with distributors to sample different wines. The somm is also in charge of inventory, including restocking and arranging wine deliveries.

The second type of sommelier works anywhere but in a restaurant. These are people in the wine trade with sommelier certification but employed in other, often higher-paying, sectors of the wine world.

This is no longer unusual. SOMM’s analysis of LinkedIn employment data found that fewer than 25% of credentialed sommeliers now work in restaurants. Only about 10% of Master Sommeliers still work on the restaurant floor. Most Master Sommeliers no longer work in restaurants.

Outside restaurants, sommeliers work in wine education, retail, importing, distribution, wineries, consulting, journalism, corporate beverage management, and many other parts of the trade.

How to Become a Sommelier as a Hobby

Becoming a sommelier as a hobby is surprisingly common.

The Court of Master Sommeliers accepts enthusiasts into its introductory program but has barred this type of student from its higher levels of certification. Its Advanced program requires recent restaurant-service or beverage-sales experience, and candidates for the Advanced examination must currently work in the restaurant, hospitality or beverage industry.

Other programs, including the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the National Wine School, accept serious enthusiasts with open arms.

How to Become a Sommelier

Before signing up for any formal education, it is crucial to consider the following:

Do You Have an Interest in Wine and Food?

People in this field are passionate and highly competitive. Therefore, obtaining a wine education will be unappealing if you are only lukewarm about working in the industry.

Do You Work Well With People?

It might seem like a trivial question, but many people do not enjoy constantly interacting with people. There are always groups of people vying for your attention in a restaurant setting. If this is not something that comes naturally, you might experience burnout.

What Knowledge Do You Have?

Becoming a sommelier is much easier when you have some basic knowledge about wine and food. In addition, it would be best if you had a good palate and a desire to explore different cuisines.

If you feel ready to take on the educational side of becoming a sommelier, various options are available.

A Step-by-Step Path to Becoming a Sommelier

Taking small steps is a smart way to start the process of becoming a sommelier. The first step is to learn key information and then spread out from there. The first pieces of information you should have are about seven major grape varieties and wine regions. Knowing that Merlot is a grape grown in Bordeaux and Pinot Noir is grown in Burgundy is a good start.

The next step is to learn about the major wine styles and production methods. Understanding the basics of winemaking and the real differences between red and white wines is important. From there, develop a habit of tasting wines in a structured fashion. Some of the best wine schools focus on wine tasting, so taking a wine class now may help you develop good habits.

If you want to work as a sommelier in any capacity, it would be a good idea to gain some experience in the wine trade. You should also start experimenting with food and wine pairings: see where common-sense pairings fail, where they succeed, and why.

Finally, look for a wine school that offers sommelier credentials (or a comparable qualification) and start attending a wine course. At this point, you should have a general idea of which part of the wine or food trade you want to work in, and use that knowledge to select a wine school that can help you attain your career goals.

Different Sommelier Credential Types

In the industry, three significant organizations are recognized for the credentials they offer: the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the National Wine School.

Each of these institutions offers different options, programs and levels. WSET formally calls its awards qualifications, but SOMM considers them sommelier credentials because of how they are used throughout the wine trade.

Court of Master Sommeliers

At its higher levels, the Court of Master Sommeliers program is exclusively designed for the restaurant trade. If your goal is a career in fine dining, this is an option.

The CMS is well known for its media exposure. However, it has a reputation as a boys’ club and has been involved in major controversies involving institutional culture, examination integrity, and sexual misconduct.

Unlike WSET or the National Wine School, CMS does not license independent schools to deliver its certification system. CMS-A schedules and delivers its courses and examinations directly at selected locations.

• Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination. The in-person program takes place over two days. CMS-A also offers an online version that students may complete over as long as six months. The curriculum covers viticulture, winemaking, grape varieties, classifications, tasting techniques and wine service.
• Certified Sommelier Examination. This is a one-day examination covering theory, a written blind tasting of four wines, and practical hospitality and service.
• Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination. The course and examination are separate. Candidates must have professional experience in restaurant service or beverage sales. The examination includes written theory, verbal tasting, hospitality, practical service and the business of the sommelier.
• Master Sommelier Diploma Examination. This is the final CMS level and is built around advanced theory, deductive tasting, restaurant hospitality, service and beverage sales.

For the current scandals plaguing the CMS—including allegations of racism, sexual misconduct, and examination failures: see our complete guide to the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Wine & Spirit Education Trust

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust offers an excellent and rather broad credential, covering wine history, theory, production, regions and practical wine assessment.

However, the focus is not restaurant work. Unlike CMS, WSET does not make tableside service a central element of its wine qualifications.

There are WSET-affiliated schools around the country. WSET works on a licensing model through organizations it calls Approved Programme Providers. Prospective license holders must complete a specific sequence of WSET classes, including educator training, and meet WSET’s business, staffing, teaching, examination and administrative requirements.

There are more than 800 such licenses. Some license holders cut their costs by sharing their licenses or extending their programs through affiliated locations in other states. This means the quality of education can differ widely. The curriculum and examinations may be standardized, but the instructors, classroom hours, wines and student support are not always the same.

• Level 1. This is a basic introduction to wine, including common grape varieties, wine styles, storage, service, food pairing and WSET’s tasting system. WSET requires a minimum of six hours of study.
• Level 2. This level focuses on major grape varieties, regions, styles, production, quality, prices, service and food pairing. It requires at least 28 hours of study.
• Level 3. This course goes in-depth into the tasting and assessment of wine. There is also a survey of viticulture and winemaking practices worldwide. It requires a minimum of 84 hours of study and includes written theory and a blind tasting.
• Level 4 Diploma. Completing this diploma usually takes 18 months to three years. The qualification requires at least 500 hours of study and covers wine production, sparkling and fortified wines, the business side of wine, still wines of the world, independent research and blind tasting.

WSET stresses that its qualifications do not form part of a regulated qualifications framework outside the United Kingdom and do not guarantee employment or career progression.

National Wine School

While WSET and CMS evolved in Europe, the National Wine School started in the United States.

This school does not train people for restaurants but rather acts more like a liberal arts college for the wine trade. Its programs are available through approved wine schools and universities, and many of these institutions also offer online programs.

• Level 1, The introductory online wine course covering the essentials that wine lovers and professionals should know.
• Level 2, Foundation. A professional foundation course focused on wine structure, sensory development and blind tasting.
• Level 3, Intermediate. A sommelier course focused on the world’s major wine regions, grape varieties, theory and deductive tasting.
• Advanced Qualification. Students complete a minimum of four advanced, specialist, scholar or master-level courses. The credential awarded depends on the student’s average numerical grade.
• Master in Wine Studies. The school’s highest wine qualification, intended for students who have completed sustained advanced study across several disciplines.

Students earn their sommelier pin by completing its required certification pathway. Its online programs are offered to individuals, universities and members of the wine trade.

Unlike CMS or WSET, the National Wine School is structured as a trade school and offers state-compliant sommelier certifications.

Do You Need Restaurant Experience?

Restaurant experience is not required for your sommelier journey. However, having some firsthand knowledge is helpful for understanding the wine marketplace and consumers. It also teaches valuable skills like sales, guest management, and hospitality. These are all valuable skills in both the food and wine trades.

One sommelier credentialing agency (the Court of Master Sommeliers) does require restaurant experience at higher levels, so if you plan on that route, keep that in mind. For people looking to take a sommelier program and not planning to work full-time in the restaurant industry, WSET* or NWS are better options.

*Technically, WSET does not offer sommelier certification, but offers wine qualifications.

Online Versus In-Person Sommelier Training

Online sommelier programs have come a long way in the past decade. Wine theory is easily taught online and can be the best option if you live in a region without a top-ranked wine school.

However, a highly qualified wine instructor will help you master the art of wine tasting. Calibrating your palate is very difficult, and only one online wine program incorporates sensory training into its curriculum.

Also of note: many WSET programs require the student to take exams in person, even if they are attending an online program. When looking for online programs, make sure to verify that it is 100% online.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Sommelier?

When choosing which sommelier credential to pursue, it’s important to understand the costs involved; for some, tuition is only part of the total.

Some agencies charge additional application and examination fees. Other costs include travel and lodging for in-person exams. Others include required wines, books, and kits.

What at first seems like an easy and inexpensive path to certification can quickly become a major expense. We cover these hidden costs in these two articles: CMS Guide and the WSET Guide.  

Earning Potential of a Sommelier

Once all the hard work is behind you, you can look forward to the job and rewards.

Becoming a sommelier can be lucrative, and most of the best-paying jobs are outside restaurants. Restaurant sommeliers typically earn between $40,000 and $70,000, sometimes with bonuses or commissions.

Senior trade roles in education, consulting, importing, distribution and corporate beverage management can pay significantly more. According to SOMM’s internal records of graduate employment and income, advanced professionals outside restaurants frequently earn six-figure salaries.

That does not mean a credential automatically produces a high income. Compensation depends on the job, location, experience, sales responsibilities and management authority. Few sommeliers become wealthy through restaurant service alone. The highest earnings are generally found outside daily floor work.

Career Paths for Sommeliers

There are many career paths for someone with a sommelier credential. Here is a list (far from comprehensive) of the possibilities:

• Restaurant sommelier
• Head sommelier
• Beverage director
• Wine director
• Retail buyer
• Importer or distributor
• Winery hospitality or education
• Wine instructor
• Corporate beverage manager
• Consultant
• Winemaker
• Writer or journalist
• Private-cellar manager

Common Questions About Becoming a Sommelier

How Long Does It Take to Become a Sommelier?

There is no universal certificate required before someone can work as a sommelier. Each school uses its own level system, and employers decide what education and experience they require.

However, in many tiered programs, Level 3 is the point at which students earn a professional sommelier credential or pin. Some schools offer accelerated programs that allow students to earn a sommelier pin in a week, although that is uncommon.

On average, earning an initial sommelier credential takes two to four months. Becoming a strong restaurant sommelier takes longer because restaurant service, wine buying and guest management must be learned through experience. Advanced credentials can require several years.

How Hard Is It to Become a Sommelier?

It is not particularly hard for a serious average student to earn a sommelier pin through Level 3.

According to SOMM’s analysis of student outcomes, an average student who completes the required work can pass through Level 3 approximately 95% of the time.

However, some programs dial up the difficulty to extraordinary levels after that point. At its highest level, the Court of Master Sommeliers has a pass rate of less than 8%.

Working as a restaurant sommelier also takes time and a willingness to work your way up the ladder. Passing an examination and performing the job are two different accomplishments.

Do Sommeliers Make Good Money?

Becoming a sommelier can mean a drop in income for people in corporate America. However, sommeliers working outside restaurants often make six-figure salaries.

The title alone does not determine income. The best-paid professionals usually combine wine knowledge with management, education, purchasing, sales, consulting or business expertise.

Is It Worth It to Become a Sommelier?

Becoming a sommelier can be worth the effort. The prestige that comes with the title and the doors it opens—professionally and personally—are hard to overstate.

However, the value depends on what you plan to do with the education. Those seeking prestige without sustained effort are likely to be disappointed. Those committed to learning, tasting and evolving can build rewarding careers.

What Education Is Required to Become a Sommelier?

Becoming a sommelier does not require any specific certification.

However, many sommeliers earn credentials through the Court of Master Sommeliers, the National Wine School or the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. These programs are not interchangeable. Each has a different curriculum, assessment system, purpose and professional focus.

The right education depends on whether your goal is restaurant service, academic wine study, employment elsewhere in the wine trade or simply a deeper understanding of wine.