On Oct. 9, 2018, the board of directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas voted unanimously to invalidate the tasting portion of that year’s Master Sommelier Diploma Examination, citing clear evidence that a sitting Master had breached confidentiality surrounding the wines presented to candidates.
The decision effectively nullified the tasting results for all examinees in the 2018 cohort, including those who had recently passed. According to the board, detailed information about the tasting flight had been improperly disclosed, compromising the integrity of the exam and leaving no viable alternative short of voiding the results in their entirety.
“Maintaining the integrity of the examination process must be our highest priority,” said Devon Broglie, then chairman of the board, in a prepared statement. “A compromised examination does not provide the guarantee our credential is known for.”
The Master Sommelier title, regarded across the global hospitality industry as one of its most exacting professional credentials, rests in large part on the credibility of its examination process. The board’s action underscored that premise, emphasizing that even a single breach—particularly by a credentialed Master—threatens not only individual outcomes but the standing of the designation itself.
While acknowledging the impact on newly pinned Masters, the board said it weighed the consequences carefully before acting. An expedited pathway was promised for eligible candidates to retake the tasting portion of the examination, with the stated aim of minimizing professional disruption while restoring confidence in the process.
In parallel, the board barred the Master implicated in the breach from participating in any Court programs or events and initiated proceedings to terminate membership in accordance with the organization’s bylaws.
“Our honor and integrity are the best safeguards for preserving the reputation of the Court, our members, and our industry,” Broglie said.
Founded in England in 1977, the Court of Master Sommeliers introduced its diploma examination to the United States a decade later, with the first U.S.-based exam held in 1987. The organization oversees a four-tier progression—Introductory, Certified, Advanced, and the Master Sommelier Diploma—designed to test beverage knowledge, service proficiency, and professional judgment at increasing levels of rigor.
The 2018 decision, announced from Napa, marked one of the most consequential governance actions in the Court’s history, signaling a willingness to impose sweeping remedies in defense of institutional credibility, even at significant short-term cost.