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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This article was updated in October 2020 to reflect new reporting by the New York Times that reveals troubling accounts of sexual violence within the Court of Master Sommeliers of America (CMSa). Several CMSa members have spoken up to defend the institution; we have given them their own page here: Sommeliers Speak Out. Is it […]
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If you’re looking for a high-quality and well-regarded institute to complete your wine certification, the CMSA should be at the top of your list. The original Court of Wine Master Sommeliers was established in 1969. This London-based institution is a leader in the industry for qualifying sommeliers. In 1998, the Court opened an outpost in […]
Read MoreFor the current scandals plaguing the CMS –including charges of racism and sexual violence– please refer to this page: Master Sommelier Scandals. The press release from the Court of Master Sommeliers, dated July 17th, 2019:In 2015, the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas created the Advanced Application Process to better accommodate the growing demand for our Advanced […]
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What does it take to become a master sommelier?Step one is to become a sommelier. To non-industry people, it probably sounds like a neat excuse to get paid for drinking-okay, maybe it is. Master Sommeliers take particular pride in their work. It is well warranted. They are a great deal more than a well-informed drinking […]
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The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas announced Devon Broglie as the new Chair and Matt Stamp as the new Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. Broglie is the Global Wine Buyer for Whole Foods Market and Stamp is the co-founder of Compline wine bar, restaurant and wine merchant in Napa Valley.For the current scandals […]
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The Napa Valley Needs Your Help Photo: V. Sattui Winery under blue skies on Friday, October 20, 2017 WHY: The nightly images of the devastation broadcasted around the world have given the impression that damage to wineries and vineyards was widespread. It was not.Of the nearly 500 wineries in the Napa Valley, only 7 wineries were severely damaged or […]
Read MoreWashington, DC (October 16, 2017)— This November, recipients of the 14th Annual Wines of Chile Awards (AWOCA) presented by Wines of Chile will be formally announced at a special event in Washington, DC. The judging of more than 300 wines took place in early September in San Francisco during a two-day blind tasting with 27 judges from all sides of the […]
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There are eight points that all master somms must be able to accomplish when tasting wine.When we talk about “Master Somms” we are technically talking about Court of Master Sommeliers, since they own the copyright to the term Master Sommelier. However, in common parlance that means any Level V Graduate, which includes the Master of […]
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What is a Sommelier? Let’s Get to Brass TacksThe term has two meanings:A Sommelier’s job is running the beverage program at a restaurant, with a focus on the wine list. A less sexy name for this job is “Beverage Manager.” The job actually predates restaurants: back in the Victorian era, a Sommelier was a servant […]
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