The Different Sommelier Levels and How to Get Them: What They Mean for Your Career

Many people are familiar with sommeliers, the most famous being the master sommelier, but what is a sommelier? There are many different levels of sommeliers and each level can have an affect on a person's career. Let's talk about each of them, what they are, and what the certification process looks like.

What is a sommelier and what are the different levels of sommeliers?

A sommelier is a wine professional who specializes in wine service and education. There are different levels of sommeliers, each with their own responsibilities and certification process. The different levels of sommeliers are:

- certified sommelier

- advanced sommelier

- master sommelier

Certified Sommelier

The certified sommelier level is the beginning level of sommelier. Even though they are a beginner they are still wine experts in their own right. To become a certified sommelier, you must pass a one day, 3 section exam that tests your knowledge of tasting, theory and service. The wine tasting section is a 30 minute written exam that required candidates to describe and identify 4 wines. The theory section tests candidates' overall knowledge of the world of wine and sommeliers. The service portion of the exam includes completing a variety of tasks such as recommending beverages, opening sparkling wine, discussing food and wine pairings etc. Although certified sommeliers are not the highest level of a sommelier, they are still considered experts in the wine world.

Advanced Sommelier

The advanced sommelier level is the next level up and requires that you pass a 3 section exam that tests your knowledge. This exam includes a 1 hour theory exam with both short answer and multiple choice questions. The tasting portion of the exam is a 25 minute exam blind tasting 6 different wines. The final sections is a 45 minute service exam. The pass rate for this exam is about 25-30% and those who pass the advanced sommelier exam are eligible for the Master Sommelier exam.

Master Sommelier

The master sommelier level is the most famous and the highest level of sommelier. To become a master sommelier, you must pass a 3 part exam that tests your knowledge of all aspects of the wine industry, from global wine regions to food/wine pairing to accurately identifying 6 wines during a blind tasting. The pass rate for the theory portion alone is only about 10%. This level is where sommeliers specialize in all aspects of the wine industry and become experts in their field. As of 2022, 269 people have passed the Master Sommelier exam, creating an elite group of beverage professionals.

What are the benefits of certification?

There are many benefits to becoming a sommelier. The most obvious benefit is that you will have a wealth of knowledge about wine. You will be able to serve and recommend wine to your clients with confidence. You will also be able to help educate your clients about wine and the wine-making process.

Another benefit of certification is that it can lead to higher paying jobs. Many sommeliers start their careers as certified sommeliers and use their knowledge and experience to move up the ladder to becoming an advanced or master sommelier.

What are some common jobs for sommeliers, and how much can they expect to make annually?

There are many different jobs for sommeliers. Many sommeliers work in luxury hotels or high end restaurants providing customers with an excellent wine experience. At a restaurant, a sommelier may assist in creating the wine list, managing wine inventory or create food/wine pairings. Other opportunities include working in retail managing wine inventory. If you prefer working at a vineyard, that can be an option as a sommelier as well. Some vineyards have sommeliers on site to market and assist in selling the wine and hosting wine tastings. If you prefer using your knowledge to help teach others about wine, sommeliers can also work as wine educators teaching classes, hosting tasting or holding events.

The salaries for sommeliers vary depending on their level of certification, years of experience and the company they work for. The average income for a qualified sommelier is $60,000/year. For those with an advanced sommelier certification an annual salary of up to $80,000 can be expected. Master Sommeliers can make an annual income of $150,000.

Becoming a sommelier is an excellent way to expand your knowledge about wine and the wine industry. It can also lead to higher paying jobs with more opportunities for advancement. With hard work and determination, anyone can become a sommelier!