Professional Sommelier Certificate?

quote:

Originally posted by Sommelier_Someday:
Hi everyone... My name is Blake. I'm just finishing my sophomore year at Johnson & Wales - Culinary Arts. Starting to think about my next educational experience. Does anyone have any information on formal Sommelier Certification or training? I love cooking, but I'm very curious and interested in learning about wine and paring.

https://mastersommeliers.org/
this is the information you will need for testing, when, where and what will be covered. I would look into J&W's wine program as well as local schools classes on wine. My best advice for someone with the same aspirations as you, drink as much wine as you can, read as much about wine as possible...
and good luck!

quote:

drink as much wine as you can, read as much about wine as possible...
and good luck!

If I drink too much I can't read.

Also look at the programs offered on WS for wine studies and the Masters of Wine program.

http://www.niagaracollege.ca/studying/programs/fulltime/wbm_0275/

contact the college for all wine and culinary programs. They also link with Brock University.

you should go to www.sommelierjournal.com and subscribe. I just got their premier issue and they cover where to go to get certified. If this is the path you want to take this magazine could be a great resource for you. Worth checking out

quote:

Originally posted by Sommelier_Someday:
Does anyone have any information on formal Sommelier Certification or training?

Board-O hasn’t posted here lately but when and if he returns you should get his advice about a sommelier program. He really thinks highly of sommeliers and should be able to give you some sound advice.

quote:

Originally posted by Altaholic:
Board-O hasn’t posted here lately but when and if he returns you should get his advice about a sommelier program. He really thinks highly of sommeliers and should be able to give you some sound advice.

Hey, I love them. Especially when I go shark fishing.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:

quote:

Originally posted by Altaholic:
Board-O hasn’t posted here lately but when and if he returns you should get his advice about a sommelier program. He really thinks highly of sommeliers and should be able to give you some sound advice.

Hey, I love them. Especially when I go shark fishing.

Now now, lets not compare them to lawyers!

Just to point anyone interested in the right direction, you can find the Get Certified article Healdsburg Gal mentioned at
www.sommelierjournal.com/articles/article.aspx?year=200...nth=12&articlenum=58

Tim Gaiser has written an update to his Get Certified article, you can find it here:
http://www.sommelierjournal.co...nth=03&articlenum=70

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:

quote:

Originally posted by Altaholic:
Board-O hasn’t posted here lately but when and if he returns you should get his advice about a sommelier program. He really thinks highly of sommeliers and should be able to give you some sound advice.

Hey, I love them. Especially when I go shark fishing.

Now now, lets not compare them to lawyers!

Who, the sharks?

the three big wine courses are the wine and spirt education trust (wset) which leads to the master of wine program (if you so choose), the second is the master som. program which ends with the master som certification. The third is the international sommelier guild (isg), they give you the tittle of som.

Each has their strengths and weaknesses, I have done the level one of the program that leads to the master som title. It was interesting, has some info on service.

I had done the first 3 levels of the WSET program, it has lots of great info, each level has a ton more info. The 4th level is a 2-3yr diploma. It does not have much, if any, information on service. The trade off is your get lots of info on the different regions.

I have never taken an isg course but I do know lots of people who love it, I have only heard one or two negative comments.


If I were you I would look into all three as well as the WS courses and other local courses, see what fits what you want and what is available. I would also suggest trying one or two levels of each and see which format you like best. After all education is something no one can take away.


Also, taste wines and write notes on all of them, you will be surprised at how much they come up when wine to people.

I should note I am not a som, nor do I plan on becoming one, all this info comes from my experience


hope this helps

blake ,
learning never stops!
my nephew just past an got his cert!
he works in orlando
he is a grad from FSU!
he looks at moooooooooore money!
most of the people have never been in the food biz but think they know it all!!!

never stop tasting!
that's what makes you better! an never trust a skinny cook!!!!!!!!!!!

Every time I see the word Sommelier, I now think professional wine fetcher thanks to GA.

As Blake's original question was back in Feb, 2008, I wonder if he ever pursued it.
With only the 1 post, I'm thinking not