Wine · Court of Master Sommeliers
Court of Master Sommeliers (Four Levels)
The service-focused path to becoming a sommelier, ending in one of the hardest exams in hospitality.
Elite levelStep 4 of 4
- Levels
- Introductory · Certified · Advanced · Master Sommelier
- Time to complete
- Introductory: two days · Certified: one exam day · Advanced: multi-day exam · Master: years of preparation
- How you are assessed
- Theory, deductive blind tasting and practical table service
- Indicative cost
- $$$$ About $1,000–5,000
- Before you start
- Each level must be passed before the next; experience is strongly recommended from Certified onwards
- Where it is offered
- Worldwide
WHAT IT IS
The Introductory course is two days of teaching by Master Sommeliers followed by a multiple-choice exam. Certified tests deductive tasting, theory and table-side service in a single day. Advanced is a multi-day exam with a six-wine blind tasting, a written theory test and a service test, and pass rates are low. The Master Sommelier Diploma is the final level and very few candidates ever earn it.
Details are summarised from public information and may change. Always confirm requirements, dates and fees with the awarding body before you enrol.