How To

How to Become a Sommelier

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

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A sommelier is a wine expert that manages the wine in a restaurant. To truly understand the complexity of wine, you must know the process of its creation and have the skills it takes to distinguish between a great wine from a not-so-great wine. This requires an excellent sense of smell and taste, as well as knowledge of the color each wine should have. Use these steps to learn how to become a sommelier.

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Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Decide how you will be using your wine knowledge. Do you want to work in a restaurant or just impress your friends? A true sommelier has to attend culinary classes and pass a test.
Step 2

Research culinary schools in your area. The Culinary Institute of America is widely-known as the best in America. Find out what kind of sommelier classes are offered, the tuition and other costs involved. (See Resources below.)
Step 3

Understand that the job of a sommelier is not only to know and appreciate wine. It also includes managing, receiving, purchasing, storage, service and sales of the wine at a restaurant, hotel, resort or other place.
Step 4

Attend the required classes, pass the tests and sign up with one of the sommelier associations to secure your education and legitimacy.

Tips & Warnings

There is a certain standard that comes with being a sommelier that affects everything from your attire to your attitude. Learn these ways and you could become a master sommelier.
Never insult the profession or the examination board, or you will be considered as not having the right attitude for a sommelier.

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Resources

Comments

grapegirls said

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on 3/13/2009 We work with sommeliers all the time and routinely book them to make personal appearances at our tastings and events. They are the new rock stars of the culinary world - so glad they are finaally getting the attention they deserve!

jcj0007 said

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on 8/27/2008 Your passion about wine is great! I would like to submit another educational institution that accredits Sommeliers via the Boards of Education (they are not a club or tasting group - they take wine and spirit knowledge seriously) - the International Sommelier Guild www.internationalsommelier.com - talk about passion - this group gets it. After their Wine Fundamentals Certificate Level 1 course...I'm addicted!