Sommelier Life
The working life behind the pin: careers, service on the floor, and the people who shaped the trade.
FeaturedFrom commis to Master: the Sommelier career pathwayAll levels · 3 minLatest from the floor
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From commis to Master: the Sommelier career pathway
How the Court’s four levels line up with the roles a sommelier grows into, for anyone planning the first steps of a career in wine service.
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Why become a Master Sommelier?
What the Master Sommelier title means to an employer, a guest and the wider trade, as the Court itself sets it out.
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Should the sommelier taste the wine?
The Court’s Service Standards on why a sommelier may taste a guest’s wine, when to ask, and how much to pour.
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Before the first guest: mise en place
What the Court expects to be ready before wine service begins, from polished glasses to the right temperatures.
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The numbers behind the wine list
Gross profit, selling price and cost price, explained the way the Court’s Business Calculations teach them, for candidates working towards the Advanced.
Advanced · 3 minRead moreTwo scholarship routes for aspiring Sommeliers
Two routes to funded study described on the Court’s website: its own global scholarships, and the Golden Vines Diversity Scholarship.
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The letters are earned once; the standard is kept every service.Why become a Master Sommelier?