By: Joshua Donescoss, Editor-in-Chief
Disclaimer: This article is about alcoholic beverages. You must be 21 years of age or older to drink or purchase an alcoholic beverage. This article does not condone underage drinking.
I want to dedicate an article based on one of my greatest passions: Wine. There are quite a few folks on campus that enjoy imbibing every now and then but when it comes to learning about the finer details of the world’s alcoholic beverages many have no idea where to start! If you have ever wanted to figure out what a wine will taste like before you buy it, how to blind taste wine like a Sommelier, what’s the big deal with points, or why its all so expensive then I am here to show you several options that are available to you right now, much of it relatively affordable and online.
Allow me another disclaimer. While I am an Introductory Sommelier, WSET II Award in Wines Certified, and a Certified Cider Guide, I am in no way whosoever an official spokesperson for any of these organizations I will talk about.
WSET
This program is certainly more for the academic. The Wine and Spirit Education Trust is a UK based certifying body that tests students on their knowledge of wine and other alcoholic beverages, like spirits and sake. One of the best features of this organization is that they have certified WSET educators around the world and online.
There are 4 distinct levels, including a coveted diploma. Level I is a very basic and cursory overview of the world of wine. This is for beginners and enthusiasts. Level II is mildly intermediate. Level II does not require Level I, but to make the best of the course I believe you should have a little more than a beginner’s knowledge about wine. Level III is advanced and requires you to successfully complete (or test out of) Level II. Level III is mostly for the professional or the ambitious. Level III is also where you test your ability to explain in detail certain aspects of wine and your ability to blind taste. For those who do not know, blind tasting a wine, or any beverage, is the skill of seeing, smelling, and tasting a wine or beer or spirit, and figuring out exactly what kind of wine it is, where it is from, and how old it is. Is it magic to be able to take a small sniff and sip of red wine and immediately know if it is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California rather than from Bordeaux, France or from Hunter Valley, Australia? Not at all! It is an impressive skill that anyone can learn over time with enough reading, studying, and drinking. Level IV or the Diploma is a lengthy, arduous and expensive process that requires an extreme knowledge of wine itself, the wine industry, and a mastery of blind tasting. There are industry-based essays to write and long tests to pass. If you make it this far then you are one of the best!
CMS
The Court of Master Sommeliers is probably the most well-known of all the wine education programs. If you have ever seen the movie SOMM, then you have some idea of how difficult a task it is to become a Master Sommelier. It is a coveted title among sommeliers in the restaurant industry. Unlike WSET or SWE, there isn’t much of a set curriculum, although they let you know what you will be tested on. This program is more self-paced, and it covers all things beverage, not only wine but also classic cocktails, spirits, sake, tea, coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages. Like WSET, this program has 4 levels: Introductory Sommelier, Certified Sommelier, Advanced Sommelier, and Master Sommelier (MS). CMS is more for those in the restaurant industry, but I wouldn’t say that you should ignore this route. Many have gone through the rigors of the exams never having worked in a restaurant, although you may be at a significant disadvantage during the Service exams. Not only must you handle the pressure of being in front of Master Sommeliers, but also proper champagne or port service, which are incredibly special skills in the wine world. The exams increase in difficulty and length. Introductory Sommelier is, again, an intermediate overview of the world of wine and beverages, including spirits and sake. It’s pure Theory. For Certified Sommelier, one needs to have a significantly higher degree of wine knowledge and tasting ability, plus some skill in serving wine in a restaurant setting. Advanced Sommelier is many degrees more difficult and the Service and Tasting exams more exacting. They are affectionately referred to as “mini-masters.” You really are one of the best at your craft at this point. The most insane exam you will ever willingly take is the Master Sommelier exam. They are the Navy SEALs of Sommeliers! They know it all! Okay, not ALL, but more than anybody else in the world.
Around 260 Master Sommeliers exist in the world, one being added to the list just a week ago. There is even an MS that lives and operates right here in the Corning/Finger Lakes region! They also have something called the Krug Cup, which is an award for those sommeliers who passed their master’s exam on their first attempt. Only 14 have won this award. I do not believe you could be tested any better or harder than in the Court of Master Sommeliers, so take the path if you wish to truly be the best!
SWE
I have had a little experience with the Society of Wine Educators. This has two levels: Certified Specialist of Wine and Certified Wine Educator. I attempted the first level, but I was burnt out at the time. As you can surmise, they focus on wine education and educators. Like with any subject, how you teach wine is just as important as knowing all the facts. The first level is like any other, a purely theoretical overview of the basics. I would say that it is an intermediate level of difficulty, although it would be a great place to start for beginners as well. The next level is learning how to teach what you know. From what I remember, they test your theorical knowledge, your tasting abilities, and your teaching abilities. Instead of a service test, it included a formal presentation that has strict guidelines and on a random topic.
IMW
If you ever wanted to get a PhD in wine, then this is the program for you. The Institute of Masters of Wine is an incredibly prestigious group of people who have quite literally mastered all things wine. To apply, one must either be an Advanced Sommelier in the CMS or have earned the WSET Diploma. There are currently 416 Masters of Wine. To my knowledge and brief glance at Google, only around 3-4 people in the world have obtained both the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine distinction. I am inspired by those extreme overachievers! There are three intense stages of study and testing to pass to become a Master of Wine, which requires lengthy seminars and travel. You could really rack up your flyer miles! This particular and special recognition is, for the wine world, a big deal. When I am looking for wine books or articles, I typically go for the authors with MW at the end of their names.
Cicerone/Pommelier/Other
For those who don’t like wine there is a place for you! If you prefer your drinks gluten free and bubbly you could become a Certified Pommelier through the American Cider Association. WSET has several certifications in Spirits or Sake if you prefer hard liquor. If you are more of a beer person, then there is the Cicerone program. It is structured very similarly to the CMS but focuses solely on beer production, sales, proper service, and blind tasting.
The Reason Why I Study
Wine has been a social, political, and spiritual force in human history. From Noah’s own vineyard to the Wedding of Cana, then to Holy Thursday, all the way to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being celebrated every hour of every day on Catholic altars, wine is at the very center of my own religious beliefs and practices. There have been gods and demi-gods of wine in every religion and culture. Wine has been traded by every major nation and now we can even buy stocks of wine not yet bottled with apps like Vinovest. I could not think of a better topic to study. When I study wine I study anthropology, theology, global history, mythology, chemistry, economics, biology, material science, and even politics! When I taste a wine, I get to travel to wherever it is from, say France or South Africa, without having to board a plane. I get to taste that place’s specific terroir; the soil, the air, the altitude, the aspect, the canopy management, the amount of heat or rain, the length of a season, and all the other countless factors that go into manufacturing wine. I get to hear the story of the family or individuals that put in the years of hard work to grow the vines, harvest the grapes, and turn simple grape juice into a luxury item I can barely afford on a regular basis. I get to boost my theoretical knowledge and hone my tasting abilities when I visit local wineries or attend challenging group tastings. I get to slow down and enjoy a simple pleasure, which is both instructive and reflective at the same time. In a single glass I have a complete education. I absolutely want to impress my friends and family with what I know and can blindly pick out of a glass, but more than that I feel that it tastes better the more I know it. I get to connect to my God, our planet. our communities, and myself when I drink and study wine.
Let’s remember to approach all alcoholic beverages with respect, moderation, and temperance. Around 37 people die each day due to drunk driving accidents. If you include all other alcohol related deaths it rises to about 487 deaths per day. Alcohol is a toxin that severely reduces our abilities to make decisions and operate heavy equipment (like cars). Don’t drink and drive. Know your own limits. Drink at home and stay home. Eat before you drink if you are out and have a designated driver (DD). If you don’t have a DD, then call an Uber, Lyft, cab or a bus. Take it from me, a person with a DUI on his driving record, a DUI arrest is catastrophic. It can and will ruin your life in the short-term and follow you for around a decade. If you can keep those facts in mind and learn to respect alcohol, then it is a wonderful thing to study and enjoy.
I hope this article motivates you to start your own journey!
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