Sommelier

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
tastevin
around his neck

A sommelier (

waiter. Sommeliers Australia states that the role is strategically on par with that of the chef de cuisine.[1]

Description

sommelier knife
is an important tool of the sommelier.
tastevin
vessel used by sommeliers in the past is still a symbol today.

A sommelier may be responsible for the development of wine lists and books and for the delivery of wine service and training for the other restaurant staff. Working along with the culinary team, they

patrons
. The sommelier has a responsibility to work within the taste preference and budget parameters of the patron.

In modern times, a sommelier's role may be considered broader than working only with wines, and may encompass all aspects of the restaurant's service, with an enhanced focus on wines, beers, spirits, soft-drinks, cocktails, mineral waters, and tobaccos.[1]

Etymology

The modern word is

Old Provençal where a saumalier was a pack animal driver.[2] Sauma referred to a pack animal or the load of a pack animal. In Late Latin, sagma referred to a packsaddle.[2]

Education and certification

Though 'sommelier' is a job title potentially anyone may claim, becoming a professional certified sommelier often requires some combination of experience, training, formal education (a bachelor's degree is not required, but individuals may do a two-year associate degree), classes and examinations.

graduate school
costs in the US.

The Court of Master Sommeliers

The

Masters of Wine, the British Hotels & Restaurants Association, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association of Great Britain, and the Wholesale Tobacco Trade Association.[4] Since the Master Sommelier Diploma was introduced in 1969, a total of 249 people from around the world had become Master Sommeliers by the end of 2017.[5]
The Court also offers intermediate levels of education including the annual "Advanced Sommelier Course", which prepares invited candidates to sit for the Advanced Exam, generally offered 2–3 times per year. Taking the Advanced Course and passing the Advanced Exam are mandatory before sitting for the Masters Exam.

International Sommelier Guild

The International Sommelier Guild (ISG) educates and certifies sommeliers throughout America, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa.[6] It was founded in 1982 and the programme consists of Level 1 Wine Fundamentals, Level 2 Wine Fundamentals and a Sommelier Diploma. They also offer a 'Certified Sommelier Instructor' diploma.[7]

International Wine & Spirits Guild

The International Wine Guild was founded in 1998 and is approved and regulated by the

Spirits and Sake
.

North American Sommelier Association

The North American Sommelier Association was founded in 2006 and is the official representative in the United States and Canada of the Worldwide Sommelier Association (WSA). Its Certified Sommelier course is divided into three phases but is offered as one entire course and includes extensive class time, lectures, educational visits to wineries, and educational dinners. Unlike other groups, NASA has only two tiers of Sommelier qualification: Silver-Pin and Gold-Pin. The Gold-Pin qualification is obtained through a series of extensive requirements and certifications (Master Wine Taster, Master Of Service...) as well as proof of experience in the industry. Aside from the Sommelier Certification, NASA also provides various smaller proprietary specialization courses, such as 'Italian Wine Specialist', 'American Wine Specialist', 'Spanish Wine Specialist' and various master-classes such as 'Master Of Terroir', 'Master of Sangiovese', 'Master of Service', and 'Master Wine Taster'.[citation needed]

National Wine School

The National Wine School was founded in 2009 in

ANSI-compliant professional certification for the wine trade in the United States. They offer five levels of wine certification. To earn a sommelier pin, one must complete level three certification. To earn the advanced sommelier pin, the student must complete the level four certification.[10][11]

Union de la Sommellerie Française

In France, the Union des Sommeliers[12] (UDS) was founded in 1907 to ensure social protection for its members, both sommeliers and cellar masters in Paris region. The approach and role of the association developed throughout the years as it lost its autonomy by merging with the Mutualité Hôtelière in 1959.[12][13] Ten years later, sommeliers regained their independence as the Association des Sommeliers de Paris (ASP) was founded in 1969.[12] In the same year the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) was created and federated other organisations in the world,[14] and in 1970 the old UDS was renamed in Union de la Sommellerie Française, UDSF, which supervises today the 21 regional associations in France (including ASP).[15] The title of Mention Complémentaire Sommellerie (MCS) and Brevet Professionnel de Sommelier (BP)[16] can be achieved studying for many different approved providers, and the final qualification of Maître Sommelier[17] can be achieved after an accurate career assessment, requiring at least 10 years of professional experience.

Associazione Italiana Sommelier

In Italy, the

food & wine pairing
technique, publications, service standards and three-levels course structure which leads to the Certified Sommelier qualification. A Professional Sommelier qualification and diploma is issued by AIS, after a candidate's career assessment, for those sommeliers actually working in a food and beverage establishment.

Wine & Spirit Education Trust

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, often referred to as 'WSET', does not offer sommelier certifications. Despite this, many sommeliers choose to earn these qualifications due to similar curriculum and the WSET's structured approach that allows one to gain knowledge through tutored coursework.

Contest for the Best Sommelier in the World

The Association de la Sommelerie Internationale (ASI) organizes the World’s Best Sommelier Contest every 3 years since 1969.[21] The last event took place in 2019 and crowned the German candidate named Marc Almert. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 17th edition of the contest will take place in 2023 instead of 2022 in Paris.[22]

Similar professions

Other specialized beverage service roles take on the term "sommelier". These include: beer sommelier (also called a cicerone)[23] and sake sommelier.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hudin, Miquel (27 July 2020). "What's a Sommelier?". Hudin.com. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  2. ^ a b c "sommelier". The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  3. ^ "Become a Sommelier – Education and Career Information".
  4. ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (June 29, 2005). "Master Sommeliers - who are they?".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Court of Master Sommeliers". Retrieved 2020-07-31.
  6. ^ "International Sommelier Guild".
  7. ^ "International Sommelier Guild - ISG Courses". internationalsommelier.com.
  8. ^ International Wine Guild
  9. ^ National Wine School
  10. ^ "The Guide to Wine Certifications in America: Sommelier Programs in the United States". Sommelier Schools and Certifications.
  11. ^ "Sommelier Certification: National Wine School". Sommelier Schools and Certifications. 18 May 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Union De la Sommellerie Française - Historique (in French)
  13. ^ Champchefs - Paris a century of history
  14. ^ Association de la Sommellerie Internationale - About ASI
  15. ^ www.sommmeliers-international.com - UDSF
  16. ^ Union De la Sommellerie Française - Le Metier Archived 2020-09-23 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
  17. ^ Union De la Sommellerie Française - Maitre Sommelier Archived 2020-09-23 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
  18. ^ "Italian Sommelier Association". - (in Italian)
  19. ^ "Italian Sommelier Association". Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2020-04-12. - (in italian)
  20. ^ "WorldWide Sommelier Association". - The Association
  21. ^ "Contests". ASI - Association de la Sommellerie Internationale. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  22. ^ "Meilleur sommelier du monde, un concours pour 'Faire rayonner la France de la gastronomie et du vin'". www.lhotellerie-restauration.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  23. ^ "What to call your local beer expert". Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Sake Sommelier Association".

External links

  • Media related to Sommeliers at Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition of sommelier at Wiktionary
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