What is the Court of Master Sommeliers?

The Court of Master Sommeliers is to the wine world what Michelin stars are to cooking -- the ultimate seal of excellence. Founded in 1977 in the UK, it was created to promote excellence in wine and beverage service across the hospitality industry.

There are four levels, each progressively more demanding. The Introductory Certificate covers the basics -- wine service, key regions, fundamental tasting skills. Pass rate: about 85%. The Certified Sommelier ups the ante with blind tasting of 4 wines, a theory exam, and a practical service test. Pass rate: around 60%. The Advanced Sommelier is where things get brutal -- 6 wines blind, encyclopaedic knowledge of wines, spirits, beer, sake, and cigars. Pass rate: roughly 25%.

Then there is the Master Sommelier exam -- the stuff of legend. Candidates face a 50-minute oral theory grilling, blind tasting of 6 wines (where they must identify grape variety, region, producer quality, and vintage), and a practical service test that includes handling curveball scenarios. The pass rate? Under 10%. As of 2025, only about 273 people in the world hold the title.

What sets the CMS apart from the WSET is its focus on service. The CMS was built by and for working sommeliers, so the exams test not just what you know but how you perform under pressure -- pouring, decanting, managing a wine list, handling difficult guests, pairing food and wine on the fly.

The 2012 documentary 'SOMM' brought the Master Sommelier exam to mainstream attention, showing candidates spending years preparing, tasting hundreds of wines blind, and sacrificing personal relationships in pursuit of the pin. It is gripping viewing whether you love wine or not.