{"id":19045,"date":"2023-07-03T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/?p=19045"},"modified":"2024-06-27T15:11:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T20:11:55","slug":"how-to-become-a-sommelier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/how-to-become-a-sommelier\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Sommelier"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you pore over wine bottle labels and spend every vacation in wine country, it might be time to consider becoming a sommelier.<\/p>\n

The hospitality and restaurant industry is full of opportunities for career wine aficionados and sommeliers. Read on to find out how to become a sommelier or wine professional for a restaurant, catering company, winery, and more.<\/p>\n

Key Steps to Becoming a Sommelier<\/h2>\n

At the most basic level, a sommelier is a wine steward. They may use their vast knowledge of wine to curate wine lists, make recommendations to restaurant guests, and train the rest of the restaurant staff on proper service.<\/p>\n

There are a variety of ways to start a career in wine, but if you want to become a professional sommelier, you\u2019ll need education, experience, and certification.<\/p>\n

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A sommelier knows the ins and outs behind winemaking.<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Pursue a Self-Directed or Formal Wine Education<\/h3>\n

Some sommeliers self-direct their education, learning about wines in their own way and at their own pace. You may choose to study through careful tasting, noting flavors, origins, and vintners. You may also choose to read books, visit wineries, or attend seminars and tastings.<\/p>\n

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Touring wineries can teach the aspiring sommelier about the wine production process.<\/p><\/div>\n

Chef Gregory Bonath<\/a>, an instructor at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and certified sommelier, stresses the importance of sampling different wines. To start out, he recommends purchasing a single varietal from several different regions to practice noting the differences.<\/p>\n

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\"Gregory\u201cPick three Chardonnays from three different countries, but don\u2019t read the back of the label. Go home and think, \u2018This really does taste like butter. Why?\u2019 And then read the back of the label and search [for why it tastes that way]…That\u2019s the best way to start learning about [wine].\u201d*
\nGregory Bonath, Escoffier Lead Chef Instructor and Certified Sommelier<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Many also pursue formal education for their sommelier training. Sommelier courses may offer a more well-rounded education to help prepare you specifically for certification.<\/p>\n

Some sommeliers and wine professionals also get their start in culinary school. A culinary school<\/a> education from Escoffier in fundamental culinary elements like flavor profiles<\/a> and different food cultures may cross over to the wine industry as well.<\/p>\n

A degree in Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management may offer useful skills such as professionalism and service standards, catering and event operations, cost control and purchasing, and beverage service operations. These skills could come into play in the day-to-day work of a sommelier!<\/p>\n\n\t

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The Essential Culinary Career Survey<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The Essential Culinary Career Survey<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

What's your ideal culinary career: Fine dining? Your own restaurant? Pastry? Get our self-evaluation survey to find out!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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We\u2019ve compiled a checklist of all of the essential questions into one handy guide:<\/strong> career options, culinary interest surveys, educational opportunities, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYES, I want the survey!<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t

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