WSET and CMS publish sommelier ‘career map’

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust has joined forces with the Court of Master Sommeliers to launch a professional development map to help budding sommeliers get into the profession.

The Sommelier Professional Development Pathway will be published on both WSET and CMS websites (Photo: WSET)

To be published on both WSET and CMS websites, the Sommelier Professional Development Pathway aims to clarify the education path required to achieve the Master Sommelier (MS) qualification.

It is the first such publication in the UK to clearly outline the steps a would-be Sommelier should take to maximise their chances of progressing to the top echelons of wine service.

The pathway recommends WSET qualifications alongside on-trade experience as the foundation for success in the CMS qualifications. High achievers are also presented with the option of challenging themselves further by obtaining the WSET Diploma and Master of Wine (IMW) qualifications.

Both the WSET and the CMS have experienced a marked increase in interest from potential students in recent years. The db reported last month that the WSET had recorded its 13th consecutive year of growth in student numbers.

Ian Harris, chief executive of the WSET, said: “This partnership is the culmination of prolonged discussions between the WSET and the CMS to clarify for wine service professionals the training options they should access to become the best in the field of sommelerie.

“There is a natural synergy between the two organisations: the WSET offers accredited qualifications based on robust product knowledge and the CMS a suite of service qualifications which are second-to-none – and both organisations have global reach.”

Ronan Sayburn MS, chief operating officer of the CMS added: “The wine trade is large and varied but the role of sommelier falls more into the hospitality industry in the early stages of someone’s career. Our exams are designed for those with a solid hospitality background and who wish to specialise in wine and wine service. Both our organisations are working to make this more understandable to students.“

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the largest global provider of qualifications in the fields of wines and spirits. WSET qualifications are formally recognised by the UK government and have a strong reputation worldwide.

The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in 1977 to encourage improved standards of drinks service in hotels and restaurants and to provide a career pathway for Sommeliers. In 1982 the Master Sommelier qualification was passed over to the Court of Master Sommeliers which has since established itself as the premier international examining body for sommelerie.