Court of Master Sommeliers

randomshenans

randomshenans

randomshenans

Soldato
Joined
11 Sep 2009
Posts
14,064
Location
France, Alsace
Doesn't it just sound awesome?

This is I suppose related to be in here. It's here now anyway.

In talking to the Mrs, we dream to dream, and were thinking about how we could do things for each others birthdays and the like, and our "bucket list" was born.

One of the things I said I would like to do is the sommeliers certification. It looks HARD the more I look at it, but also a bushel of bloody awesome!

Only 192 Masters exist in the world since it's creation over 4 decades ago. I want to be one!!

So, I've decided I'm going to start at the beginning and do this. There are 4 exams, and I'll likely have to go back to the UK to do them as well.

It's broken down like this:

Introductory Sommelier Certificate - 3 Days

Certified Sommelier Examination - 1 Day

Advanced Sommelier Certificate - 5 Days

Master Sommelier Diploma

http://www.courtofmastersommeliers.org/qualifications.php

and the syllabus is here:

http://www.courtofmastersommeliers.org/pdfs/syllabus.pdf

I was like WTF that's insane! But it's the sort of learning I'd be awesome at.

First step first, I've asked when the next intro course/exam is going to be in London, and I'm on it.

*hic*

Now the Mrs is pushing me to let her do her grand diploma in pat, in paris (https://www.cordonbleu.edu/index.cfm?fa=ProgramsFrontMod.showCourseResult&inCampusID=1&TagID=13) but apparently it's 57k! WITAF!?
 
I think you're a nutter but it's a lovely project to have.

It's amazing how funnelled my wine knowledge is looking at that syllabus. Bordeaux and Burgundy I have decent knowledge of but somewhere like Alsace is much less important nowadays in the UK - not that I don't love the wines. They don't appeal to my friends though. The more unusual stuff I find I drink with colleagues.

I may be wrong but based in France you will have incredible access to their wines and the more rarely seen (in the UK) Swiss ones but how is the selection of US and other new world ones for example for you to get to grips with. With the number of US members the Court has I'd expect them to want a good knowledge of the wines.

In any case if you're in London and fancy tasting some things let me know. There was a foodie get together mooted a while ago and I'd certainly be up for a wino (or combo) one.

Also, I always assumed Walla-walla was somewhere in Australia I couldn't find on the map having never had a wine from there...
 
You're damn right! Well, actually, I'll be the annoying nob of a man correcting waiters in restaurants hahaha

I think I'm mad too. But it seems like fun. I like wine, but my knowledge, like you found TaB, on looking at that syllabus, I was like errr balls!

I was talking to the guy from the board of the court yesterday and said the same thing about France. It's a bit one dimensional in terms of their wine. Luckily, I'm so close to Germany too, and they're much more new world, less WE DO WINE, WE DON'T NEED ANYONE ELSES like the French are.
 
Looks tough but good! Forgive me if I'm completely wrong, but I thought I read on here somewhere that you weren't that interested in wine? Might have completely misread that though :)

If anyone fancies a wine tasting night in London, I'd definitely be keen. Just spent a week drinking my way around Sonoma!
 
I don't know really that much about wine. Just general knowledge I suppose, more on the wines I like, naturally. Champagne, obviously. But I'm here to learn :P

I'd be up for any night! Especially if I can tie it in with a work trip to the UK lol
 
I think it's going to be tough going as I would expect anyone having a go at this would already have an in depth knowledge of all aspects of wine. It certainly is a challenge and I wish you the best of luck. :)
 
This is amazing, i looked st it before but far to lazy.
Good luck with it, but as above your going to struggle with such little knowledge. There's a reason the numbers so low, most have been in the industry fir decades before doing it.
 
Massively! :p But I figured, with 4 exams, I'd learn on the go. I've done numerous tastings in my past, vinyard tours in various countries and I try and do my fair share of drinking it, I know it'll be a bloody good challenge. I suppose how much of one, I will find out after the first one. If that's tough as nails, I know I'm doomed.
 
:D Looks an amazing course and although it'll be bloody hard, I can imagine it'll be pretty enjoyable!

We should probably have a decent wine thread, so people can recommend anything they like!
 
Bob on Tosh, I agree with that. Will help with my quest as well :P

I did learn that Sancerre (I like sancerre) is from the Loire valley region, and that Macon village is also from there, as is Pouilly Fume, all of which I really like. I am learning, see.

Defo need a wine thread though, get me to try different things and not just grab something as I know I like that region.
 
I had a cracking bottle a little while back, it was an Argintinian wine but apparently it was made by an Italian vinyard using Italian methods.

Can't remember it for the life of me. Might have to nip back to the wine shop to ask, although it was fairly pricy for me (£25 a bottle), so not one to drink too often.


EDIT: What about as a side aspect (and one you're probably just as into with it being Champagne based) of getting into to the Order of the Golden Sabre?

http://www.goldensabre.co.uk/
 
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Haha apart from their awful site, I'd be up for a bit of that. There are total ranks I can climb, and have MORE titles to add to my CV... hahaha

I will soon be a dinner party nightmare. I say soon.
 
After flicking through the PDF magazine they have it looks like you'd also have to wear a stupid green dinner jacket!

I do like the idea of joining though and climbing the ranks!
 
The benefits of membership cracked me up. Basically they allow you to wear their stuff... YES!! Wearing that green jacket will not at all make me the target for any sort of mick taking in the slightest!


I'm with you though lol everyone loves rank climbing!
 
randomshenans said:
Bob on Tosh, I agree with that. Will help with my quest as well :P

I did learn that Sancerre (I like sancerre) is from the Loire valley region, and that Macon village is also from there, as is Pouilly Fume, all of which I really like. I am learning, see.

Defo need a wine thread though, get me to try different things and not just grab something as I know I like that region.
Click to expand...

First bit of new knowledge for you then :)

Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé indeed from the Loire.
Mâcon-Villages is from the south of Burgundy in the Mâconnais region. Pouilly-Fuissé is also part of this area.

Fumé is Sauvignon Blanc. Fuissé is Chardonnay.

Marvt74: sounds interesting. I know of one Italian who makes wine in Argentina for that kind of money: Achaval Ferrer. Do have a look at what it was. Whoever they are they'll likely do a cheaper wine in their range.
 
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