Choosing a Sommelier Certification: Association de la Sommellerie Internationale vs. Court of Master Sommeliers
Are you passionate about the world of wine and looking to enhance your knowledge, skills, and credibility as a wine professional? If so, pursuing a sommelier certification may be your right path. With various organizations offering different sommelier certifications, deciding which one to choose can be challenging. Two of the most prestigious and respected institutions in the field are the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). In this blog post, we will compare and contrast the ASI and CMS sommelier certifications, providing a clearer understanding of their differences, requirements, and benefits, ultimately helping you make a more informed decision for your wine career.
I have worked as a sommelier for many years in different countries, and sommelier certification is always required to find a suitable workplace and career path. I chose only one certification program in my sommelier path: the Court of Master Sommeliers, both American and European parts. However, one more popular sommelier course program is also great for sommeliers or beginner wine professionals who want to be sommeliers in the future.
In this blog, I'll go over both sommelier courses, explain the differences, and hopefully point you in the right direction.
I will review their website, collect their offers, share them here, and provide feedback.
Let's get started.
What is a CMS Court of Master Sommeliers - CMS
The Court of Master Sommeliers was established to ensure that hotels and restaurants adhere to high beverage service standards.
In 1969, the inaugural Master Sommelier examination took place in London, United Kingdom, marking a milestone in the field. The Court of Master Sommeliers was officially founded in 1977, evolving into the leading sommelier certification authority globally.
With a commitment to excellence in wine education and service, the Court of Master Sommeliers now regularly offers courses and certifications throughout Europe, Oceania, Asia, and the Americas, making it an internationally recognized institution for aspiring sommeliers.
The Court of Master Sommeliers offers four levels of sommelier certification, each with a focus on wine theory, tasting, and service skills:
Introductory Sommelier Certificate: This level provides a foundation in wine knowledge and is designed for professionals beginning their wine education journey.
Certified Sommelier Certificate: Building upon the Introductory level, the Certified Sommelier examination tests candidates on advanced wine knowledge, tasting skills, and service techniques.
Advanced Sommelier Certificate: At this level, candidates are expected to have extensive expertise in wine theory, blind tasting, and advanced service skills, preparing them for the prestigious Master Sommelier title.
Master Sommelier Diploma: The pinnacle of the sommelier certification journey, the Master Sommelier Diploma signifies exceptional wine knowledge, extraordinary tasting skills, and a deep understanding of wine service. This title is held by only a select few worldwide.
What is an Association de la Sommellerie Internationale - ASI ?
ASI was founded over 50 years ago as an umbrella organization to raise the international bar for restaurant service professionals. Despite having historical roots in Europe, ASI is now on six continents.
Members of ASI are not individual sommeliers but rather national sommelier associations. With 61 national associations as full members and 5 observer nations, it is uniquely positioned to influence industry dialogue on the international, national, and local levels.
In recent years, education at all levels has received renewed attention, both in the classroom and through sommelier competitions.
What is the difference between a CMS and ASI for sommeliers?
Both organizations have the same goal of creating the best sommelier educational programs for their students, but I can see that they have different approaches to sommeliers. The CMS is more approachable and has easier registration for its programs than the ASI, and the CMS is more well-known in the hospitality industry. The most popular CMS certification programs, such as Certified Sommelier, Advanced Sommelier, and Master Sommelier, are more common. The Master Sommelier title is the highest sommelier diploma in the hospitality industry today.
However, ASI is more organized and hosts the World Sommelier Competition every four years. ASI also lists the names of all sommeliers on their website, which is more organized than CMS's. ASI is highly effective in the digital world for reaching international sommeliers and aspiring sommeliers. They distribute newsletters, journals, and news. ASI has a massive membership of international sommeliers.
Are there any specific duties an ASI can do that a CMS can't?
ASI is more interested in competition, and they have sommelier competitions worldwide. "Learn, Challenge, and compete," they say. But CMS is only interested in certifications for sommeliers in the hospitality industry. If you want to be a sommelier to compete with other sommeliers, you should choose the ASI program. To become a more well-known sommelier in the hospitality industry, you should stick with the CMS program because it is more prominent. As a sommelier, I wanted to focus only on the CMS program rather than joining ASI. This is because I wanted to become a sommelier for myself, not to compete with other sommeliers. But this is just what I think, and I'm sharing it with you. You do not need to agree with me as well.
So, ASI gives sommeliers competition that CMS doesn't.
Is one certification more prestigious than the other?
All sommelier courses and certifications are respected, but Master Sommeliers by CMS is the only one considered prestigious. This title is not just for the hospitality business but also for the wine business. So CMS is more concentrated than ASI regarding the highest specific certification.
What are the benefits of having a CMS and ASI certification?
Having both ASI and CMS certifications will bring enormous opportunities for your career. I see some sommeliers having both certifications. I only chose to go with CMS, and I am happy with that; however, if you decide only ASI, that is also fine for your career. As I mentioned, it's up to you in which direction you'd like to go as a sommelier.
Lastly, I examined my viewpoint and gathered the necessary information for both sommelier training programs. I hope you find this blog informative, and I will provide you with links so you can check out their website for additional details.
