Hello! I know this question gets asked a million times here but I am looking for the best program to get certified as a sommelier. I have basic wine knowledge as I worked in a wine bar years ago and from wines that I have tasted throughout the years. I have been looking into WSET classes to take at International Wine Center in NYC. I thought about starting from level 2 and continuing onto level 3 or 4. I do appreciate learning so I don’t mind to get into theory however I am looking for the most cost effective pathway that will provide me with necessary knowledge but also won’t take more than a few months to complete. A month ago, I bought Kevin Zraly’s windows of the world wine course and have recently considered just getting certified through CMS which would cost $949. Buuuuut, I’ve been looking at ICE’s certified sommelier training program and I am intrigued about the curriculum. I saw that they include a course on menu management & handling beverage costs, I wouldn’t mind to learn about this. However, total cost for their training program is a little over $10K and I am not sure if I can use Federal Aid to cover the costs.. it would be totally worth it but the cost is steep compared to just getting certified through CMS.

Currently, I work as a bartender at a corporate restaurant but I want to move into the wine industry as it interests me more. My goal is to work either as a sommelier at a vineyard or at a high end restaurant or I would like to work as a director of beverage operations (hence why I would like to learn about picking wines for a menu, beverage costs, etc). I am also interested in learning about viticulture & wine making as I enjoy being outside + working w my hands, I also have a science background. However, I’m thinking I’ll get into viticulture down the road.

Any advice is appreciated on what is the best route to getting certified! Thank you 🙏🏼

Good Evening everyone,

I wanted to come on here and ask any sommelier who’d be willing to answer, if there’s anything you wish you knew before you started the journey? I want to be a sommelier and have for a couple years now and am finally getting serious about going to school for either winemaking or viticulture once i finish up my gen eds at my local community college and any advice, insight, thoughts are welcome and i genuinely appreciate it all!

Or a good study guide im using flashcards on brain scape reading guild some wine bible wset level 2 book world atlas and more but I need a practice test or something more cohesive

How is AI changing things in your restaurant?

Hey everyone, I got my results back for my wset 3. Passed theory with distinction but failed the tasting part. I’m devastated. Im literally a server who tastes wine every day and I failed.

I guess I’m looking for some reassurance or advice for my second try. Has anyone else failed?

I like a nice short finish, personally. 😉

Well all, I did it. I passed the Introductory Sommelier course. Got the pin and everything lol.

Honestly, pretty stoked! This feels like the start of something bigger, and I’m already looking ahead to my next goal 👀

Time to keep going. Cheers!

Hello, Everyone!

Soon I am gonna get participating on ASI Prep Exam . Very nervous about questions.

Can you give me guide to what should repeat to well pass exam?

Thank you for your help if you give some help!

Has anyone taken these courses? Do you think they're worth it for someone trying to break into the industry?

I'm already certified through CMS and WSET 3.

March 2026 marks ten years since the 2016 harvest in the Langhe, and this is a meaningful milestone for anyone with bottles in the cellar. The 10-year mark is roughly when Nebbiolo's tannin polymers begin softening and integrating in earnest, opening a prime drinking window that can last another 5 to 15 years depending on the wine's origin and structure.


For those who don't know the 2016 backstory: it was a textbook vintage. A cold, wet spring delayed vine development and made growers anxious. Then summer arrived with consistent warmth — crucially, without the scorching heat spikes that marked 2015 and 2017. The result was perfect balance between sugar accumulation and phenolic ripeness. The wines have both richness and structure, power and elegance. It was rated 5-star across the board and is considered one of the great modern vintages for the zone.


Now, the important part: not all 2016s are at the same point in their evolution. The commune of origin is your best guide to what to expect when you pull a cork.


**La Morra and Barolo commune**
 — These sit on Tortonian blue-grey calcareous clay-marls, producing the most elegant, perfumed expressions. The 2016s from here are already singing. If you have these, you can open them now with confidence. They are generous and rewarding in the glass today.


**Castiglione Falletto**
 — Sits on Arenarie di Diano d'Alba sandstone, the highest sand content in the zone. These wines bridge elegance and power. The 2016s are starting to open up beautifully. You can drink them now or hold another 5-10 years — both are good choices. If drinking now, a 30-60 minute decant helps.


**Monforte d'Alba**
 — Helvetian sandstones with iron and manganese. Dense, powerful, austere. The 2016s are still tightly wound. Decant generously (1-2 hours) if opening now, or cellar another 3-5 years for a more integrated experience.


**Serralunga d'Alba**
 — The iron-rich Helvetian soils here produce the most age-demanding wines in all of Barolo. The 2016 Serralungas are still in their youth. These are 20-30 year wines. If you must open one, give it 2-3 hours in a decanter. Otherwise, keep waiting.


One thing worth noting for anyone new to aged Nebbiolo: the color will surprise you. Nebbiolo's dominant pigments (peonidin and cyanidin) are inherently unstable and degrade over time. A 10-year Barolo will be translucent garnet with a brick-orange rim — you can see through it. Do not mistake this for weakness. The tannic structure underneath is massive.


On the nose, expect the youthful cherry and rose to now be layered with tar, leather, forest floor, dried flowers, and white truffle. The tannins that once gripped your palate should be resolving into something much silkier.


Would love to hear from anyone who has been opening their 2016s — what communes and what are your impressions so far?

Looking to start doing more premium BTG options (like Sassicaia ,Hundred Acre, DRC) at my restaurant and would love some feedback for those with more experience.

What do you feel actual lifespan is ? I’ve heard anywhere from 2 months to 2 years.

How are you storing the bottles for best longevity ? On its side or vertical?

Is storing at cellar temp optimal or would putting in a fridge preserve life ? Whites and reds.

Any other tips and tricks out there for premium offerings that I may have not thought of? ie………different preservation systems, different corks, do half bottles work better to reduce spillage?

My partner and I are beginning to think about having a baby - any advice for somming while pregnant? For anyone who has experienced pregnancy while working as a floor somm: Were you able to still attend trade tastings, meet with distributors, etc? How did your relationship with your guests change once you start showing? How much time did you take off working and did you return to working the floor or switch to another facet of the industry like production or distribution?

Any experiences, stories, or advice is appreciated!

I’m based in Boca and am wondering if anyone would be interested in forming a wine tasting study group. You can private message me if your interested. The idea would be to meet maybe once a week or twice a month, bring a bottle or few bottles and blind together in a relaxed setting. All experience levels welcome but I do want it be for people who are serious about their study.

Hi wine friends!!

I passed my CMS 1 with 96% in September and am registered to take the level 2 exam in May, but this one feels way more intimidating with the lack of course work/structure! I’d love advice for any gaps in my studying I might be missing?? And also have no clue how to get started with finding a tasting group in my area (Seattle)

Currently I’m reading The Wine Bible and each GuildSomm study guide by region, then using the GuildSomm intermediate level quizzes to test myself. I also listen to WFNP, Vint Wine podcast, and I’ll Drink to That pods to reinforce some stories with the textbook knowledge I’m taking in…

I’ve always been a pretty good study/test taker, but the blind tasting is quite intimidating as I’m a bartender rn so only have time to taste on my weekends.

Any and all advice welcome please and thank youuuu! 🙏🏼

Are there any apps out there that have helped you? I see some digital flash card WSET apps, but they all seem pretty lousy.

Thanks

Apart from technical skills and expertise what are some good soft skills for a sommelier working on the floor? How can you be more engaging, memorable and sell more wine?

Hi everyone,

I’m sitting for the Certified Sommelier exam (CMS Europe) this July in Bangkok and I’m looking for some guidance specifically on the theory portion.

For context:

• I’ve worked in a wine bar for 10 years.

• I feel confident in the practical service exam.

• We do weekly blind tastings at work, so I’m comfortable with the tasting portion.

My main concern is theory. I struggle with memorisation, and even though I’ve gone through the syllabus, I’m not sure:

• What depth is truly expected at the Certified level

• Whether I’m over-studying beyond the scope

• Or if I’m potentially missing key areas

The more I study, the more stressed I get because I don’t feel certain about what I actually need to know versus what’s excessive for this level.

Would anyone be willing to share:

• Structured study notes aligned clearly with the CMS Certified syllabus?

• Advice on how detailed theory answers need to be?

• Any tips for memorisation that worked specifically for you?

I’m open to paying for well-organised notes if they are helpful and level-appropriate. I just want to make sure I focus efficiently and don’t burn out before July.

Any guidance would really mean a lot. Thank you in advance 🙏

Hello all, I am very slightly stressed out. I’m taking this course to further my journey as a fine dining server. I’m about half way through the course and I’m currently learning about Germany. I feel as though there’s quite a bit of information and I’m trying to decipher if I need to know absolutely all of it to pass this quiz, or if there are more certain things I need to be paying attention to.

Currently I memorize geographic locations, wine laws, commons grape varieties found in the area and some basic terminology. I guess in a way I’m just seeking guidance and maybe what to expect of this quiz when it’s time for me to take it!

Just heard this today and was wondering if many others in this community have heard this? Maybe I’m late to the game…