How to become a master sommelier
May 22, 2011
What is a sommelier, let alone a Master Sommelier, and how do you become one? The American Heritage Dictionary defines a sommelier as “A wine steward in a restaurant.”. A steward is then defined as “A person who manages another’s property.”. This does not quite tell the whole story. The job of a sommelier is to manage the wine selection, purchasing, receiving, storage, sales and service for a restaurant, club, hotel or other institution. Although there is no legal requirement in the U.S. to be certified for this position, there is one internationally recognized organization for certification. The Court of Master Sommeliers was founded in London in 1977. They conduct education and testing for restaurant wine professionals. There are three four levels of certification within the organization: introductory (formerly called certificate), advanced and MS Diploma (Master). The exams are held annually in the United Kingdom and North America.
The Introductory Course is a two day educational seminar. It covers wine regions of the world, viticulture (vineyard management), viniculture (winemaking), appellation rules for various countries and regions, production methods for beers and spirits, cigars, food and wine pairing, service and blind tasting technique (the steps to evaluating and identifying wines by appearance, smell and taste). At the end of the seminar is a multiple choice exam for which a score of 60% is required. I could not get an exact historical average but I would estimate that 90% of those taking this exam pass. This course is very helpful to any restaurant wine professional or manager and the Introductory exam can be passed with just a little advanced preparation.
As of 2005 there is a step between Introductory and Advanced called Certificate. See the Court of Master Sommeliers’ web site for more information on this exam. Thus far approximately 65% of the people attempting this new exam have passed, earning the title Certified Sommelier.
The Advanced Course is a significant step up from the Introductory. It covers all of the same material but at a more detailed level. The pace is also faster as it is expected that you are prepared for the exam prior to attending the seminar. The seminar is also one day longer than the Introductory Course. For the first time, candidates were required to apply to be accepted for the exam in 2001.
The test is the real difference though. It is a two day test in three sections. The first section is theory. It is an 82 question test with 20 multiple choice and 62 short answer questions. One hour is allowed for completion.
The second section is blind tasting. The candidate enters a room with a table with six glasses of wine on it and two Master Sommeliers sitting on the opposite side of the table. They listen as you swirl, sniff, taste and talk about each wine. You have 25 minutes total to identify all six. These wines can be from anywhere in the world, but they stick to classic examples. Points are given for your analysis and deductive reasoning as well as your identification of the wines.
The final section is the hardest of all. Restaurant service somehow seems harder when it is in a test environment. There are service stations where the Master Sommeliers judge your skills at opening still and sparkling wines, decanting, cigar service, freehand pouring of spirits, wine and food pairing, proof reading of wine lists, setting tables for a variety of menus, conversing with the guests and complaint resolution. While this is going on they also throw questions at you to see how you react. A passing score of 60% is required on all three sections. Approximately 25% of candidates pass this exam.
The final test is by invitation only. You are also required to wait at least one year between passing the Advanced and your first attempt at the Master. The test is the same as the advanced but the theory portion is verbal instead of written, the questions are much more detailed and the score required to pass is 75%. An example of the difference between an Advanced question and a Master question might be: name six of the Anbaugebiet (high quality wine regions) in Germany for the Advanced versus name all 13 Anbaugebiet for the Master. The good news is that you can pass an individual section and retain it for three years, only re-taking the portions you failed. The pass rate for this exam is approximately 4%, though very few people pass it on their first attempt. After 29 years of testing only 142 people in the world have completed the Master Sommelier (MS) level. The next time you see MS after someone’s name you will know what they went through for those 2 letters.
Source: http://www.sfsommelier.com/webpages/publishedpage/sommelier.html
Wine lover’s choice – Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar – for the most impressive and practical wine list in the Philippines, over 2700 selections, enough to satisfy the most fastidious connoisseurs. Wine lovers and gourmand foodies from Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Malaysia dine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar when they visit Philippines and bring home some rare vintage wines too. This restaurant is already well known in Clark Pampanga. Many consider it to be the best restaurant outside of Manila, one that is certainly the best place for a night out in Clark, Angeles city, Pampanga.
An excellent wine list is not just about 1st growth and cult Cabernet but a seemingly unending selection of affordable aged vintage wines that are not available anywhere else, not even in the best wine shops around town. Yats Restaurant has just that. In fact, wine lovers from Manila, Cebu, Subic and Pampanga travel frequently to this to rated restaurant to enjoy its fine vintage wines, certainly the best in Clark Pampanga and vicinity.
Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark for rest and relaxation. Many find a top rated resto bar called Yats Restaurant to be very suitable for families with children. This restaurant is highly recommended for visitors going to Clark Pampanga to enjoy a good meal or just to drink wine, relax and unwind with friends and families. Generally regarded as the best restaurant in Clark Pampanga by tourist and visitors to Pampanga, Angeles city, Subic and Clark Philippines as a cool place to hang out in Clark. This popular night out place has good atmosphere for a romantic dinner and it has spacious dining areas for group dinner and private rooms for exclusive gatherings.
Best restaurant in Clark Pampanga offers more than just great food and good service but a complete fine dining experience. Manila dining guide lauds Yats Restaurant for its award winning wine list befitting a world class fine dining establishment. One of the common complaints of residents of Manila with the restaurants and resto bars in the city is that these dining outlets offer a wine list that is expensive and does not have interesting selections. This mires the overall dining experience even if the food is good and the service is excellent. Fine dining restaurants in Manila are working hard to upgrade their overall product and services by upgrading their wine lists. For most restaurants, this takes a long time.
Visitors to Clark Philippines and Angeles City no longer suffer from lack of choices for places to eat out or wine and dine. Clark Philippines reviewed over 50 establishments and came up with three top choices in guide to best restaurant in Clark Freeport. Yats Restaurant is lauded by many to be the top choice when it comes to fine dining and a good place to drink some good wine.
Clark Philippines lists Top Three Restaurants in the Clark Freeport Zone and Angeles City areas of Philippines Pampanga province. Clark Freeport is a bustling new cosmopolitan city complete with its own Clark International Airport. Good restaurants and resto bars are beginning to emerge in Angeles City and Clark Pampanga but standards are not all that high. However, there is one world-class fine dining restaurant located inside of Clark, called Yats. It is generally regarded as the best restaurant in Clark, Angeles City, Pampanga, Subic and Manila.
This restaurant in Pampanga Philippines is highly recommended by food critics and frequent diners in Manila as a place to wine and dine in Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Although it is a famous fine dining restaurant with an award winning 2700-line restaurant wine list, Yats Restaurant is also a popular restaurant for family with children. Aside from French Mediterranean haute cuisine, this restaurant also serves healthy food and the best vegetarian cuisines in the Philippines.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
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