Although a lot of ink has been spilled over diversity in the wine trade, our industry seems to be exempt from much of the #blacklivesmatter and #metoo social movements. Sadly, almost nothing has changed since highly damning news reports started coming out regarding racism and sexual violence at the Court of Master Sommeliers. Old Boys ClubIf you read the comments section of the article linked above, it’s pretty clear many sectors of the wine industry that are very happy to defend the old boy’s club. Is it a surprise that the wine trade is one of the least diverse industries in the United States? According to the Washington Post, only 2 percent of our industry identifies as black. In addition, the trade magazine Wine Business has reported that women hold only 6.7% of leadership positions in the wine trade. No Comment?There has been surprisingly little condemnation from the left about this state of affairs. Perhaps liberals value their bottles of Napa Cabernet more than human rights? That would not surprise us: the hypocrisy of the elites is eternal. Diversity at Wine SchoolThere is a glimmer of hope, however. The one place you see a movement towards diversity is in the education sector. Many wine schools in America are advocating a more inclusive wine trade. True enough, much of this movement is on the liberal coasts, but it seems like a major shift has started, with groups like the Roots Fund backing the movement towards a more colorful wine world. What is the state of affairs today? Here is the list of the most diverse wine schools in America today. The Most Diverse SchoolsSan Francisco Wine School![]() There is no question that the San Fransisco Wine School is the best-funded wine school in the country. Unfortunately, they don’t typically get high marks for education, largely because they are more of a wine entertainment center than an actual school. That is the downside of being at the heart of one of the world’s most wine-centric and expensive cities. Over the years, their audience has not been diverse, mostly white and wealthy. SFWS would not be on this list and absolutely not at the top, except for George Floyd. This school made a major pivot in 2020, committing its impressive endowment towards racial equity. There were many internal arguments over whether to put SFWS at the top of the list. Many of our younger staff insist this is just window dressing and that throwing money at an issue is not a real solution. There are also conflicting reports from BIPOC and LGBTQ students. Some older students complain about the overly woke culture at SFWS, while others praise the commitment to diversity. However, at the end of the day, no school has invested more money towards diversity. Wine School of Philadelphia![]() Without question, the Wine School of Philadelphia‘s alumni is the most diverse in the United States. Its classrooms are a veritable melting pot of wine aficionados. Asian, Black, Women, and Queer sommeliers all find a home here. In some ways, that is not surprising: Philadelphia is a remarkably diverse city. However, other schools on the East Coast with similar demographics do not have the same level of diversity. Oddly enough, while the school is known to embrace everyone, it does not seem to be particularly political. Its stance seems to be more “this is who we are, deal with it” rather than an actual political stance. Both BIPOC and LGBTQ Students who attend this school say they feel comfortable and treated with respect and have so for years. Napa Valley Wine Academy![]() Northern California is not the most diverse place in the world. It’s the heart of the American wine industry and lacks almost any BIPOC and LGBTQ representation. Despite that, the Napa Valley Wine Academy has put significant resources towards investing in equity. They were one of the only schools to offer scholarships through the Roots Foundation and consistently promoted students of color. The school’s virtual wine education has been put to excellent use to bring in a more diverse student base. They also reach out to the sizable group of wine tourists that are also seeking wine education. According to several students, most students of color are in Napa Valley for vacation. Some BIPOC students report being a little overly celebrated during classes, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. The commitment to bringing in a diverse student community using online resources is very impressive. Schools Making Inroads Towards DiverityElliot Wine School![]() A new wine school out of Chicago with a major focus on LGBTQ+ students. While new, it is the first openly Queer-owned wine school, which is a major hallmark in our industry. Although saying that in 2021 really underscores how behind the curve the wine trade os. We hope the first black-owned wine school is not far behind. Commonwealth Wine School![]() There are not many students of color (yet) at the Commonwealth Wine School. Boston is a surprisingly diverse city, and the lack of BIPOC sommeliers is not Commonwealth’s fault: the school just opened its doors during COVID. Diversity in the wine culture in bean town is still in its infancy, and Commonwealth is a driving force behind that movement. Where we would find fault is this school’s predecessors — NPR darlings Boston Wine School — for failing to embrace the changing demographics of wine fully. We commend Commonwealth for pushing the Boston wine scene in the right direction. While their classes are often still very white, the students of color we interviewed emphasized they were very comfortable attending classes here. American Wine School![]() You may not expect a wine school in Ohio to be the most diverse, but the American Wine School is a beloved institution in Cleveland for all wine lovers, regardless of color or sexual orientation. Wine Schools at the Ground FloorThere is an untapped market of wine lovers out there. The Napa Valley Wine Academy proved that diversity and outreach make sense. Their Diversity In Wine Scholarship program with Wine Access was a huge success, offering level one wine certification to over one hundred people from underserved communities. Doing the right thing paid off: their commitment to diversity increased their market share; they are now a major WSET school franchisee. But not all wine education facilities have made the pivot. It’s no longer acceptable to pop open some wine and turn on the overhead projector: schools have to be leaders and reach out to people who have been left out of the wine trade for a very long time. Diversity is not just a moral cause, it makes business sense: the most successful wine schools are also the most diverse. Here’s our list of schools that we love but need to start outreach into the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities in their regions. Capitol Wine School![]() We have several accounts of students of color opting to travel to other cities to attend wine school. Capital Wine School is a good school, but this oversight may inspire other wine educators to open up a competing wine school in this majority-minority city. In addition, DC is a major wine city and driving distance from the wine regions of Virginia and Maryland: there is a lot of untapped potential here. International Wine Center![]() How can one of the leading feminists of the wine trade not be at the top of this list? Mary Ewing-Mulligan and the International Wine Center have brought more women into the fold than any other wine school in history. However, according to our survey, they are not doing much outreach to potential BIPOC and LGBTQ students. New York is one of the most diverse cities on the planet, and they are leaving a lot of potential sommelier students in the wind. Texas Wine School![]() With a Latinx population of over 11 million, there is nothing but growth potential for the Texas Wine School. The school is only a few years old and has gone through an ownership change, but we hope they will capitalize on the vast resources available to them. The post The Most Diverse Wine Schools In America appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/the-most-diverse-wine-schools-in-america/
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Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! from https://www.somm.us/2021/06/03/hello-world/ ![]() Online Sommelier Classes Since March 2020, wine schools have started offering a variety of online programs. That makes a lot of sense since most of these schools are based in major cities that were deeply affected by the pandemic. The shift to online was a massive paradigm shift, and a year later we are seeing the fruits of their labor. For fun wine tasting classes, you can check out our reviews of Virtual Wine Tastings. Developing and deploying something as complicated as a sommelier certification program is no easy feat. It takes a team of seasoned professionals to create something worthy. We spend the last few months attending dozens of online wine courses, and those listed on this page are extraordinary and brilliant. They are all worth your investment of time and money. Many of the programs we reviewed did not make it onto this list of the top online sommelier courses, and we will discuss why at the end of this article. Types of Online CoursesWhen you start looking at taking an online sommelier class, you should know a few critical terms. An asynchronous course is pre-recorded. This allows the student to take the class at their own pace. Synchronous courses are streamed live and run on a predetermined schedule. SCORM is the eLearning protocol used by most universities and schools to build and deliver courses to students. Our Criteria for Rating Online Sommelier ClassesHigh-quality wine instruction. This is a no-brainer in our opinion. The best wine instructors are able to deliver knowledge in a manner that students find compelling. A great teacher knows what the core concepts are and makes sure that students understand them, too. Far too many wine teachers believe that delivering information in a monotone is teaching. It is not. Student interaction. It’s important for students to interact with the teacher, especially if they have questions. This is often done through a chat function or a forum. High-Resolution Video / High-Quality Audio In the era of Zoom, poor quality audio and video are inexcusable. A wine student should expect a high-quality experience: one that is sharp visually and delivers crisp audio. HD and 4K video are now standard for online college classrooms; grainy video signals that you are dealing with a fly-by-night operation. The same goes for audio. Is the instructor using a high-quality cardioid microphone or a cheap omnidirectional one that sounds like they are speaking into a tin can? Online Academic Resources Programs should come with original online material. Whether that information is relayed via video or reading material depends on the program, as long as the information is presented in a lesson-by-lesson format. A critical consideration is whether there are quizzes or projects attached to lessons: the best online wine course offer ways to judge how well you are mastering the program. Wine Selections The best programs offer a list of wines to source, and offer help in substituting wines that are not available locally. This is not relevant for all programs. Many L1 programs do not require wines at all, but most L2 and L3 programs do require purchasing wines. We found that schools that offer to send you wines for a price are sending inferior wines at a high markup, and are best avoided. Sommelier Certification Another obvious requirement, but one that many programs offering “Online Sommelier Classes” do not actually offer. There is no reason to take a course if the school cannot offer a certificate issued by a qualified sommelier accreditation agency. ![]() The Best Online Sommelier Courses The Top Pick: Wine School of PhiladelphiaIt’s easy to simply point out that this school used material from the National Wine School, which runs the backend of many university wine programs. Of course it’s going to be great. What people don’t realize is that WSoP produces a lot of the content that is distributed nationally. Their Level One programming is a well-produced asynchronous program. Level two and above are a combination of high definition live feeds and immersive videos. For every synchronous program, there are two instructors, one on screen and the other answering student questions and bringing up the occasional power-point slide or animation to highlight what the primary instructor is discussing. The online portion is well-thought-out and SCORM-compliant. It is obvious that much of this programming was designed to be deployed at universities, as there is a very high level of professionalism in how the exams and reading material are organized. Website: https://www.vinology.com/online-wine-school/ What to Expect: Top WSET School: Grape Experience Wine & Spirit SchoolThe Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the dominant company in the restaurant trade. Name recognition alone is an important consideration. If you want snob appeal, then WSET should be your first pick. Classes are streamed live in a format that is very “WSET” in approach. Classes are PowerPoint presentations with an instructor talking over the slides. If you’ve taken WSET classes in the past and enjoyed them, you will feel right at home. There are dozens of WSET affiliate schools, and they all offer the same online classes. The only difference is who is talking, pricing, and the professionalism of the affiliate school. We find the team at Grape Experience to offer the best experience overall. Adam Chase is a fantastic teacher, and he has pulled together an excellent team of instructors. For in-person WSET programs, Napa Valley Wine Academy often is the better option. However, when it comes to online WSET programs, none is better than Grape Experience. When it comes to WSET, you can bargain shop for online sommelier classes. After all, it’s a PowerPoint followed by a certification exam. Here are a few of the WSET affiliate schools in the USA to research: Fine Vintage LTD, San Francisco Wine School, Wine Education Institute, Florida Wine Academy, Virginia Wine & Spirits Academy, Dallas Wine Education Center, Texas Wine School, International Wine Center, Capital Wine School, Wine Academy of Las Vegas, Spirited Grape, American Wine School, and Napa Valley Wine Academy, Website: https://www.grapeexperience.com/online/ What to Expect: Third Place: International Sommelier GuildA distant third place –in many ways behind all WSET affiliate schools– is the International Sommelier Guild (ISG). Production is a step up from WSET programs, but the information given is sometimes dated. While based in the United States, the group has expanded internationally, offering online programming in many languages, includes Russian, Spanish, and Chinese. What to Expect: The post Online Sommelier Classes appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/online-sommelier-classes/ The Top Wine Educators in AmericaThere are a handful of wine educators that dominate wine education. They have founded the top wine schools in America and blazed trails into sommelier training. These men and women are essential to the world of wine. If you love wine, your bucket list should include taking a class with one of these teachers. Learn from a master! David Glancy, MS | Master Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator, Founder of San Francisco Wine School, San Francisco Bay Area Jonathon Alsop | Founder: Boston Wine School and Author: Wine Lover’s Devotional Keith Wallace, MS (Master of Science) | Founder, Wine School of Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Area. Marianne Frantz | Founder & President, American Wine School, CWE, DWS, FWS, Advanced Sommelier, Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area Jay Youmans CWE, MW | Manager/Owner at Rock Creek Wine Merchants / Capital Wine School, Washington D.C. Metro Area. Christian Oggenfuss DWS, AIWS, FWS, AWS, IWP | Founder and CEO at Napa Valley Wine Academy & Online Wine Academy. Napa, California. James Cluer MW | Owner, Fine Vintage ltd, Vancouver, BC ![]() The Up-and-Coming Wine EducatorsDon’t get us wrong, these folks are amazing. Each and every one of them is in the top 5% of wine instructors. It’s just hard being under the shadow of wine giants like Jay, Marianne, and Christian! The next generation is strong and we expect great things from this group.
Become a Wine EducatorLooking at this list, you should note the broad diversity of jobs that certified wine educators have access to. Being an accredited wine educator is just as important as a sommelier certification. We have an entire page devoted to wine education and what schools offer the best programs: How to Become a Wine Educator. The post Top Wine Educators in America appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/top-wine-educators-in-america/ In this article, we go into detail on how the pandemic has negatively impacted the wine trade, and in particular wine education. In the last section, we offer a ray of hope: there are multiple grants available for wine schools. We must thank the individual who encouraged us to write this article. They generously shared their knowledge and research on this subject with us. In return, they asked us to transmit this information to all the wine schools in the US. The person in question has requested to remain anonymous, and we will respect that wish. ![]() COVID-19 has Decimated the Wine TradeThis year has been brutal to the wine trade. According to the trade group Wine America, direct sales at wineries were down nearly 75%, and the wholesale market is down nearly 30%. The estimated loss for a single month (March 2020) was $40 million. The Wine Institute places the total losses for 2020 to be $5.94 billion. The impact on winery employees and the local economies cannot be overstated. However, those losses are dwarfed by the effect of COVID-19 shutdowns on restaurants. The National Restaurant Association is anticipating $225 billion of lost revenue and over 5 million lost jobs. As of 11/2020, in-restaurant dining is at 50% of where it was in previous years. The Effect on Wine SchoolsCompared to wineries and restaurants, the wine education sector is tiny. The entire wine education economy is about $14 million, including winemaker certification at Universities and sommelier certifications at accredited wine schools. However, no sector in the wine trade has been more as impacted as independent wine schools. In most parts of the country, wineries and restaurants could stave of losses by offering a rudimentary selection of products, whether it was outdoor dining or online wine sales. However, wine schools could not run classes in most parts of the country. In a small survey conducted in early December, the estimated revenue losses for independent wine schools are at a staggering 85%. Wine School Winners and LosersThe wine schools that managed to stave off dramatic losses were those that offered online wine classes and virtual tastings. Those schools showed average revenue losses of 65%. Those that could take advantage of the CARES Act (March 2020) fared better, as well. On average, those that took advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program or the EIDL ADVANCE grants saw an average loss of 68%. Those schools that managed to do both saw the lowest losses, at an average of 58%. Grants for Sommelier & Wine Schools in 2021For those wine schools that have made it to 2021, there is hope. The COVID-19 Relief Bill (signed 12/27/2020) offers three major grants that will benefit our trade. We will update this section as needed, and as more information comes available. If you run a wine school and have a question, please put it in the comments below. EIDL ADVANCE GrantsSomewhat confusingly, these grants are part of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. If your school has an economic loss of 30% or more in 2020, and you employ less than 301 employees, then you may qualify for a $10,000 grant. Here’s the rub: this program is for brick-and-mortar facilities located in low-income communities. Before dismissing this program, you should look up your eligibility: we checked the locations of five wine schools and all were eligible for this grant. To check yourself, just search online for the “New Market Tax Credit” database. if your address is listed as “NMTC Eligible” then you qualify. The EIDL program is run by the Small Business Administration (SBA), which is where you would apply. PUA UnemploymentMost wine school owners are self-employed. These additional 11 weeks of federal unemployment benefits are helpful. $300 a week isn’t much, but it helps. If your school is in the red financially –and it very likely is– you are eligible for this program. PUA Unemployment is managed by the individual states, so applying for these benefits depends on where you live. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)An alternative to the PUA is this program. If you showed at least a 25% loss from 2019, then you can get a forgivable loan of 2.5 times your average payroll costs. If your school runs payroll, this is a great option. The total is calculated on your 2019 payroll and is fully forgivable if use 60% of the funds on payroll. You can also specify which period you want to use if for, up to 24 weeks in the future. If your school is listed by the IRS as a food service company, then the amount you can receive is much higher: you can get 3.5 times your average payroll! To qualify, you need to have a NAICS code 72 (Accommodation and Food Services). That said, NAICS codes are not set and stone and there is a good argument that a wine school is a Food Service company, especially if you train sommeliers. This program is helpful as we move out of the pandemic and into the vaccination phase. If you plan on restarting wine classes in a few months, then you can stay on PUA until you are ready to relaunch your programs. This program is run by the SBA. Grants for Shuttered Venue OperatorsThis is –by far– the best news the wine school trade has had all year. A wine school is very much a live venue, according to this new law, That makes sense when you think about it:, if you run wine tastings for the publice, then most of your clientele are attending a wine tasting as entertainment. This “Grants for Shuttered Venue Operators” shows great financial benefit to the wine school sector of the wine trade. This program covers up to 45% of your 2019 revenue. For many wine schools, this would mean recouping nearly all losses for the year. The program is designed to issue two grants. One in winter 2020/21 and another in the spring of 2021. Priority is being given to venues with losses in the 70-90% range: once this program is underway, those venues will get grants in the first month. The rest of the grants will be issued after that. To qualify for this program, a wine school show at least a 25% loss from 2019. You also need the standards of all live venues, which include selling tickets to attend, audio mixing equipment, a public address system (aka speaker system), and a lighting rig. These are systems all wine schools should have, and most do. if you opt for this program, you will not be ineligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). You also need to have a person who takes care of bookkeeping and manages the tickets. There are other grant programs in the December 2020 Relief Bill that are directed toward schools, but wine schools do not qualify, except for regionally accredited ones. More reading: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/show-must-go-stimulus-package-provides-relief-venue-operators The post The COVID Catastrophe & Possible Salvation for Wine Schools appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/the-covid-catastrophe-possible-salvation-for-wine-schools/ Sommeliers Speak OutAfter writing an omnibus article on the problems facing the Court of Master Sommeliers, we heard from a number of high-profile sommeliers who really really did not like how we portrayed the court. Below are excerpts of the comments. We removed many of the personal attacks and name-calling from their statements. We also edited comments for clarity and brevity. The full unedited versions are in the comments under the original article: https://www.somm.us/boycott-master-sommeliers/ Following their statements, I have included my response. ![]()
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Our Response to the Sommeliers Defending the CMSWe understand your concerns surrounding our previous article. The arguments can be distilled to the following:
You are absolutely correct in that an individual is not responsible for their employer’s politics. However, we are not talking about private individuals. We are talking about the board of directors of a non-profit trade organization. Anyone who accepts such a position is bound by very specific duties and ethical obligations. Lets get the technical information out of the way and then talk about their implications. The Court of Master Sommeliers is a 501 C (6) Charity Organization registered in California. According to California Code, Corporations Code – CORP § 5210, the Board is responsible, under the law, for the charity’s acts and omissions. Board members have two basic duties: a duty of care to the corporation and a duty of loyalty. The duty of care is fundamentally about acting prudently. The duty of loyalty is fundamentally about putting the interests of the corporation before the director’s own interests. Under IRS rules, the Court is a nonprofit trade association. As such, it must represent an entire industry and promote the common interests of its members. Furthermore, it must not provide services to individuals the way a for-profit business does.
TL;DR: A significant amount of the CMSa budget is supplied by a major Republican donor, and its board is mostly employed by other Republican donors. Our article was not about shaming individuals for being Republicans. It’s to point out that the Court’s board does not represent its membership at any level. If you are a Democrat, woman, or person of color, you should have much more representation on the board than you do. The claim that the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas (CMSa) is only culpable if there is a direct link to rape and sexual violence is incorrect. The CMSa makes the legal argument that they are the trade association for sommeliers in the restaurant trade. Being a trade association allows them to be a tax-free 501 (c) 6 nonprofit. This is a double-edged sword. In exchange for not being taxed, a trade association is obligated to promote the general interest of its members as well as the entire industry. Let’s take a look at how a similar trade association dealt with rising reports of sexual assault in the workplace during the #metoo movement:
The AHLA spent months working to keep hotel employees safe from assault. The CMSa has the same obligations and a similar workforce but did nothing. As members of the sommelier community, it is up to the CMSa –our trade association– to take a stand on sexual violence. It is perfectly reasonable to critize the CMSa for failing to act on this grave problem. A Final ThoughtWe do not have a political agenda, as some have claimed. We simply want sommeliers to take a long and hard look at the CMSa and demand that it does better. We are not asking for a lot.
If the Court can’t address these issues, then maybe it is time to boycott the Court of Master Sommeliers until they address these systematic shortcomings. The post Opposing Viewpoints from the Sommelier Community appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/opposing-viewpoints-from-the-sommelier-community/ ![]() Is it time to say goodbye to the Court of Master Sommeliers? With eminent sommeliers quitting under protest and a wide array of accusations being leveled at the certification body, it’s time to consider the evidence. We’ve lain out what people in the wine industry are saying about the Court of Master Sommelier – Americas (CMSA). These include issues around racism, sexual violence, cheating, and political bias.
We also offer alternatives if you decide to not support the Court. There are equally good sommelier certification bodies available, so you can earn your sommelier pin with an agency that better aligns with your personal beliefs.
The Court of Master Sommeliers has a Racism Problem![]() “In order to speak, you need to call me master”A Master Sommelier Examiner to Tahiirah HabibiTahiirah has recently published a heartbreaking recollection of blatant racism within the Court of Master Sommeliers. We strongly recommend you listen to how the Court of Master Sommeliers nearly destroyed her love of wine and then callously exploited her.
Such accusations have been lingering for a long time. Currently, less than 1% of all Master Sommeliers are black.
The Court of Master Sommeliers has a Sexual Violence ProblemIn that past several years, we have had countless articles and two bestselling books that outline a disturbing and deeply ingrained culture of sexual violence within the sommelier world.
In her book, James states that a restaurant owner raped her in the wine cellar. “I was young and insecure and thought that this was what women went through.” She is far from the only wine author to level deeply disturbing accusations. Bianca Bosker, the bestselling author of the book Cork Dork, recalled numerous examples of sexual violence and inappropriate behavior. She also pointed out that the restaurant industry accounts for more sexual harassment complaints than any other industry.
It doesn’t help that only 16% of all Master Sommeliers and only 14% of its board of directors are female. With women being the largest segment of wine consumers, it’s long past time for this to change.
We call on the court to bring in a board of directors that more accurately reflects the community they serve, and that must include women as well as black and indigenous people of color. The Court of Master Sommeliers has a Republican ProblemJust because a Master Sommelier is a Republican or is employed by one is not a cause to boycott the Court. Nor do we think it’s a problem if a Master Sommelier is a financial donors to the Republican party. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs. However, the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas (CMSA) is a nonprofit agency that claims to represent the industry as a whole. If they appear to be a politically partisan group, that is a severe conflict of interest. In our reporting, we discovered that the Board of Directors of the CMSA has a distinct Republican bias. Most of the board members are executives in businesses whose leadership donates heavily to right-wing causes. Currently, 7% of the board either donated to or worked for someone who donated to Democratic Causes. 14% donated to both parties, and a whopping 57% donated solely to Republicans. Dollar for dollar, the data is even worse. The money given to Democrats on average was less than $400, while the average donation to Republicans was over $10,000. We believe this lack of representation of differing political views is one of the systemic problems facing the Court. Republican Donors & The Master Sommeliers Board of Directors
Democratic Donors & The Master Sommeliers Board of Directors
Dual Donors & The Master Sommeliers Board of Directors
The Court Accepts Big Contributions from a Far-Right Political DonorThe Court of Master Sommeliers has deep financial ties to Barbara Banke, the far-right political donor. She funds the CMS scholarship program under the name of her wine company, the Jackson Family Wines Scholarship. We call on the court to sever ties with the Republican party and bring in a board of directors that more accurately reflects the communities they serve.
The Court of Master Sommeliers Has A Cheating ProblemIn 2018, a board member was caught giving answers to the Master Sommelier exam to one of his protegees. This blatant cheating was uncovered because the protegee had second thoughts and consulted a lawyer after taking the exam, and passing.
It is well-known that members of the board will tutor the very candidates they are supposed to be testing. This type of advocacy is part of the Master Sommelier culture. While on the surface this may seem innocuous, consider that this gives the beneficiaries (who are mostly male and white) a huge competitive advantage over other candidates. ![]() This cronyism goes far beyond giving an unfair advantage to certain people: it has clearly encouraged outright cheating. It was a fluke that the fraud was exposed, and we have no way to know how long such cheating has been going on: the Court continues to stonewall any outside investigation into the scandal. This is not the only issue with cronyism. Board members are also allowed to change the scores after the exam to benefit certain applicants.
After clearly stating that the board will change scores for some candidates, he backtracked and claimed they would only do so “to adjust for exam flaws”. After discussing this issue with multiple sommeliers who have conducted blind tasting exams, there seems to be no valid reason to ever change a grade after the exam has been conducted. The Court of Master Sommeliers has refused to comment on these serious issues, despite being widely reported on in the media. At this point, it is illogical to assume there was only one case of cheating, or that altering final scores is only done “to adjust for exam flaws.” It is entirely possible the premise of the Master Sommelier certification is a fabrication.
The Court of Master Sommeliers Has A Money ProblemThe Court is a nonprofit agency [501(c)(6)] under US law. In their filings with the IRS, it clearly shows that they make an average of five million dollars a year, almost all of it earned through entrance fees for sommelier exams. Where does that money go? According to the US government, nearly all that money goes to compensation and management expenses.
Having nearly 70% of a budget devoted to administration and expenses is a red flag, according to many nonprofit watchdogs.
While these red flags are problematic, the Court is also not fulfilling its obligations as a non-profit.
According to its own documentation, the CSMSA is not serving the common interests of the sommelier trade, as it is legally bound to. It is only spending money to benefit its board of directors and employees. In its filings for 2018, the CMSA spent exactly zero dollars to support the sommelier community. Alternatives to the Court of Master SommeliersDo you think it’s time to boycott the CMSA? There are several accreditation agencies in the wine trade that offer sommelier certification. They offer the exact same level of certification as the Court. You can check out a comparison chart of the three major wine trade certification bodies.
The post Boycott the Court of Master Sommeliers? appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/boycott-master-sommeliers/ ![]() Whether you’re an ultimate wine enthusiast, or whether you’re looking to make wine your profession, WSET offers a range of qualifications to get you to the exact level you want Wine QualificationsFor an overview of all wine certifications, including reviews of WSET, CMS, and NWS, you can check out our Sommelier Certification 101 page. Level 1 Award in WinesFor anyone just starting out in wine, this qualification is perfect. The course focuses on introducing individuals to different types of wine by allowing them to see, taste and smell Level 2 Award in WinesLevel 2 builds on the knowledge gained in level 1 and introduces more topics. Individuals are introduced to more grape varieties and how environmental, winemaking factors and Level 3 Awards in WinesLevel 3 is considered a professional qualification, especially for those who are building a career in wine. The course goes in-depth into the process of growing grapes, making the The assessment consists of three parts: a 50-multiple question portion, a short written paper, as well as a blind tasting. In order to receive a lapel pin and certificate, all three sections Level 4 Diploma in WinesAt the highest level of the WSET, level 4 is found. It is an expert level. The diploma is a six-part unit that covers expert knowledge in winemaking, wine Level 1, 2, 3, in SpiritsThese qualifications work similarly to the qualifications in wine. Each level builds on the knowledge of the previous level. The topics covered in these qualifications include the Level 1, 2, 3, in SakeSimilarly to the wine and spirits qualifications, each level forms the foundation for the following level. The topics of this qualification include the types and styles of sake; how to serve and store Whatever your industry needs, whether it be wine, spirits or sake, the WSET offers some incredible options for each. These qualifications are held to the highest standard and great for any general wine or spirits industry. Student Reviews of WSETDozens of sommeliers and wine professionals have rated the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Check out those reviews here. The post Wine and Spirits Education Trust appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/wine-and-spirits-education-trust/ What are virtual wine tastings? Online wine classes are nothing new. Highly respected wine institutions like Wine Spectator and the University of California at Davis have been offering online courses for years. Interest for such programs was high at the outset, with a peak in 2012. However, they were hindered by clunky technology and confusing systems. This type of online learning may not be new, but it has been transformed. What used to be a dry attempt to imitate a classroom experience is now a fun and engaging experience. There are many online wine course worth attending now, up from zero a year ago. The impetus for the sudden change came with our communal need for social connection and distraction during the COVID-19 shutdown. ![]() It was not just the pandemic that launched this new type of wine education. The phenomenon could not have happened without two pieces of ubiquitous business software: PowerPoint and Zoom. The near-universal acceptance of those apps reduced the friction of adaptation. Nearly every wine lover had the ability to adapt to the new online wine classroom experience. For the attendees, virtual wine tastings are a great way to learn about wine from the comfort of their sofa. They also get to socialize with people who share the same love of wine. These online classes are also great values. Pricing is usually a fraction of what a class at a brick-and-mortar classroom. For instance, a class on Bordeaux at the Wine School of Philadelphia typically costs around $80, but the online version only costs $10. Despite the savings, you still are taught by their top instructors. We found that students get more one-on-one time with instructors during online classes than the traditional ones.
Online Wine ClassesThe following are the best online wine schools currently offering virtual wine tastings. This list is specifically for live-streamed wine classes run by a certified wine instructor.
7. Wine For Normal Peoplehttps://www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes/ We like the programming, and the instructor is engaging, but there were some negatives that forced us to put it into the last-place spot on our list. First, is the complicated ordering system. Why are each ticket valid for two people, so if a singleton wants to sit in, they have to ask for a discount? The needless complexity detracted from an otherwise fine experience. The programming is also expensive. At $42/ticket, it’s much more expensive than most of the other classes on offer. On a positive note, these classes are taught by Elizabeth Schneider. She’s the host of the super-popular podcast Wine for Normal People. She’s also the author of the titular bestselling book, too.
6. Napa Valley Wine AcademyI am surprised these classes ended up this far down from the top of this list. This wine school is one of our top-rated schools. Their use of technology led us to believe these classes were going to blow everyone else out of the water. Sadly, the content and delivery were not up the level of their other offerings. At $49/ticket it’s also the most expensive virtual wine class on this list. That is not to say these programs are not worthwhile. Their speakers are engaging and a lot can be taken from these classes. However, there were a lot of technical and organizational issues around their programming. Once those issues have been addressed, we expect these classes to jump to the top of the list.
5. The Cellar Musehttps://www.cellarmuse.com/tanya-morning-star-darling Tanya Morningstar Darling is an excellent wine educator. She is on the teaching staff at the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seatle College. Her online wine classes are well-structured and dynamic. They do a touch of the professorial lecture vibe, but only a touch. The execution of the video and lecture was not smooth and felt a little amateurish on that front. We did find it nearly impossible to navigate here website. Online wine classes were listed under “Master Class and Webinar.” Plus the pricing was high, at $39/person. Like many of the offerings at the bottom of this list, pricing seem too high for the production values of the class.
4. Gastro Localhttps://www.gastro-tours.com/local Originally called NYC Food and Wine Trails, Gastro Local is the brainchild of Tatiana Gana. These classes are fun have hit the top three largely because they are comparable to other online wine classes on this list, but with one big difference: they are free.
3. Vino To Gohttps://sipwithvinotogo.ca/events/ There used to be a great wine school in Toronto called iYellow. One of their former instructors Tasha Taylor opened up a school/wine event company in 2018 called Vino To Go. Her classes are pure fun and pizzaz. Not the most in-depth of classes, but they are really great social events with plenty of wine education in the mix. Tickets are reasonably prices at $13/person. For someone who is looking form more in-depth education, though, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
2. Corkbuzzhttps://www.corkbuzz.com/store/events/ Anyone who is running an online wine class should look to Laura Maniec Fiorvanti and Corkbuzz. They have been knocking out homeruns since this NYC wine school-cum-wine bar hit the scene. While they never offered professional certification classes, many of Corkbuzz classes are geared toward the wine professional. These online classes are polished, organized, and offer plenty of social interaction. Priced at $10, these classes are hard to beat for the quality for value. A lot of respect for Laura for putting her students before her fame. Even when she’s not teaching, she is often in class offering commentary.
1. Online Wine School (WSoP)A relative newcomer to the online wine class experience, this project came out out of the gate on fire. These classes took the best parts of Corkbuzz and Napa Wine School’s programs and blended them together in way that is innovative and fun. Thankfully, they also took the cue from Laura and priced their classes at $10/person. This is a project by the Wine School of Philadelphia, one of our top-ranked wine schools. For this project, they brought in some new talent who work very well in this online format. Keith Wallace, the founder of the school is often in class, offering color commentary and responding to questions. It was a close call whether Corkbuzz or the Online Wine School were going to top this list, but the high quality and interactivity of the classes here put them over the top.
The post Top Sites for Virtual Wine Tastings appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/virtual-wine-tastings/ The wine industry has so much to offer – especially when it comes to proper wine education. There are several great institutions that provide some world-class education. Let’s take a look at one of these great institutions and what they have to offer. The Society of Wine Educators is an institution that has been around since 1977. This institute is a non-profit institution that offers a range of different certifications that are internationally recognized. When it comes to the education the SWE provides, they offer four different certifications related to the wine and spirits industry. These include Hospitality Specialist Certification, Certified Specialist of Wine, Certified Specialist of Spirits, Certified Wine Educator and Certified Spirits Educator. These certifications lay the foundation for those seeking professional opportunities in the wine and spirits industry. Do You Want to Become a Wine Instructor?So whether you’re looking to become professionally qualified in wine or spirits, the Society of Wine Educators is an institution to look into. Their certifications are professional, highly regarded and could just be that one thing you need to get ahead. However, they are only one of several top-ranked programs for wine instructors. For a full listing of wine instructor certifications, check out our overview of all Wine Educator certifications. Are you looking for a wine educator job? The Hospitality/Beverage Specialist Certificate (HBSC)The HBSC is focused on providing education and skills for an individual in the hospitality industry. It is considered an entry-level course that can be used as the foundation to build any wine, beer or spirits career on. The ContentWith this certification, a range of beverages are covered – including wine, spirits, beer, sake, cider, and even coffee and tea. Completing the CertificationThe HBSC is a self-study certification that can be done online with a registration fee of $99 that allows individuals online access to the course and the examinations. For a textbook study-guide or a digital guide, students are required to purchase those separately. In order to pass, students are required to write a multiple-choice question examination with a pass rate of 75%. If students do not pass the examination, they are able to rewrite the examination at no additional cost. The Certified Specialist of Wine Certification (CSW)This certification is highly regarded in the wine and spirits industry, with the focus largely on viticulture and viniculture. The ContentThe topics focus on, Physiology of Taste, Wine Composition and Chemistry, Wine Faults, Viniculture and Enology, Wine Labels, Wine Laws and Regions, The U.S. Wine Industry, Wine and Health, Wine Etiquette, Service, Pairings and Responsible Alcohol Service. Students are also able to connect to free monthly Webinars and a guided 12-week online class.
Completing the CertificateThe study material for this course needs to be purchased separately, with eBooks and hard copies available. In order to receive the certificate, candidates are expected to pass an examination of 100 multiple-choice questions. These examinations are to be written at specific venues that are located in most major U.S. and international cities. The pass-rate is 75% and upon completion, students will receive a certification, a CSW lapel pin and are able to use the CSW as part of their professional signature. The Certified Wine Educator (CWE)The CWE certifies not only the wine knowledge of an individual but also the individual’s ability to taste and teach a class. The ContentThe theory side of the certification is a self-study, but there are several guides available for students who require assistance. There is a CWE manual available via Amazon as well as a Recommended Reading List. Completing the CertificationIn order to pass, individuals are required to pass two blind tastings and a demonstration class. Additionally, students are required to have passed the CSW certification. The Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS)The CSS focuses on mastering the content of spirits distillation and production. The ContentAll study material can be purchased either as hard-copies or eBooks. These topics include the production and distillation of most spirits, liqueurs, mixology, as well as service. Completing the CertificationAll examinations are to be written at set venues in most major U.S and international cities. The Certified Spirits Educator (CSE)The CSE certifies individuals for their knowledge of spirits, as well as on their tasting ability and their teaching abilities. The ContentThe individual will learn and be tested on spirit production, sprit aging, vodka, neutral spirits, gin, flavored spirits, whiskey, rum, liqueurs, vermouth, basic mixology, servicing, and responsible alcohol service. Most of the content is self-study, but there are resources available online to assist the students. Completing the CertificationThe examination consists of two tasting exams, a demonstration class and candidates are expected to have passed a Responsible Beverage Alcohol Service Certification, as well as the CSE certification. Upon completion, candidates will receive a certificate, lapel pin, and professional signature The post The Society of Wine Educators appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/the-society-of-wine-educators/ |
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