For decades, both the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) and the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) have represented the world’s highest level of training regarding wine along with some of the world’s most difficult exams. Each program plays a crucial role in increasing wine knowledge and tasting skills as well as improving the standards and image of the wine industry. While Master of Wine and Master Sommelier may sound interchangeable, there is one large difference that sets these two challenging wine certifications apart.
Both the Masters of Wine and Master Sommelier designations are certification programs that originated in the United Kingdom, in 1953 and 1969, respectively. In 1953, the Vintners’ Company and the Wine and Spirit Association recognized that they needed to improve the standard of education in the British wine trade and to formally certify its most talented members. They organized the first Master of Wine exam in 1953.
Qualification to become a Master of Wine demands comprehensive knowledge of the international wine business, wine distribution and marketing, and requires immense knowledge about wines from all over the world. The Court of Master Sommeliers was established to improve and elevate the quality of beverage knowledge and service throughout the hospitality industry.
CMS sets the global standard of excellence for beverage service within the hospitality industry. The first successful Master Sommelier examination was held in the United Kingdom in 1969, and by April 1977, the CMS was established as the premier international examining body.
While both programs have similarities and overlaps, the two designations differ in their intentions. The Masters of Wine program is more academic and centers on testing for a wide and deep knowledge of the wine industry. It is intended for people primarily in wine related professions and in the wine trade industry. Masters of Wine know much more about the production (viticulture and vinification), marketing and business of wine along with bulk wines.
While a Master of Wine reflects a wealth of academic knowledge, a Master Sommelier reflects a more practical one. The Master Sommelier program is intended more for beverage service in a restaurant setting, including specific training on the areas of tasting, theory and service, and an education in beer and spirits.
The Master Sommelier program focuses on the dining experience in restaurants and trains sommeliers to understand, recommend and serve the guests in the most optimal conditions.
While a deep understanding of all things wine is needed to be a Master Sommelier, a Master of Wine has taken the pursuit of knowledge much farther. Both certifications also require an ability to speak eloquently, however a crucial skill for a Master Sommelier is the ability to be a salesperson. Those in the service industry will benefit most from the Master Sommelier program and for those in the wine trade with a more academic mind, the Masters of Wine program is a more logical choice.
Only 269 people have earned the title Master Sommelier and 496 Masters of Wine, with only four people in the world who hold both titles. Regardless of which certification someone is striving for, becoming a Master in the wine world requires years of dedication, hard work, and passion.
