A sommelier is a trained wine professional specializing in wine service, cellar management, and food pairing. Determining the total number of certified sommeliers worldwide is complex because multiple organizations offer various credentials, meaning no single international body governs the title. This article focuses on the data provided by the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS), the body most widely recognized for the professional title of “Certified Sommelier” and the Master Sommelier diploma.
Understanding the Certification Landscape
A precise global figure for all certified wine professionals does not exist due to the fragmented nature of wine education and credentialing. Numerous organizations offer certificates in wine knowledge, but they are not interchangeable with the professional sommelier designation. For instance, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) focuses heavily on wine theory, production, and commerce, serving primarily as an educational certificate rather than a professional sommelier qualification. The International Sommelier Guild (ISG) and various local trade bodies also contribute to the count of wine-qualified individuals.
The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) is unique because its structure emphasizes the professional role of a sommelier, focusing on service, salesmanship, and hospitality alongside technical knowledge. This focus on tableside service and beverage management distinguishes the CMS path from other educational programs. When the hospitality industry refers to a certified sommelier, they are typically referencing someone who has pursued a credential within the CMS framework.
The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) Structure
The CMS program is structured as a progressive, four-tiered examination system designed to guide professionals from foundational knowledge to the highest level of expertise. The initial step is the Introductory Sommelier course and examination, which provides an overview of global wine regions, service standards, and the CMS deductive tasting method. This first level is purely educational, does not require prior professional experience, and serves as a prerequisite for the subsequent tiers.
The second tier is the Certified Sommelier examination, which confers the first professional sommelier qualification. This one-day assessment consists of three parts: a written theory test, a short blind tasting of two wines, and a practical service component testing tableside proficiency. Following this is the Advanced Sommelier examination, a more intensive three-day assessment demanding a deeper theoretical command of all alcoholic beverages and a rigorous six-wine blind tasting. The final stage is the Master Sommelier Diploma, which is exclusively open to those who have passed the Advanced level.
The Definitive Count of Master Sommeliers
The Master Sommelier (MS) designation represents the highest professional credential in beverage service, signifying a comprehensive mastery of theory, service, and blind tasting. The global total of individuals who have earned the title since the first exam in 1969 remains below 300. As of late 2024, the cumulative global count of Master Sommeliers is approximately 293 individuals.
The difficulty of the examination process contributes to this low number. The final diploma requires a minimum passing score of 75 percent in each of its three sections: an oral theory exam, a six-wine blind tasting, and a practical service and salesmanship component. Historically, the pass rate for the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination is exceptionally low, often falling in the range of three to eight percent of applicants. Candidates who pass one or two sections must pass the remaining parts within a three-year window, or they must retake the entire exam.
Statistical Overview of CMS Certified Levels
The numerical data for the CMS program demonstrates a pyramid structure, with the majority of certified individuals found at the lower levels. While exact global totals for every level are not formally published by the CMS, approximate figures illustrate the population size differences. The most exclusive tier, the Master Sommelier level, contains fewer than 300 professionals worldwide.
The population expands substantially at the Advanced Sommelier level, with the CMS-Americas chapter alone reporting nearly 900 professionals who have achieved this status. The Certified Sommelier level holds the largest population of individuals with a formal, professional sommelier title. This designation is widely understood to be in the tens of thousands globally, representing the most common certification encountered in the hospitality industry. The introductory level, which is a prerequisite course and exam, is the largest group of all, exceeding the combined totals of the higher tiers.
Global and Historical Context of Sommelier Certification
The Court of Master Sommeliers was formally established in 1977 in the United Kingdom, following the first Master Sommelier examination in 1969. The organization quickly evolved into the premier international examining body, establishing chapters across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. This global presence has solidified the CMS as the standard for professional sommelier certification in much of the world, particularly in North America.
The sommelier field is also supported by other credentialing paths not included in the CMS count, reflecting a diverse global landscape. Certain European countries, for example, have government-recognized vocational qualifications for sommeliers that function similarly to a trade diploma. These qualifications operate outside the CMS framework. The CMS numbers provide the most transparent metric for the community of formally certified sommeliers.