COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS TO BRING ITS LEADING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO VANCOUVER
Only a few spaces remain for the Introductory and Certified Examinations on June 26 – 28

Beginning on June 26, numerous individuals will partake in an intensive, two-day instruction and training session to learn the art and science of wine and spirits service from a select group of the world’s foremost experts on the topic, Master Sommeliers Tim Gaiser, Darius Allyn, and John Szabo, one of only two Canadians who holds a Master Sommelier diploma. Participants will conclude the Court of Master Sommeliers-sponsored course by sitting for the first of the organization’s four exams, each of which requires an increasingly keen dedication to the mastery of all elements of beverage theory and service. Those who excel in the upcoming training program may even go on to eventually join the exclusive group of just 105 individuals in North America with the coveted title of Master Sommelier.

Despite the daunting road ahead, these applicants jumped at the opportunity to learn from these Master Sommeliers and sit for the Introductory Exam. The Court’s unmatched expertise, combined with the public’s growing interest in wine in recent years, has meant that these courses fill up far in advance and generally command a sizable waitlist. For the upcoming Vancouver Introductory Course, to be held at the renowned International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Vancouver, only a few spaces remain for sommeliers interested in beginning their pursuit of the Court’s highest designation.

For individuals who have already passed the Introductory Sommelier Exam, Master Gaiser and his colleagues also will proctor the day-long Certified Exam on June 28, the second of the Court’s prestigious educational programs. These candidates will attempt to demonstrate an even higher level of proficiency in wine theory and beverage service. As the second phase in the Court’s coursework, this examination is critical in discerning the introductory candidates from those who will ultimately become Master Sommeliers.

“Every individual who participates in our Level I and Level II programs brings with them great enthusiasm and a unique perspective to this vocation,” stated Master Gaiser. “I look forward to helping these candidates develop the skills they will need to reach the top of their field.”

Master Gaiser passed the Court of Master Sommeliers Masters Exam in 1992, after several years of study and preparation. He is currently the Education Chair for the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as a contributing editor for Fine Cooking Magazine. Master Gaiser also serves as an adjunct professor for the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley.

“With each new exam, it is always exciting to see who will walk through those classroom doors,” said Frederick Dame, Chairman Emeritus of the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers and current President of the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation. “Working with young sommeliers provides the Court a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the next generation of wine professionals shares our passion for wine and wine service. Each of these candidates has the potential to be the next great Master Sommelier.”

About the Court of Master Sommeliers
The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in England in 1977 to encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. The first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam to be held in the United States was in 1987. The title Master Sommelier marks the highest recognition of wine and spirits knowledge, beverage service abilities, and professionalism in the hospitality trade. Education was then, and remains today, the Court’s charter. There are four stages involved in attaining the top qualifications of Master Sommelier: 1) Introductory Sommelier Course; 2) Certified Sommelier Exam; 3) Advanced Sommelier Course; and 4) Master Sommelier Diploma.

There are 105 professionals who have earned the title Master Sommelier in North America. Of those, 90 are men and 15 are women. There are 170 professionals worldwide who have received the title of Master Sommelier since the first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam.

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