There are quite a wide number of different sommelier classes available for someone interested in a sommelier career or greater knowledge with regard to wine selection and tasting. These courses are often provided by schools and professional associations, but many of them have some basic concepts in common. Courses are typically divided into different levels, each expanding upon materials presented in an earlier level, and the total number of levels available to a student depends on the program offered. The subjects covered in different sommelier classes include wine tasting and comparison, understanding proper pairing of food and wine, study of different geographical regions that produce wine, and proper wine serving methods.
Sommelier classes are courses offered to educate individuals who are interested in sommelier training. This type of training is usually intended to help someone learn to professionally choose, handle, select, and serve wine in restaurants or other venues within the hospitality industry. Someone can also simply choose to learn the methods and skills of a sommelier for greater personal enjoyment of wine, but most sommelier classes are intended to end in professional certification. These courses are offered by many different professional sommelier groups and associations, however, so they may differ from one program to another.
Most of these associations offer sommelier classes divided into a number of different levels, much like other schools that offer tiered programs. These courses usually build upon each other, and some groups may require lower level courses be completed before higher levels can be taken. While these sommelier classes can be taken purely for increased enjoyment and understanding of wines, they usually end with an examination that will grant a person some form of sommelier certification when passed.
There are typically quite a few different sommelier classes offered by such professional organizations, and different groups will often choose different names for such courses. In general, however, many of these courses cover the same types of topics. Beginning level courses often focus on the basics of wine tasting and understanding, allowing students to learn the terminology used when tasting wines, and comparing different types of wines through tasting.
Intermediate courses are likely to focus on proper pairing of wines with different foods, as well as professional aspects of being a sommelier such as storage and presentation of wines. These courses may also present various practical aspects of the wine business such as importing wines and developing professional relationships. More advanced sommelier classes will usually focus on more technical aspects of wine growing and preparation, and may include trips to vineyards and study of different geographical regions in which wine is made.
