Sommelier (Wine Expert)
Choosing, suggesting and serving wine for guests in restaurants, hotels and wine shops.
Facts checked 29/10/2026
Is this for me?
- Talking with people about food and drink
- Learning new grapes, regions and styles all the time
- Being part of a busy team during a full dinner service
- Evening, weekend and holiday shifts, and standing for hours
- Pressure to sell, and handling difficult guests
- Years of study and tasting before senior roles, with modest pay at the start
- Class 11–12 subjects
- Any Class 12 stream. No subject is compulsory. Good English helps, because the main wine courses are taught in English. Basic maths helps with costing and stock.
- First degree
- No degree is needed. Most people train through short WSET or Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) courses, plus hands-on work in a restaurant or hotel.
- Entrance exams
- WSET Award in Wines (Level 1, Level 2, then Level 3) and/or Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory and Certified exams.
- Licence or registration
- None needed to start working.
What the work is like
Recommending wines to guests, building wine lists, buying and storing stock, opening and pouring at the table, and training floor staff.
A day in the work
A sommelier often starts before lunch service with a tasting or a stock check. They talk with the chef about the dishes and suggest wine pairings for the menu. During dinner they walk the floor, open and pour bottles, and help guests who want a good bottle for a budget or a special occasion. After service they check sales, count the cellar, and plan the next order.
The path, step by step
- Step 1 · Class 10–12No wine course is needed yet. Build strong English and basic maths, and get comfortable talking to strangers. Help at family or school events where food and drinks are served.
- Step 2 · After Class 12Start on the floor in a restaurant or hotel food and beverage team. The CMS Europe 2025 prospectus asks for at least twelve months of practical hospitality experience before its Introductory course.
- Step 3 · Age 18 or olderTake WSET Level 1 (no prior study needed), then Level 2 Award in Wines. WSET's London page says you must be 18 to enrol, but some Indian providers list 21 for Level 2, so check before you book.
- Step 4 · Work yearsTake the CMS Introductory Sommelier Certificate: a three-day programme with two days of teaching and an exam on the third. Then take the Certified Sommelier exam within three years of passing Introductory.
- Step 5 · Optional, long termAdvanced and Master Sommelier levels take years. The CMS says only a small number of people hold the Master Sommelier Diploma.
Ways in
- WSET routeWine study through Levels 1 and 2 (and later Level 3). Knowledge-based. Taught in English by WSET-approved centres in some Indian cities.
- CMS routeIntroductory, then Certified, then Advanced and Master levels. Focuses on tasting, formal service and the sommelier's work. Needs hospitality experience first. CMS Europe has run Introductory and Certified exams in Mumbai.
Time and money
| Stage | Time | Government college or body | Private college | Help available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 11–12 (no wine course needed yet) | 2 years | Your school's fees | — | — |
| WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Wines (knowledge courses; Level 2 may require age 18 or 21) | Check the course schedule | WSET London: Level 2 £630 (day-release course); Indian providers ~₹26,500–45,500 (reported, Grape Xpectations) | Check the college's fee page | No scholarship or stipend found |
| Work experience: restaurant or hotel floor team (paid job; pay not stated) | At least 12 months (CMS Europe 2025 rule for Introductory) | Paid work — no fee | — | Earns wages; pay not given on page |
| CMS Introductory Sommelier Certificate (3-day programme with exam on day 3) | 3 days | CMS Americas: $949 for in-person course (US price); no Indian fee found | Check the notice for exam or course fee | No scholarship or stipend found |
| CMS Certified Sommelier exam (within 3 years of Introductory) | Within 3 years of Introductory | Check the notice | — | No scholarship or stipend found |
Fees from: WSET School London: Level 2 Award in Wines · Grape Xpectations: Level 2 page (provider fee, reported) · Court of Master Sommeliers Americas: Introductory course and exam. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.
What people earn
Pay varies widely. A junior floor staff member at a casual restaurant earns far less than an experienced sommelier at a luxury hotel in a large city, and employer, city, tips and overseas postings all change the picture.
Myth and fact
Try it now
- Class 7–9Help plan a family meal and choose a drink to go with each dish. Note what worked and why.
- Class 10–12Read the Court of Master Sommeliers home page to see how its four levels are set out, and note what the first level expects.Open link ↗
- College or afterLook for a part-time or summer job in a restaurant or hotel food and beverage team, and ask a senior colleague how they learned.
Good to know
- Sommelier is not a statutory licensed profession in India. Your certificates, work record and employer's trust matter most.
- The CMS Europe 2025 prospectus sets a twelve-month hospitality experience rule for Introductory. The CMS Americas online course page sets no such rule, so check the rules for the course you pick.
- Early roles often mean stacking bottles, serving on the floor and taking orders. Senior roles add buying, costing and staff training.
- You can start WSET Level 1 with no prior study. Level 2 assumes some basic wine knowledge.
Sources: WSET School London: Level 2 Award in Wines · Court of Master Sommeliers Europe: 2025 prospectus (PDF) · Court of Master Sommeliers Europe: Introductory and Certified, Mumbai, March 2026 · Court of Master Sommeliers Europe: home page · Court of Master Sommeliers Americas: Introductory course and exam · Grape Xpectations (WSET provider in India): Level 2 page, provider fee (reported)