For sommeliers
Study andcareer.
Sommelier study and career from 15 years on the floor: a Level 1 course, Certified and Advanced study, quizzes and exam guides. Formerly sommdigiblog.com.
109 articlesRewritten for 2026
Most read
Exams & certifications
Level 1 Sommelier Practice Test
40 free questions in the style of the Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory exam, each with the answer and a short explanation. Checked for 2026 by an Advanced Sommelier.
10 min read
Sommelier life
The Sommelier Pin: what each pin means, and how to get one
There are two kinds of sommelier pin. One you earn by passing an exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers. The other anyone can wear. Here is the difference.
3 min read
Exams & certifications
The Advanced Sommelier exam: how to prepare and pass
The format of the Court of Master Sommeliers' Advanced exam, and how I would prepare for each part: theory, six wines in 25 minutes, and service.
3 min read
Exams & certifications
The WSET Level 3 tasting grid, and how to pass Level 3
The tasting grid, step by step, in plain words. The exam as it is in 2026. And what helped me pass with Merit.
4 min read
Working in wine
How much does a sommelier make?
The latest US salary figure, what really moves a sommelier's pay, the truth about Master Sommelier salaries, and how to earn more, from a sommelier who has worked on land and at sea.
3 min read
Loire
The best Sancerre: a sommelier's guide to the producers
What makes Sancerre taste the way it does, the soils and villages to know, and the producers I would buy, from easy to find to worth hunting.
3 min read
Free course
The Level 1 sommelier course
27 lessons · in order
- 01Viticulture and vinification for the Level 1 Sommelier exam
- 02Bordeaux for the Level 1 sommelier exam: a study guide
- 03Burgundy for the Level 1 sommelier exam: a study guide
- 04Champagne for the Level 1 sommelier exam: a study guide
- 05Key Topics for Alsace - Level 1
- 06The Loire for the Level 1 sommelier exam: regions, grapes and styles
- 07Rhône Valley Guide for Intro Level 1 Sommeliers: Regions, Grapes & Styles
- 08South of France Guide for Intro Level 1 Sommeliers: Regions, Grapes & Styles
- 09What You Need to Know About Italy for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 10Introductory Sommelier Guide: Spain Wine Basics (Level 1)
- 11Portugal for the Introductory Sommelier exam: what you need to know
- 12Germany - Intro Sommelier Level 1
- 13Study for Austria - Introductory Sommelier Level -1
- 14Greece - Introductory Level 1 Sommelier Study Topics
- 15United States Wine Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 16Argentina Wine Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 17Chile Wine Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 18Australia - Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 19New Zealand - Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 20South Africa Wine Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 21Sparkling Wine - Intro Level 1 Sommelier
- 22Fortified wines for the Level 1 sommelier exam: Sherry, Port and Madeira
- 23Aperitif Wines, Liqueurs & Bitters Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 24Spirits Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 25Beer & Cider Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 26Saké Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
- 27Food and Wine Pairing Guide for Introductory Sommelier Level 1
By topic
Exams & certifications
25- After the Certified Sommelier exam: jobs and next steps
- ASI vs CMS: two sommelier paths compared
- Certified Sommelier exam: the study tools that work
- Certified Sommelier service exam: practical tips to pass
- Classic gin cocktails for the Certified Sommelier exam
- CMS-A and CMS-EU: how the two Courts of Master Sommeliers work together
- Court of Master Sommeliers: the Americas and Europe compared
- Food and wine pairing for CMS exams: what the Court expects
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- How much does sommelier certification cost? The 2026 fees
- How to become a Certified Sommelier: the steps, the exam and how to prepare
- How to pass the CSW: the Certified Specialist of Wine exam
- How to pass the French Wine Scholar exam
- How to use the Court of Master Sommeliers syllabus
- Is the Court of Master Sommeliers the best sommelier course?
- Level 1 Sommelier Practice Test
- Sales & Service for the Wine Professional: how to study the Court's book
- Sommelier exam questions by level, with answers
- The Advanced Sommelier exam: how to prepare and pass
- The Certified Sommelier theory exam: what it covers and how to study
- The WSET Diploma (Level 4): what it is and how to earn it
- The WSET Level 3 tasting grid, and how to pass Level 3
- The WSET wine courses: levels, costs and which to take
- What is the Certified Sommelier practical exam?
- Wine crossword puzzles: a better way to learn sommelier terms
- WSET vs CMS: what's the difference, and which should you choose?
Winemaking & vineyard
14- A vine's year: from budburst to harvest
- Biodynamic wine: where it came from and what it means today
- Coulure and millerandage: when vine flowers don't become grapes
- French wine terms: a sommelier's glossary, from terroir to cépage
- How sunlight shapes wine, from leaf to glass
- Malolactic fermentation in Chardonnay: where the butter comes from
- Malolactic fermentation: the complete guide
- Natural wine vs regular wine: what's actually different
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- Pulp, skin and seeds: what each part of the grape gives wine
- Sur lie ageing: what every sommelier should know
- Vine diseases explained: fungal, bacterial, viral and phytoplasma
- Viticulture and vinification for the Level 1 Sommelier exam
- Why grapevine leaves matter so much to your wine
- Wine barrels from A to Z: names, sizes and where they come from
Working in wine
12- Basic wine knowledge for servers: what to know before your next shift
- How hospitality and wine professionals can improve their English writing
- How much does a sommelier make?
- How to become a sommelier: the path, the exams and the real job
- How to start a career in wine
- How to write a sommelier resume: what to include, with a template
- Sommelier and wine quotes, and who really said them
- Sommelier levels: from commis to wine director
Service & the floor
11- 4 common guest complaints about wine, and how a sommelier handles them
- Bin numbers on a wine list: why they matter and how to set them up
- Code38 wine key review: a sommelier's honest take
- How to calculate the true cost of a cocktail, step by step
- Mise en place for wine service: the sommelier's checklist
- The best wine keys for sommeliers
- The modern wine list: clearer, greener and built for guests
- The tastevin: the sommelier's silver cup
Bordeaux
9- Bordeaux basics: the rivers, the grapes, the climate and the vineyards
- Bordeaux for the Certified Sommelier exam: the study guide
- Bordeaux for the Level 1 sommelier exam: a study guide
- Bordeaux quiz: 20 questions for sommelier students
- Petrus: what it is, why it costs so much, and how to serve it
- Saint-Estèphe: the wines and the châteaux to know
- The 1855 classification of Bordeaux: the full list, and how to say the names
- White Bordeaux: the grapes, the styles and where to find them
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Champagne
8- Champagne for the Certified Sommelier exam: the study guide
- Champagne for the Level 1 sommelier exam: a study guide
- Champagne Grand Cru: the 17 villages, and what the label means
- Champagne label codes: what NM, RM, CM and the other initials mean
- How much Champagne do you need? The event calculator, bottle by bottle
- How to pronounce Champagne names: Moët, Clicquot, Krug and more
- Learning Champagne as a sommelier: what to know at every level
- Vintage Champagne: what it is, why it's rare, and the years to know
Books
6- 3 wine books for beginners, and how to choose yours
- 5 must-read books for sommeliers
- Excel for sommeliers: build a master wine list that runs your programme
- Message in the Bottle by Tim Gaiser: what's inside, and who it's for
- My sommelier and wine books on Amazon, and which one is for you
- Sommelier certification books: what to read for each exam
Burgundy
6- Burgundy for the Certified Sommelier exam: the study guide
- Burgundy for the Level 1 sommelier exam: a study guide
- Chablis for sommelier exams: what to know at each level
- Crémant de Bourgogne: Burgundy's sparkling wine, explained
- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: why DRC is so famous
- Five Chablis producers every sommelier should know