Sommelier Exam Helpful Hints for Hopefuls » Discussions

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• wineCaddy

  

  Member
   

  January 21, 2009

  What are you looking to find out? Who are you writing your exam's with?
  and what level you are going for ?
  I am familiar with ISG and The court of master Sommelier.

  What are you looking to find out? Who are you writing your exam's with?
  and what level you are going for ?
  I am familiar with ISG and The court of master Sommelier.
• Startwineing

  

  Leader
   

  January 22, 2009

  I'm mostly looking for any helpful information... like any countries i should focus on... or what books you may recommend that are the best for studying.. basically any thing you can say to help would be amazing.. I'm going for my certification.. i have about 6 months to study so im sure ill be fine but any help is good help!!!

  I'm mostly looking for any helpful information... like any countries i should focus on... or what books you may recommend that are the best for studying.. basically any thing you can say to help would be amazing.. I'm going for my certification.. i have about 6 months to study so im sure ill be fine but any help is good help!!!
• Faern

  

  Member
   

  February 4, 2009

  You know, if you can find it, a great book would be The Vines of San Lorenzo. It follows Angelo Gaja in a whole year of dealing with his winery, and goes into an acceptable amount of detail for cork dorks.
  
  I also recommend Hugh Johnson's World Atlas of Wine and the innumerable amount of resources found on the internet.
  
  Generally, they will focus on the hard countries, like France or Italy, but be sure to know your up-and-coming (Spain, Portugal, SA), and your other popular countries (USA, Chile, Argentina, etc.
  
  Which certification are you going for? And with who? Who really changes what you should focus on. ISG, focus on all of it, because they WANT you to fail, unlike WSET who encourages passing lol

  You know, if you can find it, a great book would be The Vines of San Lorenzo. It follows Angelo Gaja in a whole year of dealing with his winery, and goes into an acceptable amount of detail for cork dorks.
  
  I also recommend Hugh Johnson's World Atlas of Wine and the innumerable amount of resources found on the internet.
  
  Generally, they will focus on the hard countries, like France or Italy, but be sure to know your up-and-coming (Spain, Portugal, SA), and your other popular countries (USA, Chile, Argentina, etc.
  
  Which certification are you going for? And with who? Who really changes what you should focus on. ISG, focus on all of it, because they WANT you to fail, unlike WSET who encourages passing lol
• Faern

  

  Member
   

  February 4, 2009

  If you're with the Court of Master Sommeliers, then the "Sommelier certification" is equivalent to Intermediate ISG or WSET. However, if you're like me, and work retail, the service aspect of the test should be practiced, as well as the base ingredients for most well-known cocktails. Also, fluidity of speech and multitasking; answering their attempts to stump you while serving them still or bubbly.

  If you're with the Court of Master Sommeliers, then the "Sommelier certification" is equivalent to Intermediate ISG or WSET. However, if you're like me, and work retail, the service aspect of the test should be practiced, as well as the base ingredients for most well-known cocktails. Also, fluidity of speech and multitasking; answering their attempts to stump you while serving them still or bubbly.
• Startwineing

  

  Leader
   

  February 4, 2009

  I'm with the court... I have Hugh Johnsons book as well as the sothebys and a few other but i feel as though i may need more.... by the way i love the cork dork comment classic i shall now claim it lol jk... i have no idea what the intermediate of isg is so if you could explain that better it would be great... as for the service part im planning on getting a summer job at a restaurant inorder to practice the "multi-tasking" part which is what im most nervous about! thanks ofr your help!!
  
  leah

  I'm with the court... I have Hugh Johnsons book as well as the sothebys and a few other but i feel as though i may need more.... by the way i love the cork dork comment classic i shall now claim it lol jk... i have no idea what the intermediate of isg is so if you could explain that better it would be great... as for the service part im planning on getting a summer job at a restaurant inorder to practice the "multi-tasking" part which is what im most nervous about! thanks ofr your help!!
  
  leah