CMS Advanced Sommelier study guide
CMS Advanced Sommelier · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Advanced Sommelier Course and Examination is one of the four levels in the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas education program, which begins with the Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination and ends with the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination. It is designed for working sommeliers and beverage professionals who have already passed the Certified Sommelier Examination and want to deepen their theoretical knowledge, sharpen deductive tasting, and refine service and hospitality at a high level. The CMS Advanced Sommelier study guide has 4 sections and about 1,584 words.
01Wine Theory and Deductive Tasting
This domain tests whether you can move from grape to glass and back again: viticulture and vinification theory, the CMS deductive tasting grid, and the disciplined use of structure to reach a defensible conclusion. At Advanced level, examiners reward a conclusion that follows from what you actually observed, not a lucky guess dressed up as deduction.
445 words, about 2 min02Beverage Service and Hospitality
This domain tests the practical exam: can you run a service from greeting to payment with the correct sequence, equipment and calm communication? Advanced candidates are expected to diagnose faults, handle a decanting request, and guide a guest through a list without reciting a sales pitch.
406 words, about 2 min03Wine Regions of the World
This domain asks you to place a wine in its legal and physical context: appellation rules, permitted varieties, climate, soil and labelling terms. Advanced candidates should distinguish neighbouring regions by structure alone and explain why a label term is legally meaningful rather than decorative.
371 words, about 2 min04Spirits, Beer, Sake and Other Beverages
This domain covers the production and service of fermented and distilled drinks outside wine. Advanced candidates must explain how raw material, fermentation and distillation shape flavour, and serve each category with the right glass, temperature and ritual.
362 words, about 2 min