CMS Introductory study plan
CMS Introductory · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Viticulture, Vinification and Grape Varieties
Label the parts of a grape berry and state which compounds each part contributes to the finished wine
Explain the ripening curve from veraison to harvest, tracking sugar, acid and phenolic maturity
Distinguish macroclimate, mesoclimate and microclimate, and name one viticultural decision each one drives
Diagram the vinification path for white, red and rosé wines and mark the five points where style decisions are made
Your checkpoint
One-page hand-drawn vinification flowchart covering white, red and rosé, plus a 30-term glossary; score at least 85% on a self-written 20-question quiz.
Viticulture, Vinification and Grape Varieties & Wine Regions of the World
Match 20 single-variety grapes to their structural markers: acidity, tannin, body and aromatic family
Explain how climate and soil translate into the grape choices of France and Germany
Locate each major French wine region on a blank map and name its two principal grapes
Compare cool-climate and warm-climate expressions of the same variety in a written paragraph
Your checkpoint
A 25-row grape-to-region-to-style matrix built from memory, then verified against reference notes with every error rewritten.
Wine Regions of the World
Identify the principal appellations of Italy, Spain and Portugal and the grapes behind each
Sequence the classification ladders of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal from broadest to most restrictive
Trace how a protected region name on a label constrains grape choice, method and minimum ageing
Place 30 European appellations on a blank map without notes
Your checkpoint
Timed blank-map exercise: 30 appellations labelled correctly at 90% or better.
Wine Regions of the World
Order the German Prädikat levels by must weight and describe the style each level produces
Compare the labelling conventions of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and South Africa
Explain the difference between an appellation system and a geographical indication using two concrete examples
Recall the signature varieties and styles of Austria, Greece, Hungary and Georgia
Your checkpoint
A 12-row New World versus Old World labelling comparison table plus a 60-question regional mock exam scored at 80% or higher.
Wine Styles, Labeling and Terminology
Classify sparkling, fortified and sweet wines by production method and write the label term each method produces
Decode front and back labels for vintage, appellation, alcohol, sweetness and ageing statements
Define 40 core tasting and labelling terms in your own words
Translate five Old World terms into their New World equivalents
Your checkpoint
Decode 15 label texts supplied in plain prose into grape, region, style and quality level, with 90% accuracy.
Spirits, Beer, Sake and Other Beverages
Describe the production sequence for whisky, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, brandy and liqueurs
Differentiate the major beer families by fermentation type, grain bill and hopping
Explain sake brewing from rice polishing through koji and parallel fermentation, and define the main grades
Identify the standard serve, glass and base ingredient for each major spirit category
Your checkpoint
A category sheet covering 6 spirits, 5 beer families and 4 sake grades, followed by a 25-question quiz scored at 85% or higher.
Sommelier Service, Tasting and Beverage Business & Wine Styles, Labeling and Terminology
Demonstrate the full service sequence: greeting, order taking, glassware selection, decanting, temperature control and pouring
Execute a structured tasting using appearance, nose, palate and conclusion with correct terminology
Calculate pour cost, markup and by-the-glass pricing for three wines
Explain storage, cellar rotation and three food-and-wine pairing principles
Your checkpoint
A recorded 10-minute mock service, a timed six-wine tasting grid, and a costing worksheet with all three calculations shown.
Viticulture, Vinification and Grape Varieties & Wine Regions of the World & Wine Styles, Labeling and Terminology & Spirits, Beer, Sake and Other Beverages & Sommelier Service, Tasting and Beverage Business
Synthesize all five domains under exam timing conditions
Re-drill the 40 facts most often missed across weeks 1 through 7
Verify every weak area flagged in earlier error logs is resolved
Rehearse the tasting grid and service sequence one final time from memory
Your checkpoint
Two full-length timed 100-question mock exams at 85% or higher each, with a written error log correcting every missed item.
Milestones
Week 2: Recite the 25-row grape-to-region matrix from memory with no more than 3 errors.
Week 4: Score 80% or higher on the 60-question regional mock and complete the 30-appellation blank map at 90% accuracy.
Week 6: Score 85% or higher on the spirits, beer and sake quiz and correctly decode 10 of 10 label excerpts.
Week 8: Score 85% or higher on both timed 100-question mocks and clear the error log with zero unresolved items.