Questions Uncorked

Sep 23, 2008

Hi Dave!

Thanks so much for your question – it is a very good one and one that I am frequently asked. Overall, there are many similarities between the two – both titles are considered the highest certifications that you can obtain in the restaurant and wine trade. The best way to think about the difference between a Master of Wine (MW) and a Master Sommelier (MS) is that a MS concentrates mainly on restaurant beverage (and cigar) service while the MW is a bit more theory based and focuses a good deal more on the business of wine.

Both exams are very difficult and have numerous parts to them. The MW exam is made up of three tasting exams and four theory exams with a dissertation at the end. The MS exam also has a tasting and theory component to it, but in addition there is a restaurant service test. I’ve heard some stories from friends who have passed the MS – about some of the challenging situations that have been thrown at them during the service part of the test – and you really have to be on your toes!

I would say that both titles are prestigious and very well respected. Depending on what you do within the wine industry one might carry more weight than the other (for instance, restaurants could be partial to the MS title while other parts of the wine industry that focus more on marketing and education might look for the MW credential). There are actually three men who hold both titles. At one point in time after I passed my MW exam I briefly considered looking into the MS certification, but my lack of any restaurant experience and my lack of desire to work in the restaurant business made me decide against it. But hopefully at some point in the near future there will be a woman who obtains both credentials!