Sommelier at Algonquin College

The perfect pairing of theory and industry experience.

The one-year Sommelier Ontario College Certificate program gives you the skills and knowledge to enter or advance a career in the wine profession.

Wine and beverage expertise has become an essential tool in the hospitality industry, creating a high demand for qualified professionals. In our sommelier lab, you acquire the specialized skills and extensive knowledge to meet this demand.

Gain knowledge of the viticulture and viniculture of primary grape growing areas around the world. Through tastings of a variety of wines, expand your ability to recognize distinctive aromas and flavours associated with various wine regions. Learn food and wine pairing skills, cellaring tips, marketing techniques, grape varieties, wine list development and the proper service of wine, beer and whiskeys.

Take your skills into the real world with a 40-hour field placement at a restaurant, wine shop, winery, wine retail outlet or wine show. This industry experience helps you build valuable connections and become career-ready. These connections have led some of our graduates to launch successful freelance writing or teaching-careers.

Upon graduation, you receive certification from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust for Level 2 Award in Wines, and Level 2 Award in Spirits. Graduates also receive the prestigious Algonquin College Sommelier Pin as a symbol of achievement.

Sommelier graduates may find employment at:

• restaurants
• retail wine outlets
• wine shows
• winery tasting bars, and
• The Liquor Control Board of Ontario

Students must be at least 19 years of age.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Appreciate wine as a beverage.
• Enjoy the hospitality industry.
• Are passionate about travelling.
• Are intrigued by the history of beverages.
• Are customer-service oriented.
• Have prior industry-related experience.

Careers

Graduates may find employment in a variety of food and beverage establishments; opportunities may also be available with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Graduates may also wish to pursue freelance writing or teaching opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Communicate essential information regarding wine, beer and spirit production, and their historical and cultural origins, to make specialized knowledge accessible and inform buyer and customer purchasing decisions.
2. Apply tasting techniques to compare characteristics of wines, alcohols, spirits, and beers produced in different regions of the world.
3. Recommend wine and food pairings, for individual dishes and menus, which address a variety of clients` tastes and experiences.
4. Serve wine and beer according to standard industry protocols.
5. Manage a wine list, inventory, and/or a wine cellar, including the purchasing and storing of wines, for various types of businesses.
6. Promote a variety of industry-specific products and experiences to generate revenue and meet an organization`s needs.
7. Research trends, issues, and interdependent relationships in the sommelier industry to improve work performance, maintain currency, and guide career development.
8. Use leadership, teamwork, coaching and relationship management skills and tools to contribute to a professional and positive work environment.
9. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Program Eligibility

• English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).

• Applicants must be 19 years of age or older prior to start of classes to be eligible to enter this program.
• Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
• IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band. OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.

Should the number of qualified applicants exceed the number of available places, applicants will be selected on the basis of their proficiency in English.