Candidate registration is open until 5pm, Tuesday 11 February.

 

Certification from Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) gives sommeliers the opportunity to be recognised worldwide as having a high level of knowledge and skills. Newly certified “ASI Sommeliers” will become part of an elite group of international sommeliers, many of whom are the winners of ASI Continental and World contests!

Created to help standardise the level of sommeliers internationally, the ASI Certification is a valuable asset for a sommelier’s CV, allowing “ASI Sommeliers” to work worldwide with proof of their excellence.

 

On Monday 2 March, Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), in association with Sommeliers Australia, will again offer the ‘International ASI Diploma for Sommelier’ certification exam. The 2020 exam will be offered in both Melbourne and Sydney, and is a major opportunity for sommeliers in Australia to gain international accreditation.

The exam will be run by Sommeliers Australia, and gives Sommeliers Australia ‘Professional’ members working as sommeliers the opportunity to achieve an internationally recognised standard of sommellerie.

The ‘International ASI Diploma for Sommelier ‘certification exam has been created to help:

  • Develop the Sommelier profession;
  • Enhance the quality of Sommeliers worldwide;
  • Establish international standards for Sommeliers.

 

THE EXAM

The exam will be completed in two stages:

Stage 1 – Written exam (Total time 2 hrs 55 mins)

  • Blind tasting of 2 international wines, with written commentary (30 min)
  • Identification of 3 spirits/liquor/fortified wines and 2 local beverages (10 min)
  • Questionnaire focussing on the main wine producing countries; beer, spirits and other beverages; grape varieties; viticulture; winemaking; and other topics related to the sommelier profession (90 min)
  • Essay of 500-800 words on a theme regarding the world of beverages and the art of ‘sommellerie’ (45 min)

Stage 2 – Oral and practical tests (Each candidate is allocated 15 minutes)

  • Selling a beverage: present, demonstrate and justify the choice of a beverage (4 min)
  • Decanting and serving: decant and serve a bottle of wine (6 min)
  • Food and wine match: taste and explain a food and wine match (5 min)

 

Venue details and timing of the exam will be shared with successful candidates by Friday 21 February.

 

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must be fully financial Sommeliers Australia ‘Professional’ members, working as a sommelier (in restaurants, wine bars, wine retail, distribution, etc), with at least 3 years sommelier experience.

Candidates can sit the exam in English, French or Spanish (the three official ASI languages). However, candidates who complete the exam in their own language, will only be eligible to receive the Bronze level of accreditation. Candidates who complete the exam in a foreign language will be eligible to receive Silver or Gold accreditation.

 

All potential candidates should read the 2020 Rules for Candidates.

 

Points to note:

  1. Candidates should be aware that ASI follows a classic and logical method of tasting, service, decanting, etc.
  2. As a guideline, this exam sits between the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Sommelier Certificate and the Master Sommelier Certificate in terms of knowledge/difficulty.
  3. A high level of personal presentation is required by ASI. Please ensure that you attend the exam well presented (in uniform if appropriate to your workplace, or in business attire) and bring with you: your ID, black or blue pen(s), notebook, wine knife, matches/lighter and a service napkin.

 

EXAMINATION FEE

Each candidate will need to pay an Examination Fee of A$600 which covers their ASI registration and certification.

Candidates are responsible for their own travel and associated costs to attend the exam in their selected city (Melbourne or Sydney) on Monday 2 March.

 

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Only 8 candidate places to sit the ‘International ASI Diploma for Sommelier’ certification exam are available in both Melbourne and Sydney. Applicants must be fully financial ‘Professional’ members of Sommeliers Australia and applications will be accepted on a ‘first in gets a place’ basis.

  • Applicants must be current financial ‘Professional’ members of Sommeliers Australia;
  • Applicants must be working Sommeliers (in restaurants, wine bars, wine retail, distribution, etc), with at least 3 years sommelier experience;
  • Applicants must submit the following documents with their completed Exam Registration Form:
    • A current CV (including employment and relevant study);
    • A copy of their ID (passport preferred, to prove identity and citizenship);
    • A high resolution (min. 500kb), passport-style photograph in jpeg format (for the production of the certification card).
  • Registration must be submitted before 5pm, Tuesday 11 February for applicants to be considered.
  • The Examination Fee must be paid in full by 5pm, Tuesday 11 February
  • The first 8 applicants to complete and submit all of the registration requirements will be offered a place to sit the exam in their selected city.

 

Download and print the 2020 Exam Registration Form for candidates.

 

TO REGISTER

To submit your registration to sit the ‘International ASI Diploma for Sommelier’ certification exam please email [email protected] your completed and signed copy of the Exam Registration Form, copies of the required documentation and a high resolution photo (as outlined above).

Applicants will be contacted to confirm acceptance, and asked to pay the examination fee if they have been successful.