Our CAPS Certified Sommelier Program – offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) – provides advanced professional development for those aspiring to be sommeliers. Professional sommeliers are well-versed in food and wine pairing and have an in-depth knowledge of other beverages and how they relate to food. Successful sommeliers design, develop and execute customized wine programs for a variety of establishments. They ensure the positive development of customer, staff and business relationships that support and promote responsible operational success. This CAPS program takes just over a year to complete, and the initial courses in wine production methods and sensory development introduce you to the skills and concepts that are fundamental to the later courses.
Notes
Award Eligibility:
The LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative Award is designed to create opportunities for diverse historically gender-marginalized people (woman, transgender, non-binary, or gender diverse people) to enter, advance, and thrive in the winery, brewery, and distillery fields. This award is open to students in this program who self-identify as historically gender-marginalized people (woman, transgender, non-binary, or gender diverse people) from a diverse background currently under-represented in the beverage alcohol industry (such as Black, Indigenous, or racialized people; people experiencing disabilities; newcomers; or 2SLGBTQIA+). To apply, you must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person, and you must fill out the LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative Award PDF application form and send it via email to seleftheriadis@georgebrown.ca.
Intake Date(s)
January
Admission Requirement(s)
You must secure formal admission (see How To Apply) before you can register for courses. Obtaining admission is dependent upon meeting these admission requirements:
- You must be familiar with the basic principles of grape growing and wine making, the major grape varietals, the major appellations and the current food and wine trends and issues.
- You must pass a theoretical and practical entrance exam that includes blind tasting. This exam will cover the curriculum from our HOST 9008 Wines 1 course, our HOST 9009 Wines 2 course and our HOST 9159 WSET Level 3 Award in Wines courses. We highly recommend that you complete either HOST 9008 Wines 1 course and HOST 9009 Wines 2 or HOST 9159 WSET Level 3 Award in Wines prior to writing the entrance exam unless you have already completed an approved wine program at another recognized institution.
How to Apply
You can complete the CAPS Certified Sommelier Program PDF registration application form and submit it to the department co-ordinator at cehospitality@georgebrown.ca. The deadline for the 2023-24 academic year is Friday, August 4, 2023. You will be contacted with the details about the entrance exam after you submit your application.
Completion Details
Once you have completed the course requirements, you must complete a stage experience. Once you have completed all the requirements of this program (including the stage experience), you can request to receive a joint certificate from CAPS and George Brown College. You will also receive sommelier certification from CAPS.
Certificate Stream
Core Courses (Eight)
This is the required completion order:
- HOST 9111 Methods of Wine Production On Campus
- HOST 9112 Sensory Development and Wine Styles On Campus
- HOST 9115 Spirits and Other Beverages On Campus
- HOST 9178 Wine Regions of the World: Old World On Campus
- HOST 9114 Wine Regions of the World: New World On Campus
- HOST 9116 Sommelier Management On Campus
- HOST 9161 Sommelier Certification Exam On Campus
- HOST 9028 Smart Serve Online
Additional Information
For more information, attend a CAPS Certified Sommelier information session.
- Contact Information
- Contact:
- Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts
- Email:
- cehospitality@georgebrown.ca
- Phone:
- Office Location(s):