CAFA Wine - The French sommellerie training

Wine Consultant diploma

Wine Consultant Diploma as Conseiller en Sommellerie

The professional title of Sommelier Advisor Wine Consutlant Diploma is associated with the French Ministry. This training aims to train future commercial advisors in wine and spirits of tomorrow.

The job of Sommelier Advisor as Wine Consutlant Diploma exercises its activity in all distribution and sales companies and advice on wines, spirits, liqueurs, alcoholic beverages.

Discover our school and visit your designated campus

What is a Wine Consultant / Conseiller en Sommellerie ?

The “Sommelier Wine Consultant” / “Conseiller en Sommellerie” in French, selects the products to offer to his/her customers: wines and spirits. Before negotiations with suppliers, he/she must first proceed in the tasting.

Procurement must be consistent with the framework, scope, reputation and customer requirements. He/she thus establishes the list of wines, after their evaluation and determines their year of issue. He/she must ensure the management of all alcoholic beverages available on the market. He/she also advises the customer on food and wine pairing. He/she is able to serve or explain the wine service to customers.

From a technical point of view, he/she must understand the principle grape varieties and the production of wines, know the great growths and producers of renowned wines and the different types of wines, as well as their respective characteristics.

The Wine School film library

What are the objectives of the training program and what degree am I awarded upon completion ?

Acquire the following skills :

Wine and spirits procurement
Tasting wines and spirits
Manage cellars and develop commercial offers
Consult clients on wine and alcoholic beverages
Organize promotional events and animate wine tastings

Candidates :

Anyone who is passionate about wines and spirits and holds a high school diploma.

Training organisation :

567 hours of theoretical training
2 Sessions per year:

- Between February 2024 to October 2024, start of courses on 19th February 2024

- Between September 2024 to Juin 2025, start of courses on 16th September 2024

plus 280 hours of work placement / company internship

Professional opportunities :

Sommelier
Wine shop personnel
Wine taster
Sommelier Sales coordinator
Beverage department manager
Wine and spirits sales personnel - import/export
Wine journalist
Etc…

Visits and conferences

Vins val de loire
La bourgogne
Interhone
Champagne Duval Leroy
Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux
Languedoc
Sud Ouest
1855 Crus Classés
Beaujolais
Cognac
Porto quinta do noval

Château Larose
Château Marquis de terme
Les vignobles UBY
Château Phelan Segur
Château Gruaud Larose
Château Point Cantet
Château La dominique
Château Lynch Bage
Château Lagrange
Château Carbonnieux

What are the details of this training program, price ?

Preparing the wine consultant diploma / conseiller en sommellerie, registered by the national recipient of recognized professional certifications (rncp)

National Directory of Professional Certifications State Diploma recognized and controlled by the French government.

How to register ? Is what I can get a quote?

The tuition price of this training program is 7 650€

Your training program includes 6 weeks of internship during the period devoted to this. You have the opportunity to do your internship in France and abroad.

We ask that the students try to find their own internship (it is unpaid, it is not a job), but we certainly help if we can; especially if the internship is in France, as we have built a massive network with Wine and Food companies for the last 30 years. We also have contacts throughout the world, many in Asia.

Professional education courses

Tasting techniques and sensory analysis
In-depth study of French vineyards
In-depth study of foreign vineyards
Knowledge of spirits, cold and hot beverages
Wine and food pairing and practical workshops in collaboration with chefs
Sales and commercialization techniques
Fundamentals in Viticulture and
Oenology
Wine industry and legislation
Wine markets and marketing
Commercial management and creation of a cellar / cellar management
Practical sommelier workshops

Active sponsorship

Technical visits
Following the vintage - in the vineyard and at the vat house
Participation in blending and futures
Student prizes
Professional conferences :
Conferences of the
Interprofessional Committees
(Wine Trade Bureaus) from the various wine regions
Dormer students
Owners, winegrowers, sommeliers, merchant houses, etc…

Professional conferences

Conferences of the Interprofessional Committees (Wine Trade Bureaus) from the various wine regions
Dormer students
Owners, winegrowers, sommeliers, merchant houses, etc…

567 hours of training over 21 weeks in english :

The price includes:

French wines & World Wines
Wine tasting procedure and techniques
Spirits and aperitifs
Viticulture and oenology
Wine Industry & Legislation
Commercial management
Food and Wine pairing

Cold beverages
Hot beverages
Technical field trips
Wine service
Trade conferences and guest speakers
Wine marketing
French wine language
Promotional events and Wine tourism
Tests

OUR RATES INCLUDE

The courses given in our school in the center of Bordeaux, in the wine merchants’ area
All subjects taught
Tastings
Field visits
The provision of flavors and solutions
Ongoing assessments
Educational materials
Internship(s) in company
The intervention of experienced and qualified trainers
Practical work
Preparation for the examination
Registration for the exam
Sponsorship of promotion by a renowned institution

Request your documentation

Consult our documentation or contact us.

What are the dates for
the next training sessions ?

The training takes place at the 108 Quai des Chartrons in Bordeaux

Class hours are from Monday to Friday : 9.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

Spring session starting February 2024 :

(from 19th February 2024 to October 2024)

Autumn session starting September 2024

(from 16th September 2024 to June 2025)

The library of cafa wine school

How to come to Bordeaux
and do the training ?

Concerning the visa :

If we accept you as a candidate, the attestation (proof) of enrollment that we provide will allow you stay in France as a student up until the final jury exams and this includes the 6 week internship if you decide to do it in France.

If you are not a citizen of the European Union country, you must go to the French Embassy or Consul in your country and present your CAFA enrollment attestation to procure your visa. We have students from all over the world who come to the CAFA Sommelier school, getting a visa is not a problem.

CAFA Wine School / CAFA Formations has no housing and has no partnership with a housing organization.
On the other hand, we can help you and guide you in finding accommodation as much as possible.

To help you in your search :

Our address is the 108 Quai des Chartrons 33000 Bordeaux (opposite the Hangar 14)

The tram B passes just in front of the school (tram stop: Cours du Médoc)

Most students look for room-mates online as Bordeaux is a giant University town with over one quarter of a million students (second largest student population in Europe), so people are looking for room-mates or people are renting rooms for students all the time.

** It is a good idea however to organize your lodging in advance, as most schools start at the beginning of September in Bordeaux **

Prices range anywhere from 250- 400 Euros/month for sharing (room-mate) a room and 400 – 600 Euros/month for having your own room completely furnished

Here are some useful links in your search :