Luckily I found PreSomm - and it far exceeded my expectations.

I have enjoyed drinking wine for many years and have taken several tasting classes, but I was interested in a more formal wine education experience. Luckily I found PreSomm and it far exceeded my expectations.

As a wine enthusiast who's not in the food and beverage industry, I was worried that this class would be too advanced and perhaps unwelcoming.

I found the opposite to be the case as the instruction started with the basics and built from there. The instructors and other classmates were knowledgeable, welcoming and collegial.

The tastings helped marry the theory with the practical aspects of wine drinking.

Given my positive PreSomm experience, I decided to take the Court of Master Sommelier Introductory course and sit for its exam. The PreSomm course provided the necessary foundation for the comprehensive and challenging CMS Intro Class allowing me to pass it on the first try.

I wholeheartedly recommend PreSomm to anyone interested in formalizing their wine education.

Ron Fox
Saint Louis, MO

From a wine enthusiast...

I am not in the industry but love wine and felt I had a good grasp of basic varieties (versus varietals), which are concepts and words described in PreSomm class.  I wanted to learn about French wine and in this class we did, as well as Italian, Australian, German, South African and more. The details of the geography and the soil which shape the grapes and the wine are fascinating and gave me a new appreciation for wines I otherwise would not have explored.

Knowledge of my favorite wines, California reds, was expanded with in-depth study of regions, their grapes and why those grapes flourish where they do. I am no longer mystified at how a sommelier can smell and blind taste wine and determine where it is from. Denise is a serious but fun instructor who has energized me to continue my study of wine for collecting, for sharing, for pursuing my Master Somm and for my retirement plan of opening a wine store. 

There is a focus on providing restaurant wine service which took me back 30 years to when I was a waiter. What I liked about this part is the attention to detail as you would anticipate in fine dining. Servers will learn upsell techniques as well as skills to make the wine experience more enjoyable via pairing. Denise Mueller and her staff cover all the details!

Russ Thompson

Florissant, Mo.

From the original poster child - PreSomm owner Denise Mueller

FROM THE AUTHOR

Denise Mueller, CSW

PreSomm was created to enthuse and educate its readers about the world of wine and proper wine service, in addition to providing a perfect foundation for students seeking future wine certifications.

The PreSomm Course provides its students with a higher level of wine theory and wine service, prepares them for job promotions in the hospitality field and inspires future education certifications such as Introductory-level Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, certifcations through Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and/or Certified Specialist of Wine through Society of Wine Educators.

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On a personal note: I am PreSomm’s poster child. 

When I decided to persue a career in the wine industry, I did not know where to turn, what to study, or what path to take. I purchased a few wine texts, but did not feel a sense of organized education from the literature. I climbed the proverbial mountain – uphill both ways – reaching for directions and mentorship in hard to reach places. 

I did things the hard way.

My company’s goal is to make it so you do not have to.  

PreSomm is an efficient educational model – providing the tools to get a wonderful foundation for your wine education and jump start your career and passion. Through our program we encourage proper study methods, wine tasting practice, wine service techniques and verticle mentorship structures. 

 After years of study and practice, I have learned the following – “knowing wine” is NOT just about knowing wine grapes and a few wine pairings.  A wine education includes learning and understanding a multitude of topics – below is a list showcasing the breadth of a wine professional’s mastered subject matter.

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To become a wine professional

Know the vine system, farming techniques, and soil types

Know the standout countries, regions, villages, and vineyards

Know the climate and topography for every major wine region

Know noble grapes and grape-clones for every major wine region

Know excellent and poor vintages for specific regions and/or varieties

Know different wine making techniques and their pros and cons

Know how to pair wine with food and the science behind the pairings

Know how to prepare for a wine tasting: for blind tasting or an event

 Are you ready?

Welcome to PreSomm: Press Play on Your Wine Career