Just two hours ago, I emerged from the Certified Specialist of Wine exam, the first level of certification for the Society of Wine Educators. 100 multiple choice questions, one hour, 3 “number 2″ pencils and a whole lot of anxiety filling the room. I met a few of the 20 or so people sitting for the exam, mostly industry professionals like wine buyers for retailers and restaurants or wholesaler/distributor reps who sell wine and often must take the test.
I voluntarily endured it to boast three letters following my name and, well, feel good about myself for passing it. Although it’s kinda strange to think that after 13 years of food and wine writing a 100 question exam legitimizes my credentials. But, like a true wine geek, I sheepishly admit to enjoying the intensive study for the past month or so. I enriched my brain with newfound appreciation of the depth of grape varietals in Italy, a refresher of the Grand Crus of Burgundy (not on my test, by the way… I went overboard) and the grapes of Greece (on the test).
This is a test that the vast majority of the people who take it — no matter how long you’ve been in the industry — will need to study for. I even heard pre-test, break room chatter about a 50% fail rate. So, for those interested, here are some tips that I hope not to get in trouble for printing:
1) Become a member of the Society of Wine Educators and buy the most up to date exam book – it gives you access to the practice tests that contain many of the actual questions presented on the test. Yes, it’s freakin’ overpriced but suck it up. You won’t regret it.
2) Study the minutia. It’s on there. Even if you think it won’t be.
3) My brain dump on what I was tested on: pH of wine and its acids, which grapes have the highest tannins, Brix calculations for alcohol level, the wine regions of Australia (one I can remember: which state is Adelaide Hills found in?), grapes used for Amarone, which region is Lombardy found in, Salice Salentino – which region, where is Taurasi made, serving temperatures for various wines, fining agents, region of New Zealand known for Chardonnay, signature grape of Austria, name of mountains in Washington State, characteristics of Riesling, know the difference in regions in Argentina versus Chile (they totally try to trip you up on that one – I fubar’ed), know the hell out of Sherry and Madeira (soil in Madeira?), Vin Doux Naturel, sweet wine in Greece (and its grape is?), quality levels of all the European countries (know them!), diethelene glycol scandal was where and when, Bordeaux regions and grapes, where was the vine first planted in Australia, synonyms for true Riesling (screwed that one up), levels of quality for Marsala, regional AVAs in California and their counties, know the pests and diseases for the grapevine + nutritional requirements, labeling regulations in the U.S., regions in the Rhône Valley (produce white, red, etc), DOCG and DOCa wines, carbonic maceration, sturm, Wachau classification (Austria), what is cadastro, ripeness levels in Germany, rivers in Germany (yes, it’s on there), South Africa regions, terra rossa soil, climate in Argentina, different types of botrytis affected wines, largest producing (and most important) region in Argentina, the healthy compounds in wine, which grapes are prone to mutate, labeling threshold for sulfites in wine, the first year vines were planted in various countries, other names for Blaufrankisch (I knew this one, but really? How important is that?), synonyms for tempranillo, most widely planted red grape in Portugal, dates for Prohibition, what is pinot noir called in Germany, photosynthesis, Rueda – what grape, what AVA in the U.S. is formed of non-contiguous vineyards, grapes in Cava, what region produces Frascati, levels of dosage/sweetness for Champagne.
If I think of any more in the middle of the night (during a nightmare), I’ll add them. And if you’ve taken it, feel free to add to the comments.
Although I painstakingly outlined the entire study guide on flash cards, I found this pretty awesome study guide available for free. (They took it down and I didn’t download a copy. Bummer.)
Next up? Certified Wine Educator exam but that’s a longer-term study process. I heard there’s only a 12% pass rate for that one. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at taylor at tayloreason dot com.
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Wow! Congratulations Wine Goddess!! Keep it up! xo
I took the CSW exam last October and needless to say, “missed the cut” by 2 points. I studied for about 3 months, recorded notes on every bottle of wine I drank travelling the country (and the world!), and realized the exam was harder than I thought! I guess not being directly in the wine industry (far from it!), made it difficult for me to be in the right “state of mind”. I’m just a wine lover that happens to be a Nerd:-)
Hopefully I get through it better next time around. Congratulations Taylor for getting through it!
Any interest in taking the Court of Master Sommelier Courses and Exams?
I’ve heard that same story from a lot of people who took the CSW, and who knows, I may not have passed either! The 6-8 week waiting time to find out feels torturous.
As for the CMS, I’ve thought a lot about it. The reason for choosing the CWE route (CSW is the first stage of that, for those who don’t know) is that it’s traditionally (and I say that tongue-in-cheek since it’s not that aged of a certification) it’s for “educators” and not necessarily for people who “serve” wine per se. CMS is most definitely designed for people in the business of serving wine to customers… it even includes a service segment where (among other things) you have to be able to haul a tray carrying a bottle of Champagne in a ice bucket with 4 tall flutes… so I’m told. That said, I might try for both, if this certification goes through and I’m not dejected.
Good luck to you if you decide to endure it again.
Taylor
I also took the CSW exam at the end of August. I agree with your tips and would add one other. Enroll in the online Wine Academy on the SWE website. It provides hundreds of practice questions that the actual exam is based on. I am guessing that I score 85-90 and would not have done as well (I hope) had I not used the Wine Academy!
CWP: Wish I’d know that before the exam but hopefully still passed!
CWP: do you have to pay the $500 SWE fee to access the online wine academy?
James: I have a student membership to the SWE and paid the $10 Wine Academy fee. If you pay for the Professional SWE membership you get access to the Wine Academy for free! I’d recommend contacting Carla Williams and discussing the best option for you. To me, it sounds like the Professional membership would be best. For more info on the CWS, check out my blog: ColoradoWinePress.com!
Tried to access the “pretty awesome study guide available for free” that you mentioned using to get ready for the CSW exam, but the link/info wasn’t availble. Anywhere else you can recommend that I access the free study guide? Thanks!
@Ross it looks like they took the guide down…
I think they did take it down. Bummer. I guess all I can suggest is to suck up the cost of the “official” study guide that includes a bunch of sample tests. Pretty much ALL the questions on the exam come from these sample tests. It might be worth the $$. Colorado Wine Press has the best idea.
I did pass, by the way. Made an 85.
Thanks for follow up. Free is always good – so at least worth a shot, but I will suck it up and buy the “official” version. Congrats on passing the test!
I’ll start following you and the Colorado Wine Press. I am in Texas so I hope you get the opportunity to try our wine too. Thanks again!
I tried some great Texas wine a few years ago but haven’t been able to get any since. Florida has some decent alternative “fruit” wines but they aren’t of Texas’s quality. Good luck to you and let me know if I can help in any way.
Thanks Taylor. We area start up vineyard/winery, so we can use all the luck and well wishes we can get. If you ever make it to the Austin, Texas area let me know and we’ll provide you with a good Texas-sized welcome and lots of good wine.
http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com/2007/12/certified-specialist-of-wine-exam-how-i.html
This lady says it took 10 days in for her to get her results back in 2007.
I thought that I mention that I did pass the CSW exam with a 91.
CWP: Congrats!!
Interesting… I am employed by The Melting Pot. They have a joint program with E & J Gallo Wineries and the Society of Wine Educators online which I’ve been tediously working through. I’ve read a few other blogs and the online program seems to give a more in depth and much more practical presentation. I am on the 3rd and final module, and very soon, will be taking the pseudo-CSW exam they have online. I still feel strongly that I should spend the $315 for the actual materials and test. My goal, is to have earned the certification by Thanksgiving 2011. Anybody know about the Introductory Course for through the Court of Master Sommeliers? I am planning on enrolling in this by either September, or just wait until 2012 when the new “season’ starts. Also, would an agricultural degree give me an edge? Thanks!
The $315 will get you all the exact questions for the exam. Verbatim. So if you want certainty that you won’t be tripped up, that’s the way to go. Although I haven’t taken the test, I heard the intro for CMS is much easier than the CSW but the “fun” begins after the 2nd level.
Can’t speak to the agri degree, ‘cept that knowledge might help you understand the vineyard practices questions.
The Gallo online academy offered on Gallo customers is only a small subset of the entire SWE online wine academy. If I remember correctly there were something like 18 modules. Taylor is correct, the intro CMS is nothing compared to the CSW. However, the SWE online academy does not give you all of the questions verbatim. I think I remember something like 20-30 questions from the academy on my exam. There were definitely question on the actual exam not covered in the online academy, but I still think it was definitely worth having access to!
I PASSED! 88! YESSSS! Thanks to anyone who commented or left suggestions.
Congrats!
Taking the CSW Exam on 12/10. Scared to death. I really don’t want to take this over again. I am not in the Industry, but plan on working in the Paso Robles area in 2012. I want this certification to be the way to a better paying job. When you say the questions are “verbatim” are you talking about the tests in the Lesson Plans? I have been spending alot of time on the On-Line Academy and now think I should be spending this time on the Lesson Plans questions.
Thanks for all of your recommendations.
Shannon: Yep, I’m talking about the questions from the lesson plans and the online academy. If you have those down, you’re truly golden. Really. Good luck!! If yuo come to Sonoma County, look me up. I work at a winery in Healdsburg.
Congrats to all those who’ve passed the CSW exam. My question for you is if I’m studying via the online academy at SWE, would you also suggest taking a prep class, or do you think the online Wine Academy will suffice? Thanks!
John..you really need to study the Study Guide. That is where 95% of the questions come from. Make sure you know all the maps. All the tests are different,but the folks at SWE told me that ALL the questions would come from the Study Guide. Sadly, the on-line academy and the Study Guide don’t match. Some of the information also conflicts. Good luck to you…. : )
John: I concur with Shann. ALL the questions are found in the Study Guide.
Just so I’m clear—you’re referring to the $200 CSW Study Guide on the SoWE website, yes?
Yes it is! I called the SWE to discuss some of the answers that didn’t jive in the book and the On-Line Academy. Was told to spend my time on the Study Guide because that is where the exam would be taken from. I did not even do the CSW On-Line Exam.
Thank you all for your suggestions! 10 weeks to go until the test in Napa. I am hoping I will be ready! I did purchase the lesson plans. Did anyone find those helpful?
The answers to the lesson plans come right out of the Study Guide. That will help you alot. Know your maps! Be able to close your eyes & see each Country and the important appelations; important red and white grapes. Hot, warm & cool growing areas. Know the minutia. Some questions you go, “Really?” Good luck to you!!!