Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas Sees Record-Breaking Advanced Sommelier Examination Results
Historic Exam Sees 87 Candidates from Across North America with Unprecedented Success Rate
[Phoenix, AZ] – [July 17, 2025] – The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas announced today the successful completion of the largest Advanced Sommelier Practical & Tasting Examination in the organization’s history. 87 candidates, participating from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, achieved a 63% pass rate, with 55 candidates earning their Advanced Sommelier certification – marking the highest number of test takers and largest passing class in the Court’s history.
The historic examination demonstrated significant strides in diversity and inclusion, with 19 women and 9 individuals for whom English is a second language participating in the rigorous testing process. This brings the total number of Advanced Sommeliers in the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas to nearly 900.
“Behind every certification is a story of sacrifice, resilience, and passion. This group of candidates showed up with heart and determination, and we’re honored to welcome them into the Advanced Sommelier community. Their success inspires all of us to keep growing—together,” said Michael Meagher, MS, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
The top three scorers—Samuel Neely, Christopher Dugan and Cokie Ponikvar —will each receive a first-ever scholarship covering the fee for the Master Sommelier Theory examination, the next step in their certification journey and the ultimate achievement in the industry.
“This is the culmination of years of study and sacrifice, and represents the most challenging and rewarding achievement of my career. After not passing in 2023, this moment feels especially meaningful. A reminder of what great things you can accomplish if you persevere,” said Christopher Dugan, who achieved the highest score.
Transformative Organizational Changes Drive Success
The Court’s success stems from strategic reforms implemented since 2021, focusing on accessibility, transparency, and candidate support:
Enhanced Accessibility: The organization restructured the Advanced Sommelier Exam in 2022 to host the Theory component at local testing centers nationwide, ensuring all qualified candidates have access regardless of geographic location. Additionally, the Court expanded access to the Advanced Sommelier Course, the prerequisite for the examination, to reduce barriers for prospective candidates.
Comprehensive Candidate Support: To better prepare candidates, the Court published detailed examination standards and hosted “what to expect” sessions. A new remote-accessible mentoring program connects candidates with Master Sommeliers regardless of location, providing unprecedented guidance and support.
Transparency and Feedback: The organization now provides structured post-exam feedback reports with specific content and performance details to every candidate across all examination levels, including percentage scores for each exam section. This commitment to transparency helps candidates understand their performance and areas for improvement.
Leadership and Governance: The Court appointed four external board members with specialized expertise in human resources, education, credentialing, and inclusion. The organization also hired Executive Director Julie Cohen Theobald, bringing valuable nonprofit and corporate leadership experience from outside the wine industry.
Ethics and Professional Standards: The Court introduced the Candidate Bill of Rights as part of its Code of Professional Ethics Suite and launched a confidential and anonymous Ethics Reporting Line through Lighthouse Services, reinforcing its commitment to examination integrity and creating an empowering cultural environment for candidates.
For the list of the newly-credentialed Advanced Sommeliers, visit the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas website.
About the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas: Established in England in 1977, the Court of Master Sommeliers is internationally recognized as the gold standard for excellence in beverage service. Since the founding of its Americas chapter in 1987, the organization has welcomed 171 Master Sommeliers into its esteemed ranks. The Master Sommelier title is the highest honor in the field, representing mastery of wine knowledge, hospitality and service, deductive tasting, and business fundamentals. For more information, visit www.mastersommeliers.org.
