Executive Education for Beverage Professionals
SommBIZ is for beverage professionals who want to sharpen their business acumen. Whether you’re stepping into a new role or leveling up your impact, this course covers the core principles that every sommelier should know – from cost management and list building to supplier relationships and beverage operations strategy. Whether you work in restaurants, distribution, or retail, you’ll leave with the tools to make smarter business decisions every day.
Beverage directors carry responsibility for one of the most critical revenue centers in their establishments. SommBIZ provides practical education so leaders can trust that their sommeliers bring both sides of the equation: world-class wine expertise and the financial skills that are essential to business success.
Why SommBIZ
- Business Knowledge: Learn the day-to-day decisions that make programs work: pricing, purchasing, inventory, service, and team leadership.
- Practical Skills: Turn industry best practices into clear steps you can use in your current role.
- Career Growth: Gain the business acumen needed to excel in the restaurant industry and support career advancement.
Who It's For
Designed for beverage professionals and business leaders across restaurants, distribution, and retail.
- Level 1 – Early-career: servers, bartenders, retail associates, sales, and wine education
- Level 2 – Managers and floor sommeliers
- Level 3 – Corporate beverage directors and executive leaders
- Group pricing available for corporate teams
What You'll Learn
- The Organization of the Wine Industry
- Purchasing & Sales
- Wine List Management
- Inventory & Financials
- Service Management
Case studies based on real-world scenarios:
- New restaurant opening
- Retail expansion
- Corporate beverage director of multi-unit property
Earn a Certificate
Complete all three levels to earn the SommBIZ Certificate with a verified digital badge from the Court of Master Sommeliers. The Certificate validates your knowledge and demonstrates to employers your commitment to growing the business.
Pricing & Enrollment
- SommBIZ is delivered in three levels
- Purchase one level: $399
- Purchase all three levels (Best Value): $999
Teams: Group discounts available for 10+ students (e.g. restaurant groups, distributors, hotels)
Where and When
Availability: On-demand, virtual access allows global participation.
Access Duration: Each level includes six months of access.
Level 1 is approximately 2-4 hours of content.
Level 2 is approximately 2-4 hours of content.
Level 3 is approximately 6-8 hours of content.
Learning Objectives by Level
Level 1:
- Explain the sommelier’s role and ethical obligations.
- Understand the overall organization of wine production and distribution, and how it affects pricing.
- Calculate Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and markup, manage inventory, and write and price a wine list.
- Conduct an accurate inventory, including calculating any variances.
- Identify and select appropriate storage, equipment and staff training approach for their business to be successful.
Level 2:
- Analyze wine production costs and import processes.
- Develop strategies for inventory management and wine list design.
- Implement best practices for wine service operations.
Level 3:
Analyze three case studies based on real-world scenarios and apply insights to each.
Take on the role of either a consultant in retail and restaurants or a beverage director, using knowledge and logic to solve business problems.
Certificate
Graduates earn the SommBIZ Certificate with a verified digital badge from the Court of Master Sommeliers, validating their expertise and career commitment. The badge includes a link to the course requirements and can be used on business cards, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles.
Developed by Master Sommeliers
“The Business of the Sommelier course is about more than wine—it’s about making sure sommeliers are seen as indispensable to the success of a restaurant. By equipping them with business acumen alongside beverage expertise, we empower them to drive revenue, elevate guest experiences, and secure their place at the heart of hospitality.” – Emily Wines MS
“We created SommBiz to address an enormous gap in the industry: sommeliers and other restaurant beverage buyers are responsible for managing a significant cost and revenue center for their businesses, but until now the options for learning how to do it well have been extremely limited. This course develops the practical knowledge and core skill sets to enable both aspiring and tenured professionals to take the next step forward in their careers.” – Mia Van de Water MS
Frequently Asked Questions
A comprehensive online course in Beverage Business Fundamentals and Financial Management for hospitality professionals.
Beverage professionals and leaders across Restaurant, Distribution, and Retail, from early-career to executive roles.
Level 1 is 2-4 hours; Level 2 is 2-4 hours; Level 3 is 6-8 hours.
6 months from purchase.
Core topics include the industry landscape, purchasing, sales, wine list management, inventory & financials, and service management, plus application via real-world case studies.
Graduates who complete all three levels earn the SommBIZ Certificate with a verified digital badge. The badge includes a link to the course requirements and can be used on business cards, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles to showcase your business skills and commitment.
No. This is a standalone course designed to help hospitality professionals be successful and advance in their careers.
$399 per level or $999 for all three. Group discounts available for 10+ learners.
The course is globally relevant and globally accessible. Specific modules go into greater depth on the organization of the wine industry in the United States; however, the concepts of service management, wine list development, and profit & loss analysis are applicable to any hospitality business.
Laptop or desktop computer is the ideal platform for taking the program. Students will need to download spreadsheets and other content.
Students can purchase each level individually, but it is highly encouraged to move through the course in sequence, from Level 1 to Level 2 to Level 3. The SommBIZ Course is organized into three progressive levels: Level 1 introduces the fundamental topics. Level 2 builds upon the fundamentals with more advanced content. Level 3 applies those topics to three comprehensive case studies. In order to earn the SommBIZ Certificate, students need to complete all three levels.
Content by level
The SommBIZ Course is organized into three levels: Level 1 introduces the fundamentals. Level 2 builds upon the fundamental topics with more advanced content. In Level 3, the topics are applied through three comprehensive case studies.
Level 1
Designed for servers and bartenders
Introduction: What is a Sommelier?
Module 1: The Organization of the Wine Industry
Module 2: Purchasing
Module 3: Sales
Module 4: Inventory & Financial Management
Module 5: Service Management
Level 2
Designed for sommeliers and managers
Module 1: The Organization of the Wine Industry
Module 2: Purchasing
Module 3: Wine List Management
Module 4: Sales
Module 5: Inventory & Financial Management
Module 6: Service Management
Level 3
Designed for corporate beverage directors and business leaders
New Restaurant Opening Case Study: Tigre Supper Club
Retail Case Study: Verity Retailers
Corporate Beverage Director Case Study: Sands Resort
“This program distills 30 years of knowledge and practice into a thoughtfully designed curriculum that’s engaging, clear, and easy to follow. Comprehensive, practical, and inspiring—this course equips you for success in the wine industry.”
Debbie Zachareas
Co-owner, Ferry plaza wine merchant and oxbow cheese & wine merchant
