Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas Launches SommBIZ: First Online Beverage Business Course for Hospitality Leaders

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas™ proudly announces the launch of SommBIZ™, the industry's first online beverage business course designed by Master Sommeliers to help hospitality leaders develop staff into strategic business partners who drive operational and financial success.

The course, rooted in Beverage Business Fundamentals and Financial Management, was created by a team of industry leaders and Master Sommeliers including Mia Van de Water, MS, Director of Gracious Hospitality Management and Emily Wines, MS, Vice President of Wine Experience at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants.

"There is nothing else like this in today's educational landscape," said Julie Cohen Theobald, Executive Director Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. "Restaurants are in challenging times, with food and labor costs rising and beverage alcohol sales softening. SommBIZ was built for this moment. It gives beverage leaders practical tools to strengthen their guest experience and improve their business."

The course, which is open to beverage professionals, restaurant operators, and hospitality leaders across the globe provides a results-driven solution that empowers sommeliers and beverage managers to become indispensable business partners—driving revenue, elevating guest experiences, and ensuring long-term career growth.

"Sommeliers are responsible for managing significant cost and revenue centers for their businesses, but until now, the options for learning how to do it well have been extremely limited," said Mia Van de Water, MS, Director of Gracious Hospitality Management and one of the course developers. "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."

Structured across three progressive levels, SommBIZ builds knowledge step by step, offering practical case studies—including new restaurant openings, retail operations, and corporate beverage programs—so students can immediately apply what they learn. Modules cover:

• Organization of the wine industry
• Purchasing and sales
• Wine list management and pricing strategies
• Inventory and financials
• Service management
• Profit & loss management

"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," added Emily Wines, MS, Vice President of Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. "By equipping them with business acumen alongside beverage expertise, we empower them to drive profitability and secure their place at the heart of hospitality."

Benefits for Learners and Businesses

• Graduates earn the SommBIZ Certificate with a verified digital badge from the Court of Master Sommeliers, validating their expertise and career commitment.
• Businesses benefit from beverage professionals who understand financial management, P&L, pricing, and operational strategies, transforming staff from servers into vital business partners.
• Interactive, real-world scenarios ensure immediate application of knowledge to today's most pressing hospitality challenges.

Developed with contributions from Master Sommeliers including Chris Tanghe, Martin Beally, Virginia Philip, Sabato Sagaria, Brett Zimmerman, Will Costello, and Michael Meagher, SommBIZ reflects the deep experience of leaders across restaurants, retail, distribution, and education.

Group discounts are available for cohorts of ten or more, making this comprehensive wine education program accessible for teams looking to enhance their collective expertise. Individual enrollment is priced at $399 per level or $999 for the complete three-level program, with course access available for six months allowing self-paced learning. On average, learners can expect to complete all three comprehensive levels in 12–15 hours, gaining essential wine business knowledge, service skills, and industry insights that directly translate to improved guest experiences and career advancement. This focused, flexible format allows busy hospitality professionals to build valuable expertise efficiently while maintaining their work schedules.

To learn more about SommBIZ™, visit https://www.mastersommeliers.org/sommbiz.

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 172 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.

For more information, contact Elaine LaPersonerie at [email protected] or (917) 930 - 4080

SOURCE Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas