Best institutions to study Wine Steward/Sommelier
A program that prepares individuals to manage wine selection, purchasing, storage, sales, and service for a variety of establishments in the hospitality industry.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 12 Wine Steward/Sommelier students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0510, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Food Service Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9051).
About Wine Steward/Sommelier programs
A program that prepares individuals to manage wine selection, purchasing, storage, sales, and service for a variety of establishments in the hospitality industry. Includes instruction in wine production, wine regions of the world, wine tasting, food and wine matching, service techniques, and wine program management.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Wine Steward/Sommelier program is designed for individuals interested in the management of wine selection, purchasing, storage, sales, and service within the hospitality industry. This program falls under the broader category of Culinary Arts and Related Services, making it ideal for those passionate about food and beverage pairings and the art of wine service.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in wine production, wine regions, tasting techniques, and food and wine matching. Coursework also covers service techniques and wine program management, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to excel in various hospitality settings.
Credentials awarded
What Wine Steward/Sommelier graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution42%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years4 graduates / yr · 1 institution33%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 1 institution25%
Graduates over time
Wine Steward/Sommelier completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 125 |
| 2013 | 137 |
| 2014 | 178 |
| 2015 | 160 |
| 2016 | 110 |
| 2017 | 133 |
| 2018 | 142 |
| 2019 | 112 |
| 2020 | 99 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 12 |
Top 2 institutions for Wine Steward/Sommelier, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Seattle College Seattle, WAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 31% | — | — |
| 2 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 25% | — | $26,952 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field (CIP 12.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 2 states
Where Wine Steward/Sommelier graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1 | 9 | South Seattle College9 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 3 | College of DuPage3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9051, Food Service Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Wine Steward/Sommelier program can pursue careers as Food Service Managers and Wholesale and Retail Buyers, with a job outlook that is faster than average, projecting 42,000 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is approximately $65,310, with typical education requirements being a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0510
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Food Service Managersprimary SOC 11-9051 | $69,390 | +6.4% Faster than average | ~42,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products SOC 13-1022 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Wine Steward/Sommelier programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Count money and make bank deposits.
- Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service.
- Keep records required by government agencies regarding sanitation or food subsidies.
- Schedule staff hours and assign duties.
- Investigate and resolve complaints regarding food quality, service, or accommodations.
- Maintain food and equipment inventories, and keep inventory records.
Tools and technology used
Other Culinary Arts and Related Services specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05).
- Culinary Arts/CIP 12.0503
Chef Training 11,808 graduates / yr353 institutions - Baking and Pastry Arts/CIP 12.0501
Baker/ Pastry Chef 5,575 graduates / yr193 institutions - Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsCIP 12.05004,439 graduates / yr153 institutions
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/CIP 12.0504
Manager 1,663 graduates / yr115 institutions - Food Preparation/CIP 12.0505
Professional Cooking/ Kitchen Assistant 1,230 graduates / yr56 institutions - Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.0599312 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Culinary Science/CIP 12.0509
Culinology partial data261 graduates / yr8 institutions - Institutional Food WorkersCIP 12.0508187 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Bartending/CIP 12.0502
Bartender partial data171 graduates / yr8 institutions - Food Service, Waiter/CIP 12.0507
Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ Manager partial data129 graduates / yr9 institutions - Meat Cutting/CIP 12.0506
Meat Cutter 48 graduates / yr10 institutions
Common questions
What degree do I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing, among others.
What are the job prospects after graduation?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with 42,000 annual openings in related fields.
What is the typical wage for careers in this field?+
The median wage for positions such as Food Service Managers is approximately $65,310.
What is the CIP code for Wine Steward/Sommelier?+
Wine Steward/Sommelier is CIP 12.0510 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to manage wine selection, purchasing, storage, sales, and service for a variety of establishments in the hospitality industry. Includes instruction in wine production, wine regions of the world, wine tasting, food and wine matching, service techniques, and wine program management.
How many institutions offer Wine Steward/Sommelier programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Wine Steward/Sommelier graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 12 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Wine Steward/Sommelier graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Food Service Managers occupation, which Wine Steward/Sommelier most directly leads to, pays a median of $69,390 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field report median earnings of $26,952 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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