The Sommelier Prep Course: An Introduction to the Wines, Beers, and Spirits of the World

by Michael Gibson

A comprehensive, must-have guide to beverage service including wine, beer, and spirits

The Sommelier Prep Course is the ultimate resource for any aspiring sommelier, bartender, or serious wine lover. It includes sections on viniculture and viticulture, Old World and New World wines, beer and other fermented beverages, and all varieties of spirits. Review questions, key terms, a pronunciation guide, maps, and even sample wine labels provide invaluable test prep information for acing the major sommelier certification exams.

For each type of beverage, author Michael Gibson covers the essential history, manufacturing information, varieties available, and tasting and pairing information. He also includes sections on service, storage, and wine list preparation for a full understanding of every aspect of beverage service.
- An ideal test prep resource for anyone studying for certification by The Court of Master Sommeliers, The Society of Wine Educators, or The International Sommelier Guild
- An excellent introduction to wine and beverages for bartenders, beverage enthusiasts, and students
- Based on education materials developed by the author for his culinary and hospitality students at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Scottsdale

With concise, accessible information from an expert sommelier, this is the most complete guide available to all the wines, beers, and spirits of the world.

Genres: Wine, Food and Wine, Nonfiction, Reference

480 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2010

Reviews

[Angelina Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally made my way through the wine regions of the world and made a long list of grapes by country I need to evaluate. Excellent history on wine making and a great reference book!

[Kara Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you’re looking to further your education in a Sommelier or WSET program. You will have to double check some of the #’s- since the book is from 2010, the wine world has changed dramatically.
Makes wine a lot easier to understand!

[Catherine Okruashvili · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is one of the best books for preparation sommeliers for certification exams.

[Brett Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purchased this book for the sensory portion of an introductory winemaking course a few years ago and it covered what I needed. Nothing overly in depth, but covers a lot of ground.

[Craig Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for any level of wine enthusiast. An amazing resource that helped me pass my Sommelier 1 exam!

[Rob Durante · Rating 3 out of 5]

It will give you good understanding of beverages to serve to your guests with any food you serve.

[Prongs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read this for my somm intro test but it was super long and intense and took up basically a month of free reading time. so whatever I'm counting it.