Our flagship course, the Certified Sake Sommelier is a fantastic way to increase both your sake knowledge and sommelier skills. Designed to take place over a few days, the Certified Sake Sommelier covers modules such as:
Upon passing the examination, students receive their lapel pin and certificate, and can proudly use the post-nominals “CSS”.
The Certified Sake Sommelier is accessible to both trained professionals and sake connoisseurs. The course focusses not only providing an unbeatable level of sake education, but also on how to practically make use of that education – whether working directly with clients in restaurants, with product lines in distribution, or with friends over dinner!
What will I learn?
An Introduction to Sake Production
Learn about sake ingredients and their function in brewing.
Study the History and Culture
Discover the history of sake brewing and its place in Japanese society.
Introduction to Tasting Sake
Learn the fundamental steps of tasting sake and how to differentiate between different designations.
Serving Etiquette
Discover how to serve sake like a professional!
Interactive Learning Experience
Formalise your sake experiences with workshop-based learning; and further your passion for sake in our short-format course.
Earn a Lapel Pin and a Professional Qualification
Advance your career in food and beverage or just learn some new tricks to show off to your friends – our courses are well know globally for their high standards
The Certified Sake Professional course is a registered trademark ®
We are delighted to offer the Certified Sake Sommelier course online. Our Sake Educators replicate the in-classroom experience with interactive video conferencing, tasting samples mailed to your door and study notes emailed pre-course.
We also offer the Certified Sake Sommelier course in person.
Once you have successfully passed the Certified Sake Sommelier course, you will be certified as an official 'Sake Sommelier' from the Sake Sommelier Academy.
Sake Sommeliers can apply for a judgeship at the London Sake Challenge as tasting judges and will be eligible to take part in the Sake Sommelier of the Year.
The SSA courses carry a level of prestige, and focusses more on the history and culture of sake. It’s more about telling the story of nihonshu and would suit fans of Japanese culture. As someone who enjoys storytelling, I found the SSA course to be a great fit for me.
In this class, I learned so much so fast and didn’t feel like I could ask a dumb question. I really enjoyed the open environment, while still being challenged to learn and expand my point of view. It was nice to feel challenged and welcome at the same time!
The two very beautiful days, with the two trainers which are passionate and very educational. Very complete training, both on the manufacturing techniques and on the history of this wonderful drink, its service, in the rules of the art and for us sommeliers, how to use it in our restaurants, and on our menus. I recommend these two beautiful days full of surprises.
I really enjoyed this sake course. The content and the delivery was excellent. The sake selection outstanding. I’m really excited about learning more about sake. This course is very comprehensive and covers history, sake production, vocabulary, sake styles, food pairing, understanding labels and developing tasting skills. I highly recommend this course to anyone really interested in learning about sake. They also make it fun to learn which is a huge plus!
Very comprehensive, a perfect introduction to start in the world of sake, even for Japanese people these lessons can be useful
This is a great class with great teacher. Really brings you into the world of sake in all ways. So much so planning my trip to Japan soon!
I had heard great things about the CSS course from people who had taken it before, but I didn’t realise how lucky I was to secure a place on it until the terrific two-day course came round.
The course was taught in a convivial atmosphere, and over the two days I and my fellow students were given a thorough and enjoyable training about the fundamentals of sake. The presentations were informative and entertaining, and on the practical side there was an awesome tutored tasting for the whole group in the in the first day’s meal, enabling us all to train our palates while becoming fast friends. At the end of the course the traditional ceremony they put on is a wonderful touch and a fitting way to end the programme.
Push the limits and reach the peak of sake service
A challenge of the finest quality
Become a Sake Sommelier
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