I recently watched the documentary Somm, available on Netflix. It’s about four men who are trying to achieve the rank of Master Sommelier, the highest possible rank for a sommelier in the world. The diploma’s been available since 1969, but only 214 people had earned it by the end of last year. The test has three parts: theory, service, and a blind, 25-minute taste test of 5 wines. In the taste test, they have to be able to identify the grape varietal, the region from which the wine came, and the year. 

Their journey to the exam reminded me a lot of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and the focus Jiro exhibited. The exam occurs only once a year, and obviously only a handful of people pass. The sommeliers in the film spend all of their time focusing on this one task: pass the test. At the end, they mention that it’s only the beginning, they have to constantly learn more and refine their palates to stay on top. It’s a great look at what it takes to be the best in this particular field, and to do what many would consider (nearly) impossible.