Sommelier Training

Are you passionate about the world of wine and spirits? Transform your passion into a career with the Sommellerie program and step into a thriving industry! 

Overview

This intensive program is intended for graduates or professionals in the food and beverage service industry who want to build a strong foundation in sommelier training. 

Key elements of the program

• Exclusive training at the ITHQ leading to an AVS in Sommellerie in 5 months 
• A week of winery tours in Europe 
• Visits to microbreweries, distilleries and vineyards 
• Hands-on learning at the Restaurant de l’ITHQ 
• Participation in competitions and major industry events 
• Experienced and passionate instructors 

Quench your thirst for knowledge!

What you will learn
Tasting, analyzing, advising

• Tasting and organoleptic analysis techniques
• Development of your gustatory and olfactory faculties
• Wine and spirits production processes and their influence on the product
• Wine and food pairing
• Wine and beverage service
• Wine list design
• Wine cellar management
• Customer advising

Partners

Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers

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Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers

• Students who successfully complete this program will earn “accredited sommelier” status as a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) of the Québec chapter, as long as they meet the following requirements: at least 6 months of full-time or 12 months of part-time experience in restaurant sommellerie.
• In addition, they will be granted the first year of membership free of charge provided they register online on the ACSP-Québec website.
• Finally, their names will be published on the website and added to the individual members section.

SAQ

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SAQ

Through the Fonds SAQ and the Fondation de l’ITHQ, the SAQ provides financial support for the enrichment activities of this program, including visits to vineyards and microbreweries in Québec. 

Fondation Magagni-Montaruli

AdVini

Chianti Classico

Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Program structure and courses

Duration and schedule

• Program starting in fall and winter 
• Spread over 5 months on a full-time basis (ministerial program totalling 450 h) 
• Daytime courses and practical applications in the evening 

Hands-on experience

Mandatory one-week stay in Europe: 

• Discovery week in Italy (September 2026 for students beginning their program in Fall 2026) or in France (April 2027 for students beginning their program in Winter 2027). 
• Visits to local producers, renowned estates and vineyards, fostering a practical understanding of on-the-ground realities, winemaking techniques, and food and wine pairings. 
• Airfare costs are the responsibility of the student; accommodation and meals are included. 
• This activity is assessed and therefore mandatory for graduation. 

Practical applications:

• Practical courses at the Restaurant de l’ITHQ
• Participation in sommelier competitions and a gastronomic banquet

Diploma

• Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) in Sommellerie from the Ministère de l’Éducation
• Recognition by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers

Admission

Admission application periods

Admission requirements

To be eligible for this program, you must: 

• Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written French. 
• Demonstrate your skills in food and beverage service using one of the following 2 options:

Option 1 – Application based on studies 

• Hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in Food and Beverage Services or have received equivalent training 

Option 2 – Application based on relevant work experience 

• Have a combination of sufficient training and at least 1,200 hours of relevant and recent work experience in restaurant service.     

Selection criteria

The selection of applications also takes into account the following criteria:  

• Academic file 
• Related training 
• Relevant professional experience, supported by official employment certificates 

To maximize your chances of selection, we strongly encourage you to attach all supporting documents to your application. 

Required documents

Here is the list of documents you must include with your application depending on your status: 

Admission application procedure

• Applicants must ensure that they meet the program’s admission requirements before submitting their application.      
• Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.       
• For your admission file to be considered complete, it must contain a copy of all the official documents required by the ITHQ in accordance with your status, as listed above.
• These documents must be legible and saved in PDF format. Documents in a language other than French or English must also be accompanied by a certified translation into French or English.            
• Some documents required by the ITHQ may not be requested automatically on the admission platform. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that all the documents on the list in accordance with your status have been uploaded to your file before submitting your application.  

Costs and financial aid

Program fees

Use the program fee calculator to find out about the costs of this program.

Financial aid and scholarships

Looking for financial support for your study project? Find out about the different options available to you.  

Learn more

Future prospects

A short program with big rewards!

Training in sommellerie is a definite asset for anyone working in the food and beverage services industry. With this diploma, you’ll not only be able to give better advice to your customers, but you’ll also have access to better positions in a wide range of establishments, as well as being able to explore new job prospects in the advising or sales fields.