Court of Master Sommeliers vs Institute of Masters of Wine:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Court of Master Sommeliers had more branded searches than Institute of Masters of Wine among wine courses and certifications worldwide. Court of Master Sommeliers had about 4,400 branded searches, while Institute of Masters of Wine had 1,000. Court of Master Sommeliers made up 5.2% of all wine courses and certification searches we track, and Institute of Masters of Wine accounted for 1.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wine courses and certifications, Court of Master Sommeliers appeared in all five answers and Institute of Masters of Wine in one. Court of Master Sommeliers was mentioned before Institute of Masters of Wine in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Court of Master Sommeliers, about 4 searches for every 1 for Institute of Masters of Wine
Who does AI mention more?
Court of Master Sommeliers, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Court of Master Sommeliers, named ahead of Institute of Masters of Wine in every answer
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Top wine courses and certifications in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Court of Master Sommeliers appeared in all five answers. Institute of Masters of Wine was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Court of Master Sommeliers was listed before Institute of Masters of Wine in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
WSET5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Court of Master Sommeliers5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Society of Wine Educators4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Wine Scholar Guild2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Institute of Masters of Wine1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Napa Valley Wine Academy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about wine courses and certifications
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which wine course should I take?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best wine certifications?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best sommelier certification for a career in wine?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sommelier certification”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sommelier course”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on November 9, 2026.
Sites the answers about wine courses and certifications cited
13 sites
wsetglobal.com, cited in 3 of 5 answers
mastersommeliers.org, cited in 3 of 5 answers
societyofwineeducators.org, cited in 2 of 5 answers
youtube.com, cited in 2 of 5 answers
napavalleywineacademy.com, cited in 2 of 5 answers
internationalsommelier.com, cited in 2 of 5 answers
wineschool.us, cited in 2 of 5 answers
winescholarguild.com, cited in 1 of 5 answers
mastersofwine.org, cited in 1 of 5 answers
winefolly.com, cited in 1 of 5 answers
somm.us, cited in 1 of 5 answers
reddit.com, cited in 1 of 5 answers
Is Court of Master Sommeliers or Institute of Masters of Wine more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Court of Master Sommeliers and Institute of Masters of Wine by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six wine courses and certification brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Court of Master Sommeliers, Institute of Masters of Wine. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | WSET | Court of Master Sommeliers | Wine Scholar Guild | Napa Valley Wine Academy | Institute of Masters of Wine | Society of Wine Educators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 90% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.93% | 0.55% |
| Dec 2025 | 92.3% | 3.6% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.58% | 0.48% |
| Jan 2026 | 90.5% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 0.68% | 0.46% |
| Feb 2026 | 90.2% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.94% | 0.68% |
| Mar 2026 | 89.5% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.92% | 0.66% |
| Apr 2026 | 90.7% | 4.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.95% | 0.56% |
| May 2026 | 90.8% | 4.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| Jun 2026 | 88.6% | 6% | 2.1% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 0.66% |
| Jul 2026 | 89.5% | 5% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| Aug 2026 | 89.3% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1% | 0.67% |
| Sep 2026 | 89.2% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.1% | 0.67% |
| Oct 2026 | 89% | 5.2% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 1.2% | 0.56% |
How has branded search for Court of Master Sommeliers and Institute of Masters of Wine changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Court of Master Sommeliers was ahead of Institute of Masters of Wine in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Court of Master Sommeliers’ share of searches among wine courses and certifications worldwide moved from 4.1% to 5.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Institute of Masters of Wine’s share of searches among wine courses and certifications worldwide moved from 0.93% to 1.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1K.
How did search popularity change for wine courses and certifications worldwide in October 2026?
1 change

Institute of Masters of Wine’s share of searches among wine courses and certifications worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 0.55% to 1.2% in October 2026.
How are Court of Master Sommeliers’ and Institute of Masters of Wine’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Court of Master Sommeliers’ and Institute of Masters of Wine’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Court of Master Sommeliers
1 branded search term
- court of master sommeliers
Institute of Masters of Wine
1 branded search term
- institute of masters of wine
Other head-to-heads among wine courses and certifications

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