Brandwave

Court of Master Sommeliers vs WSET:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, WSET had more branded searches than Court of Master Sommeliers among wine courses and certifications worldwide. WSET had about 75,900 branded searches, while Court of Master Sommeliers had 4,400. WSET made up 89% of all wine courses and certification searches we track, and Court of Master Sommeliers accounted for 5.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about wine courses and certifications, both Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET appeared in all five answers. WSET was mentioned before Court of Master Sommeliers in three out of five answers.

Among wine courses and certifications worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

WSET, about 17 searches for every 1 for Court of Master Sommeliers

WSET 75.9K searchesCourt of Master Sommeliers 4.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Court of Master Sommeliers in 5 of 5WSET in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

WSET, named ahead of Court of Master Sommeliers in 3 of 5 answers

WSET first in 3Court of Master Sommeliers first in 2

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Top wine courses and certifications in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET showed up in all five answers. WSET was listed before Court of Master Sommeliers in three of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. WSET1st
  2. Court of Master Sommeliers2nd
  3. Society of Wine Educators3rd
  4. Wine Scholar Guild4th
  5. Institute of Masters of Wine5th
  6. Napa Valley Wine Academy–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

See every answer about wine courses and certifications

5 answers

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

  1. wsetglobal.com, cited in 3 of 5 answers

  2. mastersommeliers.org, cited in 3 of 5 answers

  3. societyofwineeducators.org, cited in 2 of 5 answers

  4. youtube.com, cited in 2 of 5 answers

  5. napavalleywineacademy.com, cited in 2 of 5 answers

  6. internationalsommelier.com, cited in 2 of 5 answers

  7. wineschool.us, cited in 2 of 5 answers

  8. winescholarguild.com, cited in 1 of 5 answers

  9. mastersofwine.org, cited in 1 of 5 answers

  10. winefolly.com, cited in 1 of 5 answers

  11. somm.us, cited in 1 of 5 answers

  12. reddit.com, cited in 1 of 5 answers

Is Court of Master Sommeliers or WSET more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET 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.

Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET among wine courses and certifications worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthWSETCourt of Master SommeliersWine Scholar GuildNapa Valley Wine AcademyInstitute of Masters of WineSociety of Wine Educators
Nov 202590%4.1%2.2%2.2%0.93%0.55%
Dec 202592.3%3.6%1.5%1.5%0.58%0.48%
Jan 202690.5%4.2%2.3%1.9%0.68%0.46%
Feb 202690.2%4.1%2.3%1.8%0.94%0.68%
Mar 202689.5%5%2.2%1.8%0.92%0.66%
Apr 202690.7%4.2%1.8%1.8%0.95%0.56%
May 202690.8%4.2%1.8%1.8%0.84%0.56%
Jun 202688.6%6%2.1%1.8%0.8%0.66%
Jul 202689.5%5%2.2%2.2%0.55%0.55%
Aug 202689.3%5%2.2%1.8%1%0.67%
Sep 202689.2%5%2.2%1.8%1.1%0.67%
Oct 202689%5.2%2.2%1.9%1.2%0.56%

How has branded search for Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for wine courses and certifications worldwide in October 2026?

1 change

  1. WSET’s share of searches among wine courses and certifications worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 89.5% to 89% in October 2026.

How are Court of Master Sommeliers’ and WSET’s branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Court of Master Sommeliers’ and WSET’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

WSET

2 branded search terms

  • wine and spirit education trust
  • wset

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among wine courses and certifications

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