The International Culinary Center (ICC) prepares students for a career in the culinary arts through a total-immersion curriculum and instruction from experienced chefs and culinary professionals across the industry. Programs at the International Culinary Center include sommelier training courses and certified sommelier preparation.
Although the position traditionally is held by men, the culinary industry reports a rising number of women sommeliers.
Culinary schools and restaurant managers have noticed a shift in the industry, as more women seek a career in wine as sommeliers. For instance, women account for more than half of the sommeliers with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, which comprises of 12 restaurants in total. ICC founder Dorothy Cann Hamilton also stated that women made up 60 percent of sommelier graduates during the 2012 and 2013 school years.
Madeline Triffon became the first woman to earn the prestigious title of master sommelier in 1987, a time when the dining world consisted of almost, if not entirely, male staff. Triffon avoids referring to herself as a “female sommelier” and stresses the importance of becoming a credible professional that transcends gender boundaries. To this effect, she welcomes the idea of serving as a role model to young women aspiring to enter the industry.
