From the court's inception through 2018, a worldwide total of 274 people have earned its Master Sommelier diploma, the highest level.

It gained a royal charter in 1364; although its control over the wine industry was gradually loosened by deregulation, the company continued to have considerable influence within it.

[5] In 1984, Fred Dame was the first person to pass all three parts of the Master Sommelier examination at once, which is called "winning the Krug Cup".

The American chapter of the CMS was established under the name Court of Master Sommeliers Americas, and also conducts exams and workshops in Canada.

Several of them passed the tasting portion again in the next year, before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the exams; others gave up, including one the Court sued unsuccessfully over his continued use of the title.

[13] In October 2020, The New York Times revealed a pattern of sexual harassment among members of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.

[19] It is only open to those who have passed the Introductory course and examination, and focuses a great deal more on service and more in-depth knowledge of the world of wine.

The exam has three parts: theoretical consisting of multiple-choice and short answer questions, a written blind tasting of four wines (two white and two red), and service.

[20][21] The Court of Master Sommeliers America reports that on average 66 percent of applicants pass the Certified Examination.

In the United States, the three-day Advanced Course is offered twice per year and requires the candidate to first submit an application and take a timed knowledge survey which is then followed by the exam at a different date.

The exam covers all aspects of the world and industry of wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, and hospitality from a business, service and philosophical approach.