Until a year ago, I was unaware that there were less than 300 certified Master Sommeliers in the entire world. The exam, administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers, is notorious for its demands and high failure rate.

The trials, tribulations, and rewards of several individuals pursuing the certification are detailed in the critically acclaimed documentary, Somm. So, for this exercise, we will try and help a hypothetical individual struggling to become a Master Sommelier find a latent structure in Italian wines.