The Sommelier Society of America (SSA) is the first professional wine organization in the US. In 1954, a group of New York City restaurant workers convened at the legendary 21 Club with the goal of educating each other about the influx of fine wines flooding the city from all over the world. Comprised of veteran wine waiters from the city’s top restaurants, they were the first American sommeliers with the expertise and fluency to guide diners through the increasingly complex wine lists. Continuing the tradition, the SSA today is a locus for top-notch wine education courses in New York City. Unlike other certification programs, the SSA course is designed for serious wine professionals who want to study the trade in one of the most thrilling and eclectic wine markets in the world.