What opportunities for advancement should be highlighted in a Sommelier job description?

Date modified: 29th September 2025 | This FAQ page has been written by Pilla Founder, Liam Jones, click to email Liam directly, he reads every email.

Sommelier Job Description Template

This job description template provides a full working exmaple using our six step approach. Open the template in the Pilla app and customise each section to make it specific to your role and business.

We operate an award-winning restaurant with an extensive wine program featuring 300+ carefully curated wines from established and emerging regions worldwide. Our sommelier leads wine service excellence, educating guests and staff while managing our comprehensive wine collection. The role combines guest interaction with wine program management, including inventory control, supplier relationships, and staff education. You'll work in an elegant dining environment serving wine enthusiasts, special occasion diners, and corporate guests seeking exceptional wine experiences. This position offers excellent opportunities for professional development, including wine travel, supplier visits, and involvement in wine events and tastings that enhance our restaurant's reputation as a wine destination.
• Provide expert wine recommendations and pairings, enhancing guest dining experiences through knowledgeable service • Maintain comprehensive wine inventory including purchasing, storage, and rotation to optimize quality and profitability • Develop and update wine lists, including seasonal selections and special wine program features • Conduct staff training on wine knowledge, service techniques, and upselling strategies • Manage wine cellar operations including temperature control, storage systems, and inventory tracking • Build relationships with wine suppliers, distributors, and producers to source exceptional wines • Organize wine events, tastings, and educational dinners to promote wine program and drive revenue • Ensure proper wine service standards including decanting, temperature control, and glassware selection • Handle wine complaints and quality issues with professionalism and expertise • Collaborate with kitchen team on food and wine pairing development • Monitor wine program profitability including cost control and pricing strategies • Maintain wine service equipment and ensure compliance with licensing requirements
Essential Skills: Comprehensive wine knowledge across major wine regions, varietals, and production methods; expert tasting abilities with skill in identifying wine characteristics and quality; outstanding guest service abilities with confidence in wine presentation and education; strong organizational skills for inventory management and cellar operations; effective communication skills for staff training and guest interaction; ability to work collaboratively with kitchen and service teams. Preferred Qualifications: Formal sommelier certification (Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET Level 3+); 2+ years wine service experience in fine dining environments; additional language skills for international wine knowledge; spirits and cocktail knowledge for complete beverage program management; experience with wine inventory software and POS systems; knowledge of wine law, importing, and distribution.
We're looking for passionate wine professionals with solid foundation knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for sharing wine expertise with others. You should have at least 18+ months wine service experience and be working toward or have achieved sommelier certification. While advanced certifications are great to have, we care more about your passion for wine, ability to connect with guests, and commitment to continuous learning. We provide ongoing education support including wine courses, supplier tastings, and travel opportunities to wine regions. Career advancement opportunities include head sommelier positions, beverage program management, and involvement in wine program development across our restaurant group. We support professional development through certification programs and industry networking.
We're looking for someone who combines deep wine knowledge with approachable personality, making wine accessible and enjoyable for all guests regardless of their wine experience level. You should be naturally curious about wine, eager to continue learning, and skilled at sharing knowledge without intimidation. The ideal candidate will have excellent memory for wine details, palate development for quality assessment, and patience for educating both guests and staff. You should be detail-oriented in cellar management, reliable in inventory control, and creative in wine program development. We value professionalism, continuous education, and collaborative approach to beverage program success within our restaurant's overall hospitality experience.
Competitive salary of £28,000-£35,000 annually based on certification level and experience, plus wine sales commission structure and quarterly performance bonuses. Comprehensive benefits package includes: wine education allowance for courses and certifications; wine tasting budget for menu development and supplier evaluations; 26 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays and professional development time. Professional development opportunities including wine region travel, supplier visits, and industry event attendance. Health and wellness benefits, staff meal programs, and wine industry networking opportunities through our established supplier relationships.

Highlight clear progression pathways to head sommelier and wine director positions with defined advancement criteria and timeline expectations, comprehensive certification advancement support including fully funded WSET and Court of Master Sommeliers programmes with study time allocation, leadership development opportunities within wine programme management and staff mentorship, strategic industry networking through producer relationships and wine event participation, and potential for spearheading wine programmes in new venue locations or innovative dining concepts.

Common misunderstanding: Career growth depends primarily on individual performance rather than structured development opportunities.

Effective career advancement requires systematic development including mentorship, education support, leadership opportunities, and clear progression pathways. Venues providing structured growth opportunities typically attract and retain higher-calibre sommeliers than those relying solely on individual initiative and performance.

Common misunderstanding: Sommelier career progression is limited within single venue operations.

Quality hospitality groups offer diverse advancement opportunities including multi-venue wine programme oversight, new concept development, training programme leadership, and consulting opportunities. Structured career development often provides more advancement potential than venue changes alone.

How should I describe leadership development opportunities for Sommeliers?

Describe comprehensive mentorship of junior wine staff and sommelier trainees including structured training programme development, strategic wine programme management responsibilities covering buying decisions and inventory optimisation, collaborative staff education leadership for comprehensive service team wine training, creative wine event planning and execution for enhanced guest experiences and programme promotion, and direct collaboration with senior management on beverage programme strategy development and long-term vision planning.

Common misunderstanding: Leadership development focuses on management skills rather than wine expertise advancement.

Sommelier leadership development balances management competencies with advanced wine expertise including programme curation, education delivery, and industry relationship building. Technical wine knowledge often determines leadership effectiveness more than general management skills alone.

Common misunderstanding: Leadership opportunities should be delayed until advanced career stages.

Early leadership exposure through mentorship, training delivery, and programme contribution accelerates career development and identifies advancement potential. Graduated leadership responsibility often produces better long-term results than delayed management exposure.

What long-term career benefits attract ambitious Sommelier candidates?

Emphasise industry recognition opportunities through prestigious competitions and advanced certifications with venue support and funding, strategic producer relationship development for valuable career networking and wine access, comprehensive wine programme ownership providing creative control and professional recognition, professional reputation building through association with quality programme excellence and innovation, and potential partnership opportunities in wine-focused business ventures or specialised consulting roles leveraging venue experience and industry connections.

Common misunderstanding: Long-term career benefits are secondary to immediate compensation and working conditions.

Ambitious sommeliers prioritise career development, industry recognition, and professional growth opportunities alongside immediate benefits. Long-term career advancement potential often determines position attractiveness more than short-term compensation advantages alone.

Common misunderstanding: Wine programme ownership requires venue ownership rather than professional responsibility and recognition.

Professional wine programme ownership includes creative control, strategic decision-making, industry representation, and reputation building that develops career value independently of business ownership. Programme recognition often provides better career advancement than financial investment alone.