What communication skills should I specify for a Sommelier?

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.

Specify comprehensive sommelier communication requirements including sophisticated wine vocabulary mastery for precise description delivery, multilingual capabilities for international guest accommodation, engaging guest education communication that makes wine accessible, effective team coordination abilities for service integration, confident presentation skills for wine events, and articulate wine description talents that inspire guest interest and enhance dining experiences through passionate knowledge sharing.

Common misunderstanding: Wine knowledge is more important than communication ability for sommelier success.

Exceptional communication skills often determine sommelier effectiveness more than technical wine knowledge alone. Guests value clear, accessible wine guidance and comfortable interactions that enhance their dining experience, regardless of the sommelier's extensive technical expertise background.

Common misunderstanding: Formal wine vocabulary is essential for professional sommelier communication.

Effective sommelier communication adapts vocabulary to guest comfort levels, using accessible language that encourages wine exploration rather than intimidation. Technical wine vocabulary should enhance rather than replace clear, engaging communication that makes wine approachable for diverse guest experiences.

How important are language abilities for a Sommelier job description?

Emphasize comprehensive multilingual wine service capabilities for international guest accommodation, sophisticated international guest communication including cultural sensitivity, detailed wine terminology expertise across multiple languages, refined cultural sensitivity skills for diverse guest interactions, professional translation abilities for wine descriptions and menu explanations, and enhanced wine programme accessibility through language diversity that creates inclusive dining experiences for global clientele.

Common misunderstanding: English proficiency is sufficient for most sommelier positions.

Multicultural dining environments often require multilingual capabilities to serve diverse international guests effectively. Language abilities frequently determine guest comfort levels and service quality more than wine expertise alone, particularly in international hospitality settings.

Common misunderstanding: Language skills are optional additions rather than essential job requirements.

Language capabilities often represent core job requirements for sommelier positions in diverse markets. Multilingual abilities typically determine guest satisfaction, service effectiveness, and career advancement opportunities more than optional skill additions in contemporary hospitality environments.

What presentation skills should I mention for a Sommelier job description?

Detail comprehensive wine education delivery abilities for guest and staff training, confident public speaking skills for wine events and presentations, sophisticated tasting presentation expertise including group facilitation, effective staff training communication for team development, engaging storytelling capabilities that bring wine history and culture to life, and dynamic programme promotion skills that enhance venue reputation and guest engagement through passionate wine knowledge sharing.

Common misunderstanding: Presentation skills are only needed for special events rather than daily service.

Daily sommelier service requires constant presentation abilities including table-side wine education, staff mentoring, guest recommendation delivery, and team communication. Presentation skills often determine service quality and guest satisfaction more than special event requirements alone.

Common misunderstanding: Wine expertise automatically translates to effective presentation ability.

Presentation skills require specific communication techniques including audience assessment, engagement strategies, timing control, and delivery confidence that develop independently from wine knowledge. Effective wine presentation often requires dedicated skill development alongside technical wine education for optimal guest experiences.