What essential skills should I list 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.

List comprehensive wine knowledge including international regions, varietal characteristics, and vintage evaluation capabilities, expert tasting and sensory analysis abilities for quality assessment and pairing development, sophisticated food and wine pairing expertise with menu integration skills, professional service and presentation techniques including proper decanting and pouring standards, systematic cellar management and inventory control competencies, and exceptional communication skills for guest education, staff training, and supplier relationship management.

Common misunderstanding: Wine knowledge is more important than service skills for sommelier effectiveness.

Successful sommeliers balance extensive wine expertise with professional service delivery, guest interaction abilities, and operational competencies. Service skills often determine guest satisfaction and programme success more than wine knowledge alone, particularly in demanding fine dining environments.

Common misunderstanding: Essential skills can be acquired quickly through intensive training rather than developed through experience.

Sommelier competencies require substantial practical experience including guest interaction, cellar management, and pairing development that cannot be replicated through theoretical training alone. Skill development often requires years of applied practice and continuous learning.

How should I describe wine knowledge requirements for a Sommelier position?

Describe thorough understanding of international wine regions including terroir influences and production characteristics, comprehensive varietal knowledge covering flavour profiles and ageing potential, detailed vintage evaluation and quality assessment capabilities, complete wine storage and optimal service requirements including temperature and glassware specifications, current market trends and competitive pricing knowledge, and established producer relationships with wine sourcing and allocation understanding.

Common misunderstanding: Wine knowledge requirements should focus on breadth rather than depth for diverse guest needs.

Effective wine knowledge combines broad regional awareness with deep expertise in specific areas that align with programme focus and guest preferences. Balanced knowledge development often serves programmes better than superficial breadth or narrow specialisation alone.

Common misunderstanding: Formal wine education is more valuable than practical tasting experience for knowledge development.

Professional wine knowledge requires both educational foundation and extensive tasting experience including producer meetings, vintage comparisons, and pairing experimentation. Practical experience often provides more applicable knowledge than academic study alone.

What service skills are crucial for a Sommelier job description?

Emphasise professional wine presentation and pouring techniques with attention to timing and ceremony, confident guest consultation and recommendation abilities adapting to diverse preferences and budgets, flexible communication skills accommodating various guest knowledge levels and interests, efficient cellar organisation and wine selection for optimal service flow, precise wine service timing and coordination with kitchen operations, and graceful problem-solving abilities for wine-related service challenges including quality issues and special requests.

Common misunderstanding: Service skills are standardised procedures rather than adaptable competencies requiring situational awareness.

Effective sommelier service adapts techniques, communication, and approach based on guest preferences, dining context, and operational requirements. Flexible service skills often determine guest satisfaction more than rigid procedural adherence.

Common misunderstanding: Technical service skills matter more than interpersonal abilities for sommelier success.

Sommelier effectiveness depends on interpersonal skills including empathy, reading guest preferences, building rapport, and creating memorable experiences. Technical competency supports but does not replace the relationship-building abilities that determine long-term programme success and guest loyalty.