What legal or compliance information belongs 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.

Specify comprehensive sommelier legal compliance including personal licence holder requirements for alcohol service, detailed wine storage regulation adherence, age verification protocol responsibilities, import documentation compliance for international wines, duty and tax regulation understanding, food safety certification requirements, and cellar safety standard compliance for comprehensive legal operational adherence.

Common misunderstanding: Legal compliance is primarily a management responsibility rather than sommelier requirement.

Sommeliers handle direct alcohol service, wine storage, and guest interactions that require comprehensive legal compliance knowledge. Personal liability and venue licensing often depend on sommelier understanding of alcohol regulations, storage requirements, and service legal protocols.

Common misunderstanding: Basic alcohol training covers all sommelier legal requirements.

Sommelier positions require specialised compliance knowledge including wine import regulations, storage standards, cellar safety protocols, and advanced alcohol service laws that extend beyond standard hospitality training. Wine-specific legal requirements often determine programme viability and operational success.

How should I address alcohol regulations for a Sommelier job description?

Specify personal licence holder requirements with current certification maintenance, comprehensive responsible alcohol service training including sommelier-specific protocols, detailed age verification procedures for wine service, licensing authority compliance understanding, alcohol sales regulation adherence, and venue-specific alcohol policy implementation for complete regulatory compliance and legal protection.

Common misunderstanding: Alcohol regulations are uniform across all hospitality positions.

Sommelier roles involve unique alcohol service responsibilities including wine tasting services, cellar access, inventory management, and specialised service techniques that require specific regulatory knowledge. Standard alcohol training rarely covers sommelier-specific legal requirements and service protocols.

Common misunderstanding: Personal licence requirements are optional for sommelier positions.

Most jurisdictions require personal licence holders for alcohol service supervision and management. Sommelier positions often involve service oversight, cellar management, and direct alcohol sales that legally require personal licence certification and ongoing compliance maintenance.

What wine-specific compliance should I mention for Sommeliers?

Detail comprehensive wine storage temperature regulation compliance, international wine import documentation requirements, duty and tax regulation adherence for programme operations, cellar safety standard implementation, wine authenticity verification protocols, inventory tracking for regulatory compliance, and wine disposal procedures following legal requirement for waste management and quality control.

Common misunderstanding: Wine compliance focuses primarily on storage rather than comprehensive programme requirements.

Wine programme compliance includes import regulations, tax requirements, authenticity verification, disposal protocols, and inventory tracking that extend beyond storage temperature control. Comprehensive compliance knowledge often determines programme legal viability and operational success.

Common misunderstanding: Wine-specific regulations are covered by general food safety training.

Wine programme operations require specialised regulatory knowledge including import laws, duty requirements, cellar safety standards, and wine-specific storage protocols that differ substantially from general food safety requirements. Wine compliance often requires dedicated training and certification maintenance.