What should I include about pay 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.

Include competitive base salary that reflects sommelier experience level and certification achievements, comprehensive wine education funding for ongoing professional development including WSET and Court of Master Sommeliers programmes, performance-based bonus structure tied to wine programme success and guest satisfaction metrics, complete benefits package including health coverage and retirement contributions, and unique sommelier perks such as wine allocation opportunities, industry event access, and educational wine purchasing allowances.

Common misunderstanding: Sommelier compensation focuses primarily on base salary rather than comprehensive package value.

Quality sommelier positions emphasise total compensation including education support, performance incentives, and unique wine industry benefits that enhance career development. Educational opportunities and professional development often attract better candidates than higher base salaries alone.

Common misunderstanding: Wine education benefits are nice-to-have additions rather than essential recruitment tools.

Professional wine education support is essential for maintaining programme quality, staff motivation, and industry standards. Venues investing in sommelier education typically attract higher-calibre candidates and maintain better wine programmes than those offering minimal educational support.

How should I structure wine education benefits for a Sommelier position?

Structure comprehensive education support including fully funded certification programmes covering WSET levels and Court of Master Sommeliers advancement with exam fees and study materials, generous wine tasting allowances for professional palate development and programme research, conference and wine seminar attendance funding for industry knowledge and networking, educational wine purchasing budgets for programme enhancement and staff training, and dedicated study time allocation during work hours for certification preparation and ongoing learning.

Common misunderstanding: Wine education benefits should be limited to prevent excessive costs.

Investment in sommelier education directly improves programme quality, guest satisfaction, and staff retention. Comprehensive education support typically generates returns through improved sales performance, better wine programme reputation, and reduced recruitment costs from higher staff retention.

Common misunderstanding: Educational benefits can be shared across all beverage staff rather than focused on sommelier development.

Sommelier education requires specialised support including advanced certifications, professional tastings, and industry networking that differs from general beverage training. Focused sommelier education investment ensures programme leadership and expertise that benefits the entire wine service team.

What performance incentives attract quality Sommelier candidates?

Emphasise wine programme performance bonuses based on measurable sales growth and guest satisfaction improvements, profit-sharing opportunities directly linked to beverage programme financial success, clear advancement pathways with defined progression criteria and timeline expectations, recognition programmes celebrating exceptional service achievements and programme innovations, exclusive wine experiences as performance rewards including vineyard visits and winemaker dinners, and professional development opportunities such as industry conference presentations and sommelier competition support.

Common misunderstanding: Performance incentives should be based solely on individual sales rather than programme success.

Effective sommelier incentives balance individual performance with overall programme success including guest satisfaction, staff development, and operational efficiency. Comprehensive performance metrics encourage collaborative success rather than individual competition that can harm team dynamics.

Common misunderstanding: Monetary incentives matter more than professional recognition and development opportunities.

Quality sommeliers value professional growth, industry recognition, and unique wine experiences alongside financial compensation. Career development opportunities and professional achievement recognition often determine job satisfaction and retention more than bonus amounts alone.