What physical demands should I include 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 physical requirements including extended standing capabilities for full service periods, cellar access demands with stair navigation and temperature tolerance, wine lifting and carrying abilities for inventory management, precise manual dexterity for service excellence, sustained physical stamina for lengthy guest interactions, and coordination skills for tableside wine presentation and cellar operations.

Common misunderstanding: Sommelier roles require minimal physical demands compared to other restaurant positions.

Sommelier positions involve substantial physical requirements including extended standing, frequent cellar access, wine lifting, precision service tasks, and sustained guest interaction stamina. Physical capabilities often determine service quality and operational efficiency more than wine knowledge alone.

Common misunderstanding: Physical requirements are obvious and don't need specification in job descriptions.

Clear physical requirement communication ensures candidate suitability and prevents mismatched expectations. Detailed physical specifications help candidates assess role compatibility and reduce recruitment challenges that affect service continuity and wine programme success.

How should I describe cellar work requirements for a Sommelier job description?

Specify comprehensive cellar access including confident stair navigation and mobility, wine storage lifting capabilities for inventory management, temperature tolerance for extended cellar periods, physical endurance for inventory tasks, equipment handling abilities for wine storage systems, and space navigation skills in confined cellar environments with varying floor surfaces and lighting conditions.

Common misunderstanding: Cellar work is a minor component of sommelier responsibilities.

Cellar management represents a substantial portion of sommelier duties including inventory control, storage maintenance, wine selection, and quality assessment. Cellar work often requires significant physical capabilities that impact overall job performance and wine programme quality.

Common misunderstanding: Modern cellars eliminate physical demands through automation.

Most wine cellars require substantial manual handling, stair access, temperature tolerance, and physical endurance regardless of automation levels. Cellar technology supports but rarely replaces the physical requirements essential for comprehensive wine programme management.

Emphasize precision wine pouring abilities with steady hand control, sophisticated glassware handling dexterity for service excellence, expert cork extraction techniques requiring grip strength, confident decanting physical coordination for presentation quality, tableside service stamina for extended guest interactions, and fine motor control for wine tool operation and presentation details.

Common misunderstanding: Service physical skills develop automatically with experience.

Sommelier service requires specific physical capabilities including hand steadiness, grip strength, coordination, and stamina that may not develop through general restaurant experience. These skills often determine service quality and guest satisfaction more than wine knowledge alone.

Common misunderstanding: Physical service skills are less important than wine expertise.

Service physical capabilities directly impact guest experience, wine presentation quality, and operational efficiency. Poor physical skills can undermine extensive wine knowledge and compromise guest satisfaction regardless of sommelier expertise level.