What problem-solving skills should I mention 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.

Emphasize comprehensive sommelier problem-solving capabilities including expert wine fault identification and resolution techniques, sophisticated inventory management solutions for operational efficiency, professional guest complaint handling expertise that preserves relationships, strategic cellar crisis management for programme continuity, effective supplier relationship problem-solving for business resilience, and exceptional service recovery abilities that transform challenges into positive guest experiences through quick thinking and wine expertise.

Common misunderstanding: Problem-solving skills are less important than wine knowledge for sommelier positions.

Effective problem-solving often determines sommelier success more than technical wine knowledge alone. Daily wine programme operations involve constant challenges including guest complaints, inventory issues, equipment failures, and service complications that require immediate solutions for programme success and guest satisfaction.

Common misunderstanding: Wine programme problems are primarily operational rather than guest-focused.

Sommelier problem-solving encompasses both operational challenges and guest experience issues that often interconnect. Wine service problems frequently affect guest satisfaction directly, requiring solutions that address operational efficiency while maintaining excellent guest relationships and service quality standards.

How should I describe crisis management abilities for a Sommelier job description?

Detail comprehensive wine service emergency protocols including equipment failure response, sophisticated cellar equipment failure response that maintains wine quality, professional guest satisfaction recovery procedures that preserve venue reputation, strategic inventory shortage solutions that ensure service continuity, effective supplier relationship crisis management for business stability, and operational continuity planning that protects wine programme integrity during challenging circumstances.

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

Sommeliers often face immediate crises requiring instant response including wine service failures, guest complaints, cellar emergencies, and inventory shortages. Crisis management capabilities frequently determine guest satisfaction and programme reputation more than escalation to management during critical service moments.

Common misunderstanding: Wine programme crises are infrequent and don't require specific preparation.

Wine programmes face regular operational challenges including temperature fluctuations, equipment failures, supplier issues, quality problems, and service complications. Effective crisis management requires specific preparation and response protocols that maintain service quality and guest satisfaction during difficult circumstances.

What wine-specific problem-solving should I highlight for Sommeliers?

Specify expert wine fault detection and correction for quality maintenance, comprehensive cellar temperature crisis management that protects inventory investment, detailed inventory discrepancy resolution that ensures accuracy, creative wine pairing challenge solutions for difficult guest requests, quality control problem identification that prevents service issues, and systematic troubleshooting procedures that maintain wine programme excellence through proactive problem identification and effective resolution techniques.

Common misunderstanding: Wine-specific problems are technical issues rather than service challenges.

Wine programme problem-solving encompasses technical wine issues, service delivery challenges, guest satisfaction concerns, and operational complications that often require simultaneous resolution. Effective wine problem-solving balances technical expertise with service excellence and guest relationship management.

Common misunderstanding: Problem-solving skills develop naturally through wine experience.

Wine programme problem-solving requires specific analytical skills, decision-making capabilities, and solution implementation techniques that develop through training and practice. Effective problem-solving often requires systematic approaches and creative thinking that extend beyond general wine knowledge and service experience.