How should I describe team culture 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.

Describe collaborative wine knowledge sharing culture with comprehensive service and kitchen team education, supportive mentorship environment fostering development of emerging wine professionals, integrated approach to guest service requiring seamless cross-team coordination and communication, regular team tastings and wine education sessions for continuous learning and programme alignment, and shared commitment to wine programme excellence through collective expertise development and mutual support.

Common misunderstanding: Sommelier team dynamics focus on hierarchy rather than collaborative wine expertise sharing.

Effective sommelier team culture emphasises knowledge sharing, collaborative learning, and mutual support across all team levels. Hierarchical structures often limit programme development and staff engagement compared to collaborative environments that encourage learning and contribution from all team members.

Common misunderstanding: Team culture is less important than individual sommelier expertise for programme success.

Team dynamics directly affect service quality, staff retention, programme consistency, and guest satisfaction. Strong team culture often determines programme success more than individual expertise alone, particularly in complex fine dining environments requiring extensive coordination.

What collaboration expectations should I outline for a Sommelier role?

Outline strategic partnership with kitchen staff for comprehensive pairing development and seamless execution timing, collaborative service team education including wine knowledge sharing and service technique training, cooperative wine programme planning with management involving selection criteria and financial planning, coordinated supplier relationship management affecting team operations and programme direction, and cross-training responsibilities ensuring programme continuity and comprehensive knowledge distribution across team members.

Common misunderstanding: Sommelier collaboration should be limited to wine-specific activities rather than comprehensive service integration.

Effective sommelier collaboration extends throughout dining operations including menu development, service timing, staff training, and guest experience planning. Integrated collaboration typically produces better results than isolated wine programme management.

Common misunderstanding: Cross-training diminishes sommelier specialisation and expertise value.

Strategic cross-training enhances programme resilience, team understanding, and service flexibility while maintaining sommelier expertise leadership. Shared knowledge often strengthens rather than diminishes the sommelier role by building programme support and understanding.

How can I highlight the importance of communication skills in a Sommelier team environment?

Emphasise clear wine knowledge transmission to service staff using accessible language and practical application techniques, effective guest consultation and education abilities adapting to diverse comfort levels and interests, professional supplier and producer communication maintaining strong industry relationships and programme quality, collaborative feedback sharing for continuous programme improvement and team development, and adaptable communication styles accommodating diverse team member backgrounds and guest preferences for optimal service delivery.

Common misunderstanding: Sommelier communication focuses primarily on wine technical knowledge rather than practical service application.

Effective sommelier communication balances technical accuracy with practical service needs, team understanding, and guest accessibility. Communication skills often determine programme adoption and success more than technical wine knowledge alone.

Common misunderstanding: Communication skills are secondary to wine expertise in sommelier effectiveness.

Communication determines knowledge sharing effectiveness, team collaboration quality, guest satisfaction, and programme implementation success. Strong communication skills often compensate for moderate wine knowledge while poor communication can undermine exceptional expertise.