Sommelier
This is one of the most iconic and respected roles in the wine trade. Sommeliers are wine specialists that work at high-end restaurants, luxury hotels or wine bars.
Responsibilities
Sommeliers are responsible for managing the wine list, advising guests on food and wine pairings, and ensuring that the wine service remains consistently exceptional. Sommeliers also conduct staff training sessions, run pre-service briefings and manage stock.
Skills
You will need to master a diverse range of skills to become a sommelier. First and foremost, deep wine knowledge is crucial. If you’re wondering how to become a sommelier, formal training will boost your credentials and strengthen your knowledge of regions and grapes.
It’s common for sommeliers to hold a WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. An elite group of sommeliers have also earned the prestigious Master Sommelier qualification. It’s also important to keep up-to-date with producers and vintages.
Communication and storytelling are key skills. You will need to bring wine to life at the table. It’s a customer-facing role, so the best sommeliers are warm, friendly, charismatic and intuitive. The best sommeliers can recommend exciting wines that match their guests’ food selections, fit their taste preferences and meet their budgets.
However, there is also a lot of work to do behind the scenes. Sommeliers naturally curate and update the wine list, but they also perform cellar management, rotating stock, ordering wines and ensuring that storage conditions are suitable, so you’ll need strong organizational skills.
Career Progression
You might start out as a server or commis sommelier, before advancing to junior sommelier, sommelier and then head sommelier. Eventually, you could be promoted to wine director or beverage manager.