A sommelier helps restaurant patrons select wine for their meal, but the skills can be applied to other jobs. Certification may be required, and sommeliers must have extensive wine knowledge. They may also work as wine critics, teachers, or salespeople.
A sommelier is a person who works with wine, typically helping restaurant patrons select what might be considered an appropriate wine for the type of food they are eating. This type of work is the most common among sommelier jobs, but the skills used to perform this duty can be applied to many other types of work. Even in the field of restaurants, there are different levels of sommelier jobs. A person may need certification to attain many of these jobs, although the necessary skills can be gained through study outside of a program.
In a restaurant or hotel, sommelier jobs often involve helping diners choose a wine for each course of a meal. This is usually done in consultation with the client, taking into account their preferences and budget. The selection process is guided by formal wine knowledge, although each sommelier may have personal preferences and leanings in wine traditions. A restaurant sommelier must be sure to have a thorough understanding of all wines available to the customer, as well as all other menu items.
Restaurant sommeliers are also often responsible for ordering and keeping track of what wines are available, and for ensuring that the proper wines are in stock for the food being served. Sometimes there are several sommeliers working in a restaurant, some reporting to others. Being the main sommelier at a fine restaurant often requires different skills than being a subordinate sommelier, so these can be considered different types of jobs.
All sommelier jobs require wine experience and extensive knowledge of alcoholic beverages. A sommelier may also find work as a wine critic or other wine writing positions. Sommeliers are also required to teach and certify future sommeliers, although this will require additional certification. Being an expert but not doing the sommelier’s work is a way to creatively expand the sommelier’s horizons.
People who have been trained for sommelier jobs may also find their skills useful in purchasing settings. For example, supermarkets that stock wine typically hire a wine expert to help customers and give recommendations, although this person usually does not serve wine. Winemakers can also look to people who have worked sommelier jobs to work as salespeople or even as entry-level winemakers. Experience as a sommelier can come in handy when looking for any wine-related job, and becoming a sommelier is an excellent way to get involved in the wider world of wine.
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