Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

The Work

Essentially, as a sommelier, you work as a wine expert, usually in a fine dining restaurant or Business. You may work with the chefs in the kitchen to develop wine lists. As some of the expert knowledge of sommeliers relates to matching wine with food, you need to have excellent knowledge of the food on the menu as well as the wine.

You are also in charge of storing wine correctly, researching trends, ordering wine and keeping stock and attending industry events. You may also be training and educating the waiting staff on the wines of the wine list.

While many sommeliers are employed by fine dining restaurants and larger hotels, some sommeliers work independently as consultants or in specialised wine retailers.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Keep records required by government agencies regarding sanitation or food subsidies.
• Investigate and resolve complaints regarding food quality, service, or accommodations.
• Maintain food and equipment inventories, and keep inventory records.
• Monitor food preparation methods, portion sises, and garnishing and presentation of food to ensure that food is prepared and presented in an acceptable manner.
• Schedule and receive food and beverage deliveries, checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
• Coordinate assignments of cooking personnel to ensure economical use of food and timely preparation.
• Monitor compliance with health and fire regulations regarding food preparation and serving, and building maintenance in lodging and dining facilities.
• Count money and make bank deposits.
• Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service.
• Perform some food preparation or service tasks, such as cooking, clearing tables, and serving food and drinks when necessary.

Further Information

• Sommelier - from: Best Sommelier in Ireland, 2019
• Sommelier - from: Wine & Spirits Education Trust
• Sommelier - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

You will generally need to be very knowledgeable and passionate about wine and most employers would require that you hold relevant certificates in wine training to be considered for this job.

Experience of working in fine dining establishments as either waiting staff or in management are also common routes to become a sommelier. Some have a combined role as both a Supervisor/Head Waiter/Head Chef and a Sommelier. This is part of the reason why you may not see many Sommelier positions advertised.

It is important that you do some research into sommelier/wine training to ensure that you choose the right course for you. If you want to option to work abroad, some certificates are internationally recognised. For example, these are extremely well respected providers of sommelier certificates:

• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
• Professional certificate by the Worldwide Sommelier Association (WSA)
• The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS)

For training provided in Ireland, see here.

Professional Development

As a sommelier, you need to constantly keep yourself up-to-date on the wine industry and build up a network of professionals in the field. This is mostly through independent research and by attending wine events, where you get to meet suppliers, producers, wine writers and wine buyers and even other sommeliers.

• Attend local and national wine tastings organised by suppliers and promotors.
• Travel to international wine fairs, such as Vinitaly in Verona, or VinExpo in Bordeaux
• You can also impress employers by travelling to different vineyards around the world and perhaps become an expert of wine from a certain region.
• Read magazines, publications and online material which focus on wine, such as World of Fine Wine, Imbibe and Noble Rot. There are also websites with interesting articles and podcasts for wine lovers, such as GuildSomm.
• Enter sommelier competitions!

Professional organisations sometimes also offer training or promote training providers so it can be useful to be a member of organisations such as the Irish Guild of Sommeliers and the Restaurants Association of Ireland.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €55k

Salaries depend on employer, location, experience, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Excel / Indeed/ Payscale

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite a lower than average employment growth rate for this occupation over the five-year period, employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022 with an additional 5,700 persons employed, surpassing 2019 levels. Approximately a third working in these roles were non-Irish citizens, above the national average, and employment permits issued related to roles for restaurant managers, hotel, duty and accommodation managers.

Advertised vacancies in the OVATE data grew strongly (by nearly a third), albeit from a low base. Vacancies advertised through DSP Jobs Ireland were primarily for restaurant managers but also for managers in catering, food and beverage and hotel. The future demand for hospitality managers will depend on the performance of the different segments of the hospitality sector, with a greater requirement for restaurant managers likely compared to accommodation-related managers.

• Irish Guild of Sommeliers

  • Click Here

• Restaurant's Association of Ireland

  • 11 Bridge Court, Citygate, St Augustine Street, Dublin 8
  • 01 6779901
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Fáilte Ireland

  • Amiens Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 884 7700
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here