Wine X Staff
Online Edition
If sommeliers got a bottle of wine for every time they heard, “Nice! So you just get to drink wine all day?”, whenever they mention their occupation…sigh.
Its cool to be a somm these days. Its like free reign to be snarky, right?
So here is the low-down on sommeliers job responsibilities and what it takes to get there for those who are either thinking it will be the world’s easiest job (funnest maybe…but not easiest) or for those genuinely interested in learning about the occupation.
How do I become a Sommelier?
There are many streets and alleys you can take when it comes to wine education. They all include extensive studying and experience in the wine industry.
- Get a job in the wine industry- Working at a tasting room, winery, wine store etc. Learn as much as you can!
- Study- While there are courses and even college degrees you can take to further your wine knowledge, extensive independent studying is always necessary to be able to pass exams and further yourself in the industry. Most people study for years in order to gain a degree or a sommelier certificate.
- Take your courses- While you don’t technically need any sort of certification to be a sommelier, it is very very useful. Not only will these courses make you learn all the information you need to become successful, but it will give you major street cred and make all potential employers take you seriously. A few colleges offer degrees in viticulture, enology, and wine business. You can also go through the International Sommelier Guild or most notably, the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust). There are different levels of sommeliers as well, from level 1 through Master Sommelier.
What do sommeliers do?
- Consult and advise- you will see sommeliers on the dining floor of restaurants, advising patrons on their bottle choice; also consulting with wine buyers, collectors etc.
- Office work- managing wine inventory, stock, selecting wine for the restaurant and creating drink lists
- Work with chefs to create a wine list that will complement the current menu
- Training new staff on how to properly serve wine, pair wine, give introductions, and hold tastings of new wine in stock
Many sommeliers travel extensively to different wine regions, expos, culinary schools, or to do freelance consulting work for private wine collectors or wine buyers. No two days are the same and job duties can vary widely depending on where the sommelier works.
And yes, to answer your next question…they do get to drink lots of wine on the job.
