Job Description of a Sommelier

A sommelier knows wine.

A sommelier (soh-mel-YEA) is skilled in matching wine to enhance the flavor of a particular food, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Occupational Outlook Quarterly. Sommelier is the French word for cellarmaster or wine steward. If you were born with exceptionally sensitive taste buds and love wine, then you might consider becoming a sommelier.

Roles

Wine tasting can be an experience and the sommelier acts as a guide. A sommelier describes wines with depth and expertise, according to the BLS. According to the Princeton Review, a sommelier is also eager to impart the knowledge of where the wine was derived, from the types of grapes, the name of the vineyard and the region where it was produced. Upon selection, the sommelier brings wine to the table with appropriate glasses and pours it for the patrons. A sommelier often encourages the customer to smell the wine as he describes the wine's components. When necessary, sommeliers decant wines, which is usually done to red wines that are aged beyond 10 years. Pouring wine into a decanter is done in order to allow wine to breathe. Decanting also separates any sediments that may have settled to the bottom of the bottle. He also helps restaurants create wine lists or may create one of his own.

Education & Training

According to the BLS, there are no prerequisites to becoming a sommelier in the United States. However, it may be difficult for a sommlier without credentials to get a job. Some organizations that offer courses that later lead to diplomas and certifications include the International Sommelier Guild, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and the Court of Master Sommelier. The Master Sommelier is an elite designation bestowed by the Court of Master Sommelier and is achieved through a three-level process, including an advanced exam. According to the Princeton Review, most sommeliers begin by working under an expert sommelier's guidance. Some take part in apprenticeships.

Environment & Hours

You can find sommeliers at upscale restaurants, which often provide a comfortable work setting, according to the Princeton Review. A sommelier may also be responsible for stocking and maintaining the wine cellar at a restaurant. Traveling to wineries and vineyards to choose wine is sometimes part of a sommelier's job, as is meeting with wine distributors. Sommeliers average 40 hours per week, specifically during evenings and weekends.

Salary

According to cnn.com's 2008 article "Nine cool jobs that pay well," a novice sommelier earned $28,000. Certified Master Sommeliers earned between $80,000 and $160,000.

Facts

According to the Princeton Review in 2010, approximately 10,500 people were employed as sommeliers in the United States with 95 percent being male and 5 percent being female.

The BLS states that no restrictions exist in acquiring the general "sommelier" title. However, the Master Sommelier title is much more challenging to attain. The Court of Master Sommeliers revealed that as of 2010, 105 professionals have earned the title of Master Sommelier in North America: 90 men and 15 women. Approximately 170 have received the title worldwide.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Quarterly: You're a What? Sommelier
• CNN.com: Nine Cool Jobs that Pay Well
• The Court of Master Sommeliers: Membership
• The Princeton Review: Sommelier

Resources

• The Sommelier Society of America
• International Sommelier Guild
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust