Social ServiceISCO 5131

Wine sommelier

Wine sommeliers have general knowledge about wine, its production, service and wind with food pairing. They make use of this knowledge for the management of specialised wine cellars, publish wine lists and books or work in restaurants.

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Check yourself in a minute: wine sommelier

Rate 5 of the 15 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

taste wines

apply HACCP

analyse trends in the food and beverage industries

ensure adequate conditions in wine cellars

decant wines

About wine sommelier

As a wine sommelier, you will become an expert in all aspects of wine—from production and fermentation to tasting and food pairing—serving as a trusted advisor in restaurants, hotels, wine shops, or as an independent consultant. Your deep knowledge of wine varieties, regions, and aging processes allows you to curate exceptional wine lists, recommend pairings that elevate the dining experience, and host engaging wine-tasting events. You will manage specialized wine cellars, ensuring proper storage conditions to preserve the integrity of each bottle, while staying abreast of emerging trends and new producers. Your role combines technical knowledge with interpersonal skills, as you educate guests, handle premium products with care, and maintain compliance with food and beverage safety standards. Poland's wine market is growing steadily, and sommeliers who combine regional expertise with international wine knowledge are increasingly valued in the hospitality and retail sectors.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a wine sommelier.

Wine knowledge and education

Develop comprehensive knowledge of types of wine and their characteristics
Apply extensive study of wine types, regions, and production methods
Stay abreast of wine trends and emerging producers in global markets
Educate guests and staff about wine selection, tasting notes, and production methods
Maintain updated professional knowledge through tastings and continuing education

Wine list creation and management

Create and publish comprehensive wine lists tailored to restaurant or venue theme
Analyze trends in the food and beverage industries to inform selections
Source wines from diverse regions and price points to serve varied clientele
Negotiate with suppliers and manage wine inventory and procurement

Food and wine pairing

Master the art of matching food with wine to enhance the dining experience
Provide wine recommendations based on guest preferences and menu selections
Understand flavor profiles and how they complement various cuisines
Advise on wine selections for special occasions and wine pairing menus

Wine tasting and sensory evaluation

Taste wines professionally to evaluate quality, character, and aging potential
Host wine-tasting events for customers, staff, and industry professionals
Decant wines appropriately to enhance aeration and presentation
Develop tasting notes and lead guided tastings for educational purposes

Wine cellar management and storage

Ensure adequate conditions in wine cellars (temperature, humidity, light)
Store wine properly to preserve quality and prevent deterioration
Manage wine inventory and track stock levels and rotation
Implement security measures to protect valuable wine collections

Compliance and safety standards

Apply HACCP and GMP principles to wine service and handling
Apply requirements concerning manufacturing and serving of food and beverages
Maintain hygiene and sanitation standards in wine service areas
Understand and ensure compliance with alcohol service regulations

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

fermentation processes of beveragesfermentation processes of beveragesFermentation processes related to the conversion of sugar to alcohol, gases and acids.taste winestaste winesTaste wines to have a sensory examination and evaluation of wine, and to check wine appearance and evaluate characteristics such as the in glass aroma, the in mouth sensations and the aftertaste.apply HACCPapply HACCPApply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).analyse trends in the food and beverage industriesanalyse trends in the food and beverage industriesInvestigate trends in foodstuffs related to consumers preferences. Examine key markets based on both product type and geography as well as technological improvements in the industry.ensure adequate conditions in wine cellarsensure adequate conditions in wine cellarsCare for important factors in wine cellars such as temperature and humidity that must be maintained by a climate control system. Protect wine cellars from temperature swings by deciding on underground...decant winesdecant winesIdentify when wine should be decanted. Decant the bottles in presence of guests in a professional and safe way. Decanting especially benefits red wines. Pour wine from one container into another, typi...maintain updated professional knowledgemaintain updated professional knowledgeRegularly attend educational workshops, read professional publications, actively participate in professional societies.apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beveragesapply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beveragesApply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.apply GMPapply GMPApply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).store winestore wineKeep in reserve various types of wine according to standards, regulating temperature, heating and air conditioning of storage facilities.host wine-tasting eventshost wine-tasting eventsHosting and attending wine-tasting events in order to share information relating the last trends in the industry, for network purposes and self updating.stay abreast of wine trendsstay abreast of wine trendsStay abreast of the latest trends in wine and possibly other spirits such as biological wines and sustainable cultures.match food with winematch food with wineGive advice on the matching of food with wine, the different types of wines, the production processes, about the character of the wine, harvest, type of grape and other related advice.types of winetypes of wineThe large variety of wines, including the different types, regions and special characteristics of each. The process behind the wine such as grape varietals, fermentation procedures and the types of cr...apply extensive study of wine typesapply extensive study of wine typesStudy wine types from around the world and advise companies and people in the industry. Analyse the types of wine being sold in different countries.

Optional (12) — show

chemical constitution of grapeschemical constitution of grapesThe chemical components of grapes such as water, carbohydrates, acids, alcohols, phenolics, nitrogenous compounds, inorganic substances; the chemical interactions of these elements and how it can give...wine fermentation processwine fermentation processProcess of fermentation of wine, which involves the different steps to be followed, the time lapses in the process and the parameters of the product.variety of grapesvariety of grapesVarieties of grapes and the types of wine that can be produced with them. Specifications during fermentation and the treatment of the juice during the process.maintain relationship with customersmaintain relationship with customersBuild a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and servic...perform sensory evaluation of food productsperform sensory evaluation of food productsEvaluate the quality of a given type of food or beverage based on its appearance, smell, taste, aroma, and others. Suggest possible improvements and comparisons with other products.perform public relationsperform public relationsPerform public relations (PR) by managing the spread of information between an individual or an organisation and the public.maintain food specificationsmaintain food specificationsPreserve, review, and evaluate existing food specifications such as recipes.write work-related reportswrite work-related reportsCompose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligib...liaise with colleaguesliaise with colleaguesLiaise with fellow colleagues to ensure common understanding on work related affairs and agree on the necessary compromises the parties might need to face. Negotiate compromises between parties as to ...have computer literacyhave computer literacyUtilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.liaise with managersliaise with managersLiaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.act reliablyact reliablyProceed in a way that one can be relied on or depended on.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a wine sommelier do?

What skills does a wine sommelier need?

A wine sommelier needs 15 essential skills, including fermentation processes of beverages, taste wines, apply HACCP, analyse trends in the food and beverage industries, ensure adequate conditions in wine cellars.

Will AI replace wine sommelier jobs?

The AI disruption score for wine sommelier is 32/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: write work-related reports, apply GMP, types of wine. Most resilient: taste wines, act reliably, store wine.

AI Replacement Risk

32/ 100

Low Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

Skills resilient to automation

taste wines act reliably store wine

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Quick Facts

SectorSocial Service

ISCO GroupPersonal service workers

Essential Skills15

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