In the world of wine, few are more respected than a sommelier. Their understanding of wine makes them an incredible resource, and often a necessary asset to help develop the best wine and food-focused experience possible. Not to be compared with your typical friend or relative that considers themselves an “armchair expert,” a sommelier is someone who has gone through extensive education, experience, and certification processes to build this unique hospitality skill set. 

A wine sommelier is a specially trained person who knows the ins and outs of wine and wine pairings. They typically work in places like restaurants to help guests choose the perfect wine to enjoy with their meal. Unlike someone who just loves wine, a sommelier has studied hard to learn about different kinds of wines, how they are made, and where they come from. 

Sommeliers understand grape varieties (types of grapes used to make wine), wine regions (areas where wine is produced), and the best ways to serve wine. They can explain why a certain wine tastes the way it does and how it pairs with certain foods. Their job is to make your dining experience better by finding a wine that you will love. 

They may also help create the wine list for a restaurant, train other staff members about wine, and make sure that all the wines are stored properly. By sharing their knowledge, sommeliers make wine more enjoyable and less confusing for everyone. 

HISTORY OF SOMMELIERS

The career of wine sommelier as we know it today didn’t come into existence until the late 19th – early 20th century. Most prominent in French restaurants at the time, the need for sommeliers coincided with a change in formatting for shipped wine which historically had been delivered in a barrel. With the invention of the glass wine bottle, restaurants were able to stock an increased variety of wines which made storage space less of an issue. This meant restaurants would need more educated staff capable of selling the increased variety of wines they could possess. 

From this need for trained and learned wine professional came the creation of different organizations founded to educate, train, and certify wine sommeliers across the world. Though these organizations may differ in the scope of what their programs educate on, all of their certifications help identify those who have advanced knowledge of wine and hospitality.

WHAT DOES A SOMMELIER DO?

Often sommeliers work in restaurants that focus on pairing their food with the best wines. Typically, it is the sommelier’s responsibility to develop the wine selection, create pairings based on the dishes offered, and to train the staff on best practices when serving wine. Along with these responsibilities, it is still a sommelier’s job to work directly with customers and be well-practiced hospitality professional. A great example of this in Paso Robles is Somm’s Kitchen, a unique dining experience located in our downtown. It is owned and operated by Ian Adamo, a local sommelier and chef, who creates his own dishes and pairs wines with them.

Outside of restaurants, it is also common for sommeliers to work directly for wineries. This can be to help in the sale of wines onsite, or to help with wholesale to distributors and restaurants looking for wines to feature.

HOW TO BECOME A SOMMELIER

As mentioned, there are many different accredited organizations that offer both Sommelier training and certification. For instance, the Court of Master Sommeliers has four sommelier levels of certification gained through passing examinations they administer. Each level of exam increasingly requires a greater amount of knowledge of wine, and for the more advanced sommelier levels also require an ability to taste and describe wines in detail. This includes understanding how an area’s geography and climate and how a specific vintage affected the tasting notes of any wine. The Court of Master Sommeliers also offers educational courses to prepare aspiring sommeliers and practiced sommeliers looking to increase their level of certification.

To take these courses and their corresponding exams is not only a serious investment of one’s effort but also a considerable financial investment. For the Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination, the lowest level available, the cost is $595. And as the level of certifications increase so do the costs, with later degrees costing more than $1,000 for training courses and the testing. This is most taxing for the master sommelier exam, which consists of 3 parts (Theory, Practical, and Tasting), and each individual portion requires a fee of $995. It’s because of these challenges that certified wine sommeliers are what many consider a relatively small workforce. In the case of Master Sommeliers (those who have received the highest level of certification), this is exceptionally true, with only 274 having earned this title worldwide.

WHAT IS A SOMMELIER’S SALARY?

Though the commitment and resources needed to become an Advanced or Master Sommelier are great, once achieved the reward can make it well worth the trouble.  It has been reported that Advanced Sommeliers can make more than $70,000 a year. This pay rate explodes once someone attains the title of Master Sommelier, making them part of an incredibly exclusive workforce that is sought after by world-class restaurants, wineries, resorts, casinos, and all other businesses hoping to provide a luxury wine experience. 

Many of us know friends that have a passion for wines, whether they be avid wine country travelers or individuals that possess an impressive collection that displays their love of wine. It is often those close to us that love wine who help to instill an appreciation for it in ourselves. But no matter how passionate your wine-loving friend is, their ability should never be confused with that of a true wine sommelier.

A sommelier uses their knowledge of wine to increase the experience of a customer. If you are looking at a restaurant’s wine selection, it’s the sommelier who has developed that list and has personally tried and determined which wines pair best with the myriad of dishes offered. However, it is also their job to not simply tell customers which wine they themselves may prefer, but to also take into account a customer’s preferences when helping them decide which wines are best for them. This helps develop an experience more uniquely tailored to the customer that will help leave a lasting impression.

When you visit a restaurant with a sommelier, they are there to help you choose the best wine for your meal. Here are some simple tips on how to talk with them: 

1. Share Your Preferences: Let the sommelier know what kinds of wines you like. Do you prefer red or white wine? Do you like sweet or dry wines? This helps them suggest something you might enjoy. 

1. Discuss Your Meal Choices: Tell them what you’re planning to eat. Sommeliers are experts at matching wines with food, so knowing your dish helps them find a good pairing. 

1. Mention Your Budget: It’s okay to tell the sommelier how much you’d like to spend. They can find wines in your price range, so you can enjoy your meal without worrying about the cost. 

1. Ask Questions: If you’re curious about a wine or don’t understand something, feel free to ask. Sommeliers are happy to explain and share their knowledge. 

1. Be Open to Suggestions: Sometimes, the sommelier might recommend a wine you’ve never tried before. Being open-minded can lead to discovering a new favorite! 

Remember, a sommelier’s job is to make your dining experience special. They use their knowledge to help you find a wine that you’ll love. By talking with them, you can learn more about wine and enjoy your meal even more.

Yes, there are other types of sommeliers besides wine sommeliers! While a wine sommelier is an expert in wine, the word “sommelier” can also refer to people who are specialists in other drinks and even food. 

For example, there are beer sommeliers who know a lot about different kinds of beer. They understand how beer is made and can help you choose a beer that you will enjoy with your meal. Similarly, a sake sommelier is an expert in sake, which is a Japanese drink made from rice. 

There are also water sommeliers who specialize in different types of water from around the world. They can tell you how the taste of water changes based on where it comes from and what minerals it has. Tea sommeliers are experts in tea and can guide you through various flavors and styles of tea from different countries. 

In some restaurants, you might even find a cheese sommelier or a cigar sommelier. These specialists help you pick the best cheese or cigar to enjoy after your meal. 

All these sommeliers have studied and trained to know a lot about their special area. They are there to help make your dining experience even better by sharing their knowledge and helping you discover new things to enjoy. 

The profession of wine sommelier is one rich with history, and today stands as one of the most exclusive lines of work internationally. It’s their responsibility to help those customers find the perfect wine for their particular needs, utilizing their knowledge and expertise. To be able to do this they need to not only learn about wine generally and build their experience in the hospitality industry, but also commit extensive amounts of time to study all facets of wine to achieve certifications that attest to their considerable skill.

If you have the chance to speak with a certified wine sommelier, be sure to utilize their knowledge as best you can. And know that your questions will be answered by someone who not only has the answers, but also appreciates the opportunity to share what they have learned with you.