Hiring a Sommelier: 6 things you should know before making a decision
When it comes to hiring a sommelier, there are some things you should know before making a decision. Below we outline what to look for in a candidate and what questions you should ask them in order to determine their qualifications.
So if you're thinking of hiring a sommelier, read on!
1. How to find the right sommelier for your needs
When it comes to finding a suitable sommelier for your needs, Linkedin is the best option to find the right candidate. There are many career opportunities on this platform, which means there are many people who can help you find the fitting sommelier for your needs. Being very specific in the job description will be a great advantage in getting the attention of your vacancy position. You can also use the help of a specialized recruiter, who will direct you to the best candidates for your organization.
2. The benefits of hiring a sommelier for your restaurant or hotel organization
Hiring a sommelier can be a great way to add a unique dimension to your restaurant or hotel organization. A sommelier is someone who has a deep knowledge of wine and can help with wine pairings that can dramatically improve the quality of food and drink offerings. A sommelier can also act as a teacher and mentor to other staff members, educating them on the importance of wine in food and drink offerings. This can have a positive impact on wine service.
Hiring a sommelier can be one of the most beneficial decisions you make as an owner of a restaurant or hotel. Not only will having a sommelier on staff help you serve your guests in a more professional way, but having a sommelier on staff will also allow you to generate a great deal of positive publicity for your organization. By hiring a sommelier, you’re essentially engaging with your guests in a way that not only shows you care about their experience but also shows them that you care about the wine service and food pairings that will make their dining experience unforgettable.
Wine Service
Hiring a sommelier can truly have a profound impact on your organization.
3. What you should expect from your sommelier hire
A sommelier knows everything about a restaurant's wine list. Sommelier titles include junior, sommelier, and head sommelier. Sommeliers and head sommeliers can all report to the food and beverage director.
A restaurant's sommelier ensures that wine selections are paired with the food being served. The sommelier selects wines with the executive chef and restaurant owner or general manager. The sommelier works closely with the front-of-house staff members to ensure that people are happy with their wine selections. The sommelier's goal is to enhance the dining experience through wine selections.
4. How can you make sure that you're hiring the right sommelier for your needs?
A great sommelier isn't just someone who knows a lot about wine but also someone who has a sense of hospitality. The sommelier should have a sense of hospitality and be keen on learning about wine constantly by sharing it with team members and guests.
During the interview, you can test their passion and knowledge by asking them questions about wine. Of course, you can also test a candidate's personality during the hiring process. Still, it's best to make sure you're hiring a hospitality professional before bringing in a sommelier for an in-person interview.
This process will ensure that your new sommelier is a good fit for your operation.
5. Questions to ask a potential sommelier hire
So, you’ve found a sommelier candidate you like. Now it’s time to learn more about how they’ll work with your other team members. One of the best ways to do this is to ask them questions.
You can ask the candidate questions about their wine philosophy and how they will communicate with the other members of the management team. You can also ask some technical questions about wine at the junior sommelier level, such as their favorite regions and wine styles.
For the management of the position, candidates should also provide details about the sommelier’s training plans, wine list management, and financial responsibilities. Use this information to evaluate the candidate’s experience and leadership style that they will bring to your organization.
You can also ask open mind questions to see their response. For example, you can ask the candidate to describe the best wine to pair with a particular dish.
How do you determine when a wine is corked or has been kept in a too-warm cellar? Do you have preferences for specific wines, such as only serving organic wines or wines from a particular region?
6. The cost of hiring a sommelier
The cost of hiring a sommelier varies by company size, location, and surrounding area. If you want to hire a sommelier to help your business succeed, many great resources are available to you. Our favorite resource is the PayScale
Hiring a sommelier varies by organization, but it is well worth the investment. An exclusive restaurant can increase the cost of hiring a sommelier. The cost of hiring a sommelier varies depending on your restaurant.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading. We hope that this article has helped clear some things up and given you a good starting point to finding the perfect sommelier for your business. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any further questions or need help getting started on your search.
