Wine Tasting Room Sommelier

SUMMARY:
As our Tasting Room Sommelier, you'll be the frontline ambassador of the winery.

POSITION INFO:

Job Advertisement: Tasting Room Sommelier – Boutique Winery, Paarl

Location: Paarl, Western Cape
Employment Type: Full-Time
Start Date: As soon as possible

A boutique wine estate in the heart of Paarl is seeking a passionate and professional Tasting Room Sommelier to elevate our guest experience and lead the training and development of our tasting room team. This is a key role in shaping the face of our brand to the public during an exciting period of growth and transformation.

About the Role

As our Tasting Room Sommelier, you’ll be the frontline ambassador of the winery. Your mission will be to deliver exceptional, educational, and memorable tasting experiences for our guests, while mentoring and training a small team of tasting room assistants to ensure consistency, knowledge, and top-tier service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Host engaging and informative wine tastings for local and international guests.
• Provide in-depth knowledge of our wines, vineyard practices, and winemaking philosophy.
• Train and upskill tasting room staff to ensure exceptional guest interactions and product knowledge.
• Assist in developing tasting room protocols, scripts, and service standards.
• Support the daily operations of the tasting room including opening/closing, POS, and stock control.
• Collaborate with the marketing and events teams to enhance guest offerings and experiences.
• Assist in upselling wines, wine club memberships, and experiences to drive revenue.

Requirements:

• Certified sommelier qualification or strong equivalent experience in wine service.
• At least 2–3 years of experience in a tasting room, wine bar, or fine dining environment.
• Passion for wine, hospitality, and delivering exceptional customer service.
• Excellent communication skills and a warm, engaging presence.
• Proven ability to lead, train, and inspire a small team.
• Flexibility to work weekends and public holidays, as the tasting room operates 7 days a week.
• Familiarity with point-of-sale systems and inventory processes is a plus.

Why Join Us?

This is your chance to be part of a growing, rebranding winery with strong ambitions to stand out in the local and global wine scene. You’ll have the opportunity to shape not only our guests’ experiences but also the future of our tasting room culture.