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Sommelier
Personal ServicesYou're a professional wine expert, which means you've tasted thousands of wines, memorized grape regions across 30 countries, and can detect the difference between a $20 bottle and a $200 bottle — though studies suggest most people can't. You'll pair wines with food, manage wine lists, and politely guide customers away from terrible choices without insulting their taste.
Salary Range
Low
$40k
Median
$65k
High
$110k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
12K
Education
Court of Master Sommeliers certification (multiple levels of wine mastery and suffering)
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Wine tasting and blind evaluation (Court of Master Sommeliers levels)
- ▸Wine regions, grapes, and vintages knowledge
- ▸Food and wine pairing principles
- ▸Wine list curation and inventory management
- ▸Cellar management and proper storage
- ▸Beverage cost control and pricing
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Sensory acuity
- ▸Storytelling and guest engagement
- ▸Memory for details
- ▸Grace under pressure
- ▸Continuous learning dedication
What you'll actually do
- 01Taste wines and describe them with vocabulary like 'barnyard notes' and 'grippy tannins' — not making this up
- 02Curate and manage a wine list that balances quality, margin, and the owner's ego
- 03Pair wines with dishes and navigate the treacherous waters of customer preferences
- 04Educate restaurant staff on wines so they can upsell without sounding like they're reading a textbook
- 05Source wines from distributors and attend tastings that are business but feel like parties
- 06Politely redirect customers who order a $300 Burgundy and then ask for ice cubes
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