While a dining establishment is not required to employ a sommelier, establishments such as country clubs understand the value of having a sommelier on their team. With expertise in wine-tasting and pairing, wine theory and wine service, a sommelier is a beneficial addition to any country club.
Anyone who works directly with wine in a restaurant setting can label themselves a sommelier without any certification; however, a certified sommelier is far more desirable than someone claiming to know about wine. Experience, self-teaching and a good palate alone could very well get you started and land you a position in a mid-range establishment. However, to be able to join a more prestigious setting, such as a country club, and gain recognition, a certification can be of great help.
A sommelier is a highly trained and knowledgeable wine professional with the core of the profession being to help guests choose wine, then present and serve it. Having a formal education or certification is not required to earn the title of sommelier. However, to take this route takes a long time, is far from guaranteed and will not give someone an edge against other sommelier candidates in the private club industry. A certified sommelier requires some level of formal education, training and experience. There are many institutions that offer certificates in wine education; however, there are only a handful of highly recognized programs to prove someone’s in-depth knowledge of wine. Organizations such as the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Court of Master Sommeliers, Institute of Masters of Wine, Wine Scholar Guild, Society of Wine Educators and International Sommelier Guild are all top choices.
Sommeliers are dedicated to providing a very high level of service and strive to surpass expectations. As a sommelier, you are part of the service team, no matter how high up you get. One of the most valuable ways to train as a sommelier is to begin working as a server to understand how service works along with finding a mentor. A sommelier must gain expansive knowledge of types of grape, wine regions and geography, and wine history. Sommeliers must also demonstrate expert knowledge of the way wine interacts with all of our senses. A sommelier works hard to obtain sound knowledge on both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food and wine pairings, as well as keeping up with the latest wine trends. Sommeliers are specialists in certain techniques, such as how to pour drinks and serve guests along with possessing good manners when handling and tasting wine.
While a sommelier has many responsibilities, there are also many important characteristics that contribute to a sommelier’s success in the club industry. A sommelier must have strong communication and social skills in order to work with winemakers, chefs, servers and members. They must be good at adapting to different environments, have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and be quick on their feet. Sommeliers must also have impeccable attention to detail and patience, especially when dealing with member requests.
In a private club, a sommelier will be serving the same patrons night after night who have very specific needs and expectations. A club’s sommelier needs to be committed to elevating the wine program by staying educated along with mentoring employees. The more a club’s sommelier knows, the more they can interact with members and heighten their culinary experience.