Sommelier

Sopwell House; St Albans; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Spa discounts

Discounted accommodation

Health and wellbeing platform

Free parking

Referral rewards

Job summary

Sopwell House in Hertfordshire is seeking a passionate Sommelier to lead the wine experience across our two award-winning restaurants and hotel bar. You will curate wine lists, guide guests with thoughtful pairings, and own the cellar and stock management while training the team to deliver five-star service.

This full-time role offers a comprehensive benefits package, including staff meals, discounts on dining, spa and accommodation, plus development opportunities at a luxury family-owned

Qualifications

• Proven sommelier or senior wine experience in luxury hospitality.
• Excellent wine knowledge and palate.
• Confident communicator and mentor for service staff.

Responsibilities

• Curate and continually develop wine lists for both restaurants and hotel bar.
• Guide guests through thoughtful wine pairings and five-star service.
• Own the wine cellar, stock, sourcing, storage and inventory.
• Train and inspire restaurant and bar teams to raise wine knowledge and service standards.
• Host tastings, pairing dinners and masterclasses to tell the wine story.
• Support the hotel bar with beverage expertise and evolving drinks offering.
• Manage beverage costs and margins for department profitability.

Skills

Sommelier experience

Wine knowledge

Mentoring

Stock management

Education

WSET Level 3 or CMS

Job description

Full-time position, 40 hours
Up to £45,000 per annum, includes service charge

Your country home away from home, nestled
within 12 acres of picturesque Hertfordshire countryside. Sopwell House is a
luxurious, family-owned Georgian country house hotel offering timeless elegance
and modern comfort. We're proud to be a place where exceptional service is
delivered with warmth, pride and purpose.

At Sopwell House, we live by our Vision, Purpose and Values.

We are dedicated to creating a world of
'Perfect Contentment' for both our team members and guests alike, 'Spreading
kindness one act at a time' along the way. Our team pride themselves on
'Performing with Drive and Serving with Soul' in everything we do.

We are looking for a passionate and
knowledgeable Sommelier to lead the wine experience across our two
award-winning, full-service restaurants, while lending expert support to our
hotel bar. This is a rare opportunity for a talented wine professional to shape
the beverage journey of a five-star property, working with an exceptional
cellar, ambitious menus and a team who share a genuine love of hospitality.

Your role in our family:

• Curate
  and continually develop the wine lists for both restaurants and the hotel bar,
  tailored to each outlet's concept and cuisine.
• Guide
  guests through thoughtful, memorable wine and food pairings, delivering genuine
  five-star service.
• Take
  ownership of the wine cellar and beverage stock, from sourcing and supplier
  relationships to storage and inventory.
• Train
  and inspire the restaurant and bar teams, raising wine knowledge and service
  standards across the board.
• Host
  tastings, pairing dinners and masterclasses that bring our wine story to life
  for guests.
• Support
  the hotel bar with your expertise, helping shape its evolving drinks offering.
• Manage
  beverage costs and margins, playing a key role in the commercial success of the
  department.

What we're looking for:

• Proven
  sommelier or senior wine experience in a luxury hotel, fine-dining or premium
  hospitality setting.
• WSET
  Level 3 or above, or Court of Master Sommeliers qualification, preferred (or
  working towards).
• A
  genuine passion for wine, hospitality and guest experience, with an excellent
  palate.
• A
  confident communicator and natural mentor, comfortable leading and training a
  team.
• A
  meticulous, commercially minded approach to cellar and stock management.

The best bit:

• Learning and Development: Access our
  digital learning platform, and various courses to enhance your knowledge and
  skills
• Health & Wellbeing: Benefit from our
  interactive health and wellbeing platform and Employee Assistance Program.
• Health care cash plans: take advantage of
  our Health Care cash plan benefits, including 24-hours access to a GP.
• Discounted food and beverage,
  accommodation and spa for you and your family
• Discounts on Spa treatments and Spa days
  in our award-winning Cottonmill Spa
• Discount on Spa products
• Refer a Friend Scheme: earn up to £1,000
  referral fee when you recommend someone to work with us
• Preferred Hotel Group discounted global
  hotel rates
• Free staff meals and parking

Equal Opportunities

We're committed to creating an inclusive
workplace where everyone can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the
recruitment process, just let us know at [e-mail]

Right to Work

Applicants must have the legal right to
live and work in the UK. Proof of documentation will be required in line with
the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.