Sommelier | Michelin Guide Restaurant

Alila Hotels; California; On-site; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free room nights

Medical, Prescription, Dental and Viṣ

401K with company match

Paid Vacation, sick days, new child

Paid Family Bonding Time and Adoption

Tuition Reimbursement

Free colleague meals during shift

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Discounts at various retailers

Job summary

Alila Ventana Big Sur seeks an experienced sommelier to join its culinary and beverage team, delivering polished wine service in a Two MICHELIN Key luxury resort on California’s stunning coast.

The role focuses on wine pairings, guest education, cellar management, and close collaboration with culinary leadership to elevate dining experiences and maintain an exceptional wine list. Flexibility for evenings and peak periods is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in fine dining wine service.
• Level 2 sommelier certification or equivalent.
• Experience in luxury resort or Forbes/Michelin environment preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California & Central Coast wines.

Responsibilities

• Provide polished wine service across resort dining operations.
• Curate wine pairings and recommendations per menu and guest.
• Maintain knowledge of regions, vintages, producers.
• Manage wine cellar inventory and storage.
• Support wine education and staff training.
• Develop and refine wine list with leadership.
• Assist with wine purchasing and costing.

Skills

Wine service

Luxury hospitality

Food pairing

Wine knowledge

Customer education

Inventory management

Communication skills

Flexible schedule

Education

Level 2 Sommelier

CMS Sommelier

Tools

Inventory software

Job description

Summary

At Hyatt, we believe in the power of belonging- of making people feel at home no matter where they are in the world. We turn trips into journeys, encounters into experiences, and jobs into careers. Join a team that is making travel more human. Connected. Sustainable. Here, everyone's role matters. Opportunities are yours to shape. Your individuality is celebrated. At the heart of Hyatt is our shared belief that hospitality is more than just a job - it's a career for people who care.

Organization- Alila Ventana Big Sur

At Hyatt, we believe in the power of belonging- of making people feel at home no matter where they are in the world. We turn trips into journeys, encounters into experiences, and jobs into careers. Join a team that is making travel more human. Connected. Sustainable. Here, everyone's role matters. Opportunities are yours to shape. Your individuality is celebrated. At the heart of Hyatt is our shared belief that hospitality is more than just a job - it's a career for people who care.

Alila Ventana Big Sur is seeking an experienced, passionate, and highly knowledgeable Sommelier to join the culinary and beverage team at one of California’s most distinctive luxury resorts. Set along the dramatic Big Sur coastline, Alila Ventana Big Sur is a Two MICHELIN Key luxury resort with 54 rooms and an immersive, highly personalized guest experience centered on nature, wellness, exceptional dining, and thoughtful hospitality. The resort’s dining program celebrates the bounty of California’s Central Coast, with The Sur House offering Mediterranean-inspired cuisine rooted in seasonal, California-sourced ingredients. Its wine program features an extensive collection of small-production Central Coast wines thoughtfully curated with local vintner partners. The Sommelier will play a key role in elevating the dining experience through exceptional wine knowledge, thoughtful pairings, guest education, cellar organization, and personalized service. This position is ideal for a hospitality professional with demonstrated experience in fine dining, luxury resorts, and sophisticated wine programs, and who holds at least a Level 2 sommelier certification or equivalent demonstrated expertise.

Awards & Recognition

• 2026 MICHELIN Guide – Two Key Resort
• 2026 Forbes – Four-Star Resort
• 2026 Travel + Leisure – World’s Best Award, T+L 500
• 2026 Food & Wine Global Tastemakers Award – Best Culinary Hotels
• 2026 Smart Meetings – Smart Star Award, Best Boutique Hotel
• 2026 The Zoe Report – Best Green Hotel
• 2026 Sunset Magazine – Best Outdoor Escape

Key Responsibilities

• Provide polished, knowledgeable, and personalized wine service throughout the resort’s dining operations.
• Support The Sur House and other assigned dining experiences with a strong focus on fine dining and elevated guest engagement.
• Curate thoughtful wine recommendations and pairings based on menu selections, guest preferences, occasion, and budget.
• Maintain extensive knowledge of California and Central Coast wines, as well as domestic and international wine regions, varietals, vintages, appellations, and producers.
• Guide guests through wine selections with confidence, warmth, and appropriate storytelling without overwhelming the experience.
• Conduct professional wine presentations, including bottle presentation, opening, decanting, and service according to fine dining standards.
• Collaborate closely with culinary leadership to develop and refine wine pairings for seasonal menus, tasting experiences, special dinners, and private dining.
• Support the development and maintenance of the resort’s wine list in partnership with the beverage and culinary leadership teams.
• Maintain accurate knowledge of menu ingredients, preparation methods, flavor profiles, allergens, and dietary considerations to support effective pairings.
• Maintain and organize wine cellar inventory, ensuring proper storage conditions, rotation, organization, labeling, and product integrity.
• Assist with wine purchasing, receiving, inventory, costing, and cellar management.
• Monitor wine inventory levels, identify depletion risks, and communicate ordering needs to leadership.
• Support wine education and ongoing training for servers, bartenders, and other Food & Beverage colleagues.
• Conduct or assist with wine trainings, tastings, pre-shift education, and product knowledge sessions.
• Help colleagues develop confidence in wine recommendations, proper service techniques, and guest engagement.
• Stay current on wine trends, producers, vintages, regions, and developments within the beverage industry.
• Build relationships with distributors, wineries, producers, and local vintners as appropriate.
• Support special events, wine dinners, private dining, VIP experiences, and resort programming.
• Assist with maintaining beverage service standards consistent with luxury hospitality and Forbes-level expectations.
• Monitor guest feedback and proactively identify opportunities to enhance the wine and dining experience.
• Assist with service recovery when wine or beverage-related guest concerns arise.
• Follow all resort policies, responsible alcohol service regulations, food safety standards, and sanitation requirements.
• Perform other beverage and culinary service duties as assigned.

This is an hourly position with a compensation ranging from $24-$26 per hour. This position will be eligible for sales incentives.

We Offer Excellent Benefits

• Free room nights, Discounted and Friends & Family Room Rates
• Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401K with company match
• Paid Vacation, sick days, new child leave, and personal day
• Paid Family Bonding Time and Adoption Assistance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Free colleague meals during shift
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Discounts at various retailers- Apple, AT&T, Verizon, Headspace and many more

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of professional wine service experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality, a high-end restaurant, or comparable environment preferred.
• Level 2 sommelier certification or equivalent demonstrated wine knowledge and professional experience required.
• Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier, WSET Level 3, or comparable certification strongly preferred.
• Previous experience in a luxury resort, Forbes-rated property, Michelin-recognised restaurant, or destination dining environment strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of California and Central Coast wines, including local producers and regional appellations.
• Demonstrated expertise in wine and food pairing, wine service, cellar management, and guest education.
• Experience working with a sophisticated wine list and inventory management system preferred.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to deliver highly personalized service to discerning luxury guests.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Knowledge of beer, spirits, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverage programs preferred.
• Responsible Beverage Service certification required or ability to obtain as applicable.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak resort periods.

Preferred Attributes

• Passion for wine, fine dining, hospitality, and California’s Central Coast.
• Strong appreciation for locally sourced, seasonal cuisine and wines that reflect a sense of place.
• Confident but approachable communication style.
• Ability to educate guests and colleagues in an engaging, accessible manner.
• Strong palate and ability to articulate aromas, flavors, structure, and pairing rationale.
• Luxury service mindset with strong attention to discretion and personalization.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented approach to cellar and inventory management.
• Desire to contribute creatively to the continued development of an exceptional resort beverage program.
• Ability to work collaboratively while taking ownership of wine-related responsibilities.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.