Sommelier | Michelin Guide Restaurant

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

Benefits offered by this job

Free room nights

Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vis

401K with company match

Paid Vacation, sick days, and personal

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Alila Ventana Big Sur, a Hyatt luxury resort in California, is seeking an experienced Sommelier to lead wine service and education within our fine dining programs.

The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of Central Coast wines, exceptional guest engagement, and a track record of creating memorable wine pairings in luxury settings. This role requires flexibility for evenings, weekends, and peak season operations at a Two MICHELIN Key resort.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of professional wine service in fine dining or luxury hospitality.
• Level 2 sommelier certification or equivalent demonstrated wine knowledge is required.
• Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier or WSET Level 3 strongly preferred.
• Experience with luxury resort dining and sophisticated wine programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide polished wine service across the resort's dining operations.
• Support The Sur House and other dining experiences with fine dining focus.
• Curate wine recommendations and pairings based on menus and guest preferences.
• Maintain knowledge of California and Central Coast wines and regions.
• Lead guests through wine selections with warmth and storytelling.
• Conduct wine presentations, bottle openings, decanting, and service per standards.
• Collaborate with culinary leadership to refine pairings for menus and events.
• Help develop and maintain the resort's wine list with beverage leadership.
• Maintain knowledge of menu ingredients, flavors, and dietary considerations.
• Organize and manage wine cellar inventory and storage conditions.
• Assist with wine purchasing, receiving, inventory, and costing.
• Monitor inventory levels and communicate ordering needs.
• Support wine education and training for servers and staff.
• Provide wine trainings, tastings, and pre-shift education sessions.
• Help colleagues with confident wine recommendations and service.
• Stay updated on wine trends, producers, and regions.
• Build relationships with distributors and local vintners as needed.
• Support wine dinners, private dining, and resort programming.
• Maintain beverage standards aligned with luxury hospitality and Forbes expectations.
• Address guest feedback and identify opportunities to enhance wine service.
• Assist with service recovery for wine-related concerns.
• Follow all policies, responsible service regulations, and food safety rules.
• Perform other beverage and culinary service duties as assigned.

Skills

Wine service

Wine pairing

Guest education

Cellar management

Stock control

Communication skills

Luxury hospitality

Education

Level 2 sommelier certification

Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier

WSET Level 3 or higher

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.

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

The resort's beverage program emphasizes an extensive collection of small-production Central Coast wines, regional spirits, local brews, and pairings designed to complement the cuisine and sense of place.

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-recognized 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.