Altitude is a refined cocktail and wine bar influenced by the glamour of midcentury air travel. The prominent bar of the space is designed to resemble an airplane wing structure, and custom nooks create an atmosphere of sophisticated comfort. Altitude’s on-premises sommelier draws inspiration from Pan Am’s golden-era routes, offering aged vintages with an American-meets-European sensibility.
Summary of Position
The Sommelier is responsible for curating, managing, and elevating the wine program to ensure an exceptional guest experience and alignment with the restaurant’s overall vision. This includes thoughtful selection, procurement, inventory control, staff training, and guest engagement. The role requires deep knowledge of wine, food pairings, and industry trends, as well as strong leadership to foster a culture of hospitality, education, and excellence across the service team.
We’re looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about wine — someone who thrives when sharing their expertise with both guests and staff, takes pride in crafting memorable pairings, and is eager to build a program rooted in quality, storytelling, and hospitality. This is a hands-on leadership role for a motivated hospitality professional who excels in fast-paced, fine-dining or high-volume environments and is excited to make an impact as part of a growing hospitality group.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Maintain a full understanding of all company policies, procedures, standards, and training programs to ensure consistent execution across the team.
- Design, develop, and maintain a well-balanced, profitable, and dynamic wine list that reflects both the restaurant’s concept and evolving guest preferences.
- Deliver an exceptional guest experience by providing warm, approachable, and expert wine service, ensuring all guests feel welcome and engaged.
- Conduct daily staff education and ongoing training to ensure all front-of-house team members are knowledgeable and confident in wine service and pairings.
- Manage all aspects of wine procurement, including sourcing, ordering, vendor relations, and cost control.
- Oversee accurate inventory management, cellar organization, and reconciliation of wine stock.
- Collaborate with the culinary team to develop thoughtful food and wine pairings, seasonal features, and tasting menus.
- Achieve company goals in sales, service, and quality by training and motivating staff in a positive, productive environment.
- Ensure all beverages are stored, handled, and served according to proper safety and quality standards.
- Participate in service as an active floor presence, guiding guests in wine selections and assisting service staff as needed.
- Support team growth by providing regular feedback, mentorship, and coaching on both technical and hospitality skills.
- Monitor wine program financial performance and maintain accurate reporting for cost of goods sold, sales, and profitability.
- Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local alcohol service laws and regulations.
- Support brand growth through wine dinners, tasting events, marketing collaborations, and community engagement initiatives.
- Communicate regularly with the Director of Operations and Executive Chef to align program goals, promotions, and service standards.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in wine-focused roles, preferably in fine dining or hospitality management.
- Certification from a recognized wine education body (e.g., Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET, CMS, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- Customer-focused with a proactive, hospitality-driven mindset.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate technical wine knowledge into accessible, engaging storytelling.
- Strong organizational skills, with experience in inventory management and cost control.
- Proficient in basic math and comfortable operating POS and inventory systems.
- Physically able to stand for extended periods and perform tasks that involve reaching, bending, stooping, and lifting cases of wine as needed.
- Able to maintain focus, energy, and leadership presence while working long shifts in a fast-paced environment.
