Wine Waiter
On-siteCape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Job Summary
Provide personalized wine service to guests, including presenting the list, offering recommendations, describing wines, and assisting with food and wine pairing selections. Promote and sell wines using upselling techniques to enhance revenue while considering guest preferences. Maintain an up-to-date wine list and assist with inventory management, receiving shipments, rotating stock, and ensuring proper storage conditions. Build rapport with guests to address inquiries and special requests, while coordinating with dining, kitchen, and bar teams for seamless service. Organize special wine events such as tastings and pairing dinners. Adhere to strict hygiene and safety standards, including responsible alcohol service and sanitation protocols. Assist with inventory reporting and sales tracking as assigned. Multilingual skills are advantageous for engaging diverse cruise ship guests.
Required Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of wines, grape varieties, wine regions, vintages, and production methods
- Proficiency in English
- Meticulous attention to detail in wine service, including proper handling of glassware, decanting, and wine pouring techniques
- Knowledge and adherence to strict hygiene and safety standards, including responsible alcohol service and sanitation protocols
Desired Qualifications
- Certification from reputable wine education programs (such as WSET)
- Previous experience as a Wine Waiter, Sommelier, or similar role in fine dining establishments, upscale hotels, or cruise ships
- A genuine passion for providing exceptional customer service
- Excellent communication skills to engage guests, make recommendations, and address inquiries and concerns professionally
- Proven ability to promote and sell wines, utilize upselling techniques, and maximize revenue opportunities
- Additional language skills, especially those commonly spoken by cruise ship guests
- Ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, adjusting to the ship's schedule, different dining venues, and varied itineraries
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of staff members across various departments
- A positive and professional demeanor, with a genuine passion for wine, hospitality, and guest satisfaction
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.