Sommelier

Job Description

Job Description

Sommelier | Elizabeth’s | Washington, D.C.

Compensation: $50,000 annual base salary plus approximately $25,000 in annual tips. Estimated total compensation of $75,000; actual tips vary and are not guaranteed. Includes health insurance.

Schedule: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening service, with additional time for beverage purchasing, inventory, and occasional on-site private events. Approximaately 25-35 hours per week.

Elizabeth’s is seeking a knowledgeable, personable sommelier to shape our wine program and lead tableside wine service at our fine-dining restaurant in a historic downtown Washington townhouse.

This is an opportunity to create your own pairings and build a cellar that reflects your knowledge, taste, and curiosity. Our seasonal, plant-based tasting menu offers a distinctive foundation for exploring wine. You’ll have creative ownership of our standard and grand pairings, working alongside the chef while bringing your own perspective to each selection.

You’ll also select and purchase wines for the cellar, developing distributor relationships, discovering new producers, and choosing bottles you’re excited to share with our guests, within the restaurant’s purchasing budget.

Responsibilities

• Create seasonal wine pairings that complement and elevate the tasting menu.

• Lead attentive, engaging wine service during our three weekly dinner services, guiding guests through pairings and bottle selections.

• Curate and develop the cellar, balancing established producers, interesting discoveries, and older vintages.

• Oversee wine and liquor ordering, receiving, inventory, list updates, and pricing.

• Build relationships with distributors and arrange tastings to inform purchasing decisions.

• Share wine knowledge with the service team through tastings and pre-service briefings.

• Provide wine service for occasional private events, primarily hosted at the restaurant.

• Work closely with the dining room team to deliver seamless, thoughtful hospitality.

Qualifications

• Previous sommelier or substantial wine-service experience in a fine-dining setting.

• Strong knowledge of wine regions, producers, vintages, and food-and-wine pairing.

• Enthusiasm for creating original pairings and developing a distinctive wine selection.

• Confident tableside service and the ability to make wine approachable for guests with varying levels of knowledge.

• Strong organization, attention to detail, and comfort with inventory and purchasing.

• Availability for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening service.

• Sommelier certification or comparable wine education preferred.

We’re looking for someone who wants to make a wine program their own and takes equal pleasure in selecting a bottle and sharing its story at the table.

To apply, please submit your résumé and a brief introduction outlining your wine and service experience.