Career as a Sommelier in India: Salary, Courses and How to Begin

Updated 30 Oct 2026

At a glance

A sommelier is a trained wine and beverage professional who selects, stores, serves and recommends wines in restaurants, hotels and wine shops, usually in luxury dining.

A sommelier is a trained wine and beverage professional who chooses, stores, serves and recommends wines in restaurants, hotels and wine shops. In luxury dining, the sommelier works with the chef and front-of-house team to match drinks with food and guide guests through the wine list.

In India, most sommeliers build their careers through a hospitality degree or diploma, followed by recognised wine courses and hands-on experience in fine-dining restaurants or hotels. The work suits people who enjoy tasting, learning about grape varieties and wine regions, and talking with guests.

The career has hard parts too: long shifts, evening and weekend work, regular tasting and study, and the need to keep up with changing wine markets. This page sets out the route, courses and skills so you can judge whether the career fits you.

Minimum Qualification: Class 12, plus hospitality or wine training
Typical Degree: BHM, F&B diploma or WSET wine course
Expected Entry Salary: Team to verify before publishing
Entry-level to Senior: Team to verify before publishing
Job Demand Growth: Team to verify before publishing
Work Hours: Long shifts, often evenings and weekends
Places of Work: Luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, wine shops

What Does a Sommelier Do?

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Taste and assess wines for quality, style, balance and suitability for the menu.
Build and update the wine list, choosing bottles and glass pours that suit the restaurant's food and price range.
Recommend food and wine pairings and guide guests, including those with little wine knowledge, without pushing expensive bottles.
Serve and decant wine with correct technique, temperature and glassware.
Manage the cellar: stock rotation, storage conditions, inventory counts and breakage records.
Train service staff on wines, pairings and product knowledge before shifts and tastings.
Work with suppliers and importers on purchasing, pricing and new listings, and follow state rules on alcohol licensing and service.

Where They Work

Sommeliers in India mostly work in luxury and five-star hotels, fine-dining restaurants and rooftop or wine-led bars in large cities and resort destinations. Large hotel groups often have a beverage or sommelier team that covers several outlets.

Other workplaces include specialist wine shops, wine clubs, wine importers and distributors, and private dining or event companies. Some sommeliers move into wine education, consulting or beverage buying, where tasting and customer skills carry over.

How to Become a Sommelier in India?

After Class 12

Choose any stream, but focus on English, communication and, if possible, a hospitality or food-related course. Get comfortable with guests and basic service before you join a degree.

Undergraduate

A Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) or another hospitality degree from a recognised institute teaches food and beverage service, costing and hotel operations. Check whether the course includes wine and beverage modules.

Certification & Short-term Courses

Wine courses such as the WSET Award in Wines or the Court of Master Sommeliers introductory programme build tasting skills and theory. Start at the entry level and move up as you gain experience.

First Job

Begin as a service staff member or commis in a restaurant, bar or hotel food and beverage team. Learn cellar handling, decanting, service etiquette and how to talk to guests about wine.

Postgraduate and Specialisation

Optional. Advanced WSET or Court of Master Sommeliers levels, or a postgraduate diploma in beverage management, can help you move into senior sommelier or beverage manager roles.

Food Science & Alternative Proteins

Sensory Scientist

Food Science & Alternative Proteins

Eligibility and Subjects Required

Stream and Subject Requirements

Class 12 in any stream is generally accepted for hospitality degrees and diplomas; check each college's own rules.
No subject is compulsory for the sommelier path, but strong English and communication skills matter a great deal.
A good sense of taste and smell helps with tasting work. Discuss any concerns about taste, smell or allergies with a doctor before committing.
Rules on the minimum age for serving alcohol are set by each state. Check the rules where you plan to work.

Minimum Qualification

Most hotels and restaurants expect at least Class 12 plus a hospitality diploma or degree.
A recognised wine certificate such as WSET is a strong addition, though it is not always mandatory for entry-level roles.
Senior sommelier and beverage manager roles usually need several years of front-of-house food and beverage experience.

Courses and Degrees for Sommelier

Undergraduate Degrees	Postgraduate Degrees	Diplomas	Certifications & Short-term Courses
Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) (typically 4 years) Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management (duration to be confirmed)	Postgraduate diploma in hospitality or beverage management (duration to be confirmed)	Diploma in Food and Beverage Service (duration to be confirmed) Diploma in Hotel Operations (duration to be confirmed)	WSET Level 1 Award in Wines (duration to be confirmed) WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (duration to be confirmed) WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (duration to be confirmed) Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Sommelier course (duration to be confirmed)

Undergraduate Degrees
- Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) (typically 4 years)
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management (duration to be confirmed)
Postgraduate Degrees
- Postgraduate diploma in hospitality or beverage management (duration to be confirmed)
Diplomas
- Diploma in Food and Beverage Service (duration to be confirmed)
- Diploma in Hotel Operations (duration to be confirmed)
Certifications & Short-term Courses
- WSET Level 1 Award in Wines (duration to be confirmed)
- WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (duration to be confirmed)
- WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (duration to be confirmed)
- Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Sommelier course (duration to be confirmed)

Skills Required to Become a Sommelier

Technical Skills

Wine tasting and sensory evaluation
Knowledge of grape varieties, wine regions and styles
Food and wine pairing
Wine service, decanting and glassware
Cellar storage and stock management
Beverage costing and wine list pricing
Point-of-sale and inventory software

Soft Skills

Clear communication with guests
Customer service and patience
Attention to detail and a good memory
Responsible upselling
Teamwork with kitchen and service staff
Time management during busy services

Head sommelier, beverage manager, wine director
Setting wine strategy for several outlets, buying, budgeting and representing the brand

Career Opportunities and Job Roles

Commis Sommelier

Entry-level role assisting the sommelier with service, cellar work and wine preparation.

Sommelier

Manages the wine programme for a restaurant or hotel outlet and advises guests.

Head Sommelier

Leads a sommelier team and sets the wine direction for a larger property.

Beverage Manager

Oversees all drinks, including wine, spirits and non-alcoholic menus, with costing and staff training.

Wine Buyer

Selects, sources and negotiates purchases from importers and wineries for shops or hotel groups.

Wine Educator or Trainer

Teaches wine courses, staff training sessions and tasting events.

Wine Club or Retail Manager

Runs a wine shop or membership club, managing customers, events and stock.

Beverage Consultant

Advises restaurants, hotels or new venues on wine lists, pairings and beverage operations.

Scope and Future of Sommelier in India

Demand for sommeliers is closely tied to the luxury hotel and fine-dining sector, which grows and slows with tourism, business travel and the restaurant trade. Wine bars, specialist wine shops and wine clubs have also created roles that value tasting skill and customer education.

Growth is likely to favour sommeliers who combine wine knowledge with strong service, cost control and staff training. Editors should add verified, current data on demand, growth sectors and government or industry initiatives before publishing this section.

Experienced sommeliers can also work abroad, in Europe, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and North America. Internationally recognised certificates such as WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers help carry credentials across borders, though local licensing rules and language skills matter in each country.

Is Sommelier
the Right Career for You?

Sommelier can be an exciting career, but the right choice depends on more than academic eligibility.

Interests

What excites you?

Aptitude

What are you good at?

Personality

How do you work?

Work Preferences

What kind of environment suits you?

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