Sommelier
Trained wine professional at upscale restaurants who builds the wine list and looks after wine service for guests.
Overview
A Sommelier is a trained wine professional, typically working at an upscale or fine dining restaurant. Sommeliers are responsible for every aspect of the wine service, starting with the creation of the restaurant wine list to looking after floor service to restaurant visitors.
Where they work
- Breweries
- Upscale restaurants
- Hospitality and tourism sector (such as cruises)
Work environment
You will be working in either a bar or wine shop or a restaurant or a business selling wine. You are likely to work long hours, including evenings and weekends, when restaurants are busiest. You may travel to wine-producing regions to meet with wine makers and learn about new wines. Entrepreneurship: you can choose to be a wine writer, wine critic or open up your own brewery.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You can comfortably talk with everyone
- You are a careful and organized person
- Expert knowledge of wine
- Highly developed sense of taste and smell
- Cultural sensitivity towards wine
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Pursue a Diploma in Wine Tasting.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's in Wine Technology, followed by a certificate course in Wine Tasting.
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete a Bachelor's in Wine Technology or any other related subject, then pursue specialisation courses or a Master's in Wine and Gastronomy/Sustainable Viticulture and Oenology from an international institute.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
Students can opt for BHM, B.Sc. HMCTT or diploma courses to become a professional Sommelier. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Institute of Hotel Management (located across different States/UTs of India)
- Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
- Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand
- Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana
- Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Indian Wine Academy, Delhi
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka
- Institute for Wine and Beverage Studies (IWBS), New Delhi
- Wine Academy of India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Tulleeho Wine Academy, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi
- Sona Holland Wine Academy, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Sake Sommelier Academy, Haryana
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Introductory Sommelier
- 2Certified Sommelier
- 3Advanced Sommelier
- 4Master Sommelier
Expected income
₹10,000 – ₹4,17,000 per month or more
These figures are indicative and subject to change. The printed range is very wide.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Bartender/Mixologist
Prepares and serves drinks and food, and mixes and garnishes cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
Food and Beverage Manager
Runs the food and drink operation of a hotel or restaurant — organising, directing and evaluating it.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Karishma Grover — A winemaker and sommelier with a Bachelor's degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. The source describes her as the first woman winemaker of India and, at the time of writing, brand manager for DAOU Family Estates, a winemaking company.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 743 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Sommelier/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The card prints the course fee 'per month' — see the fee note. Laws on alcohol, including the minimum legal drinking age, differ between States/UTs; check the rules that apply to you before enrolling in wine-tasting courses or seeking work in this field.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.