sommelier

noun

som·​me·​lier ˌsə-məl-ˈyā 

plural sommeliers ˌsə-məl-ˈyā(z) 

: a waiter in a restaurant who has charge of wines and their service : a wine steward

Examples of sommelier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Rochelle Dowden-Lord’s debut, Lush, four wine experts—a wunderkind sommelier, a food writer, a social media influencer, and the owner of a popular, but mediocre wine brand—are invited to a French vineyard for the weekend. —Shannon Carlin, Time, 1 May 2025

Your staff includes a sommelier, several chefs, including a pasty chef, your own massage therapist and a house manager. —Sherrie Nachman, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

With the 2015 vintage barely in the rearview mirror, the majority of the 2018s are headed to wine lists and store shelves with little fanfare, but Veuve Clicquot’s bold move alerted international journalists and sommeliers to the presence of this stunning vintage. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2025

Behind the concept — set in the former Le Boulanger cafe on Santa Cruz Avenue — are acclaimed New York City sommeliers and Chicago chefs. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French soumelier official charged with transportation of supplies, from Old French, pack animal driver, probably alteration of *sommerier, from somier pack animal, from Medieval Latin saugmarius, from Late Latin sagma packsaddle — more at sumpter

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Video

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