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

Mandalou is a sommelier, so the wine list is carefully curated, and surprisingly approachable. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Speaking of wine, the property’s entire portfolio is managed by Virginia Phillips, a master sommelier who heads the 55,000-bottle cellar and has even partnered with a vineyard in France to custom-blend four wines for The Breakers. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026

The in-house sommelier has curated a selection of more than 1,450 wines to choose from, and the team even has special wine tastings and dinners in the cellar—but be sure to book early. —Carlianne Brennan, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2026

The Ranch at Rock Creek Philipsburg, Montana Set on 6,000 acres in Montana, The Ranch at Rock Creek offers unexpected amenities like a 2,000-square-foot spa and ranch sommelier to go along with the usual dude ranch activities like horseback riding, fly-fishing, hiking, biking, and archery. —Julie Bielenberg, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026

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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