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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Many wine drinkers are familiar with the term master sommelier, a high-ranking and controversial title granted to sommeliers who pass a daunting examination. 
Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 June 2022 This ticket offers entry at 1 p.m. and unlimited sampling of chef creations from local restaurants, tastings of fine wines and craft beer, access to chef demonstrations and access to sommelier and mixology seminars. Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 12 May 2022 From noon to six, it will be staffed with a sommelier who will offer suggestions on how to find your next favorite bottle. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 Justice worked in the kitchens of chic mainstays like Contra and Wildair, and Lindsley worked as a sommelier at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar and Le Bernardin Privé. Mehr Singh, Bon Appétit, 18 July 2022 For almost 20 years, in an old downtown movie theater, Myron’s has held court as the fanciest restaurant in New Braunfels, with white tablecloths, dirty martinis, a wine list more than 150 labels deep and a sommelier to back it up. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 15 June 2022 Kevin Jackson, manager/sommelier, helps patrons pair exquisite wines with each course. Dwight Brown, Essence, 18 May 2022 In 2011, when McCoy was studying to become a master sommelier, a friend commented that his exceptional knowledge of French wine must be the result of regular travel to its country of origin. CNN, 26 Apr. 2022 Baker-Briggs left his career as a sommelier in restaurants to hunt wine for the most discerning of connoisseurs, such as Jalali, but also build up and manage cellars for collectors in need of advice. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2021 See More
Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 June 2022 This ticket offers entry at 1 p.m. and unlimited sampling of chef creations from local restaurants, tastings of fine wines and craft beer, access to chef demonstrations and access to sommelier and mixology seminars. Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 12 May 2022 From noon to six, it will be staffed with a sommelier who will offer suggestions on how to find your next favorite bottle. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 Justice worked in the kitchens of chic mainstays like Contra and Wildair, and Lindsley worked as a sommelier at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar and Le Bernardin Privé. Mehr Singh, Bon Appétit, 18 July 2022 For almost 20 years, in an old downtown movie theater, Myron’s has held court as the fanciest restaurant in New Braunfels, with white tablecloths, dirty martinis, a wine list more than 150 labels deep and a sommelier to back it up. Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 15 June 2022 Kevin Jackson, manager/sommelier, helps patrons pair exquisite wines with each course. Dwight Brown, Essence, 18 May 2022 In 2011, when McCoy was studying to become a master sommelier, a friend commented that his exceptional knowledge of French wine must be the result of regular travel to its country of origin. CNN, 26 Apr. 2022 Baker-Briggs left his career as a sommelier in restaurants to hunt wine for the most discerning of connoisseurs, such as Jalali, but also build up and manage cellars for collectors in need of advice. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2021 See More 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
sommeliers
noun
as in bartenders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bartenders
- barkeepers
- waiters
- barkeeps
- barmen
- garçons
- servers
- stewardesses
- stewards
- maître d's
- waitresses
- waitpersons
- maîtres d'hôtel
- headwaiters
- maitre d's
