Senior Sommelier - Premium Italian Restaurant (Pre-Opening)

We are searching for an accomplished Senior Sommelier to lead the wine programme at a premium contemporary Italian restaurant at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town - one of the most visited and most competitive dining destinations in South Africa.

Our client is an international hospitality group with Australian roots, opening a wine-led restaurant where the list is central to the guest proposition rather than an afterthought. This is a rare chance to shape a programme from the ground up: a food-matched list drawing on Mediterranean and Italian influences alongside the very best of South African terroir.

Reporting to the General Manager and working closely with the Executive Chef, you will take full ownership of the wine list, the cellar and the guest wine experience - and carry real commercial responsibility for wine revenue and margin. We are looking for a wine professional whose expertise is matched by genuine warmth on the floor: approachable, persuasive and never intimidating.

Responsibilities

• Curate and continually evolve a wine list that complements the menu and reflects the restaurant's premium positioning.
• Build and maintain relationships with local and international wine suppliers, estates and importers.
• Manage the cellar, stock levels, rotation and storage conditions.
• Provide expert, approachable wine guidance and pairing recommendations to guests.
• Host wine tastings, pairing dinners and special events, and build relationships with regular guests and wine enthusiasts.
• Own wine revenue, cost of sales and margin targets.
• Analyse sales data to optimise the list, pricing and the by-the-glass programme.
• Train front-of-house staff on wine knowledge, service standards and upselling.
• Mentor junior sommeliers and service staff on wine service technique.

Requirements

• A minimum of 3-4 years' experience as a Sommelier within a busy, premium restaurant environment in South Africa.
• Proven experience as a Sommelier or Senior Sommelier in a premium restaurant setting, with genuine ownership of a wine list.
• Formal wine qualification preferred - WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of South African wines alongside Mediterranean and international selections.
• A strong palate, deep product knowledge and meticulous attention to detail.
• Commercial discipline: comfortable owning wine revenue, cost of sales and margin, and using sales data to make decisions.
• A warm, engaging and confident guest-facing manner.
• Fluent English.
• Must already hold the right to work in South Africa.

Benefits

• Salary: ZAR 20,000 - 30,000 gross per month, depending on experience.
• Monthly incentive based on a percentage of wine sales.
• 30 days annual leave.
• Duty meal provided on shift.
• Uniform provided.
• Further benefits to be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time position working 6 days per week, reporting to the General Manager. The client is looking to fill the role urgently, with a target start date of 16 September 2026 - candidates who are immediately available or on short notice will be prioritised. Candidates must hold the right to work in South Africa. The client is recruiting locally for this position and is not able to consider applications requiring relocation from outside South Africa.

Disclaimer

We appreciate your interest in this vacancy. Due to the high number of applications we receive, only candidates

selected to move to the next stage of the recruitment process can be contacted. Radiant does not charge any fee to

candidates.