Wine Tips From Rising Stars Sommelier Thomas Pastuszak

Tips for the Sommelier:

Study and taste as much as possible. The more you do, the more comfortable and “yourself” you will be on the floor, when you’re in the spotlight and interacting with your guests.

Listen to your guests. Everyone has a different way of asking for what they want, and the most important thing you can do is learn to translate their words into terms you can work with to recommend the best possible wine for their palate.

Be humble. The more you taste, learn, and interact with others in the industry, the more you realize how much more there is to learn from others and the world of wine.

Work together and lead by example. While as sommeliers we help select and serve wine, we can never feel “above” doing anything the guests or our co-workers need. We have to be able to pitch in and work in any role on the floor of the restaurant at any moment.

Create a hospitality experience. Our guests are looking not just for great wine, but also for a great wine experience. Use your sense of hospitality to connect with your guests as a host and guide their overall dining experience to the highest level of excellence.