Head Sommelier opportunity to lead an exceptional cellar with rare allocations alongside acclaimed hatted chefs, all on a four-day work week.
The best hospitality experiences stay with you long after you’ve left. They’re the places you find yourself talking about weeks later. The places you recommend without being asked. Where every detail feels effortless, every interaction is genuine, and every moment leaves you wishing you’d stayed just a little longer.
That’s exactly what this team has set out to create.
Behind the scenes, respected hospitality leaders, acclaimed culinary talent, and professionals whose careers have been shaped in some of Australia’s most celebrated hatted restaurants and internationally renowned dining rooms have come together with one shared ambition: to create a destination guests will never forget and a workplace hospitality professionals will be proud to call home.
About the Venue
Set within one of New South Wales’ most picturesque pockets, this intimate luxury retreat has been thoughtfully designed to feel completely removed from the pace of everyday life. Surrounded by nature and inspired by the character of its surroundings, it’s a place where guests can slow down, reconnect and immerse themselves in exceptional food, wine and genuine hospitality. Every part of the experience has been created with purpose, from the beautifully appointed private villas through to the intimate dining spaces, creating a destination guests return to for the experience, not simply the occasion.
At the heart of the destination sits an intimate 40-seat restaurant with genuine two hat ambitions.
Led by a team whose experience spans some of Australia’s finest dining rooms, the restaurant has been built around a simple philosophy. Respect extraordinary produce. Champion genuine hospitality. Create experiences worth travelling for.
The wine programme has been given that very same level of care.
With a cellar already approaching $300,000 and significant investment continuing as the collection evolves, this is an opportunity to help shape one of Australia’s most exciting emerging wine destinations from the very beginning.
The Opportunity
If you’ve reached a point in your career where you’re looking for more than simply another role, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
This isn’t about maintaining an established wine list. It’s about helping create one.
Working collaboratively alongside an accomplished leadership team and celebrated culinary professionals, you’ll play a defining role in developing a beverage programme that reflects the same philosophy as the kitchen. Thoughtful. Seasonal. Curious. Built around provenance rather than trends.
The vision is to create a cellar that balances benchmark Old World and New World producers with exciting boutique wineries and emerging Australian winemakers. Alongside exceptional wines, you’ll help develop premium non alcoholic pairings and a beverage experience that feels every bit as considered as the menu itself.
You’ll have genuine influence over the direction of the programme, the freedom to build meaningful supplier relationships, secure rare allocations and create an experience guests simply won’t find anywhere else.
Who We’re Looking For
You’re probably already working in one of Australia’s leading hatted restaurants, an internationally recognised dining room or a luxury hospitality environment where excellence is simply expected. You understand that great wine service has very little to do with reciting tasting notes.
- It’s about reading the table.
- Understanding the occasion.
- Knowing when to introduce a guest to something they’ve never experienced before and when to quietly open a bottle they’ve been saving for years.
- You’re endlessly curious.
- You care about provenance.
- You love discovering remarkable producers.
- You believe hospitality is as much about generosity as it is about knowledge.
Whether you’ve progressed through the WSET pathway, the Court of Master Sommeliers programme, or built your expertise through years of exceptional service, what matters most is your passion for the craft and your desire to keep learning. Most importantly, you’re excited by the opportunity to help build a truly exceptional venue from day one.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead the development and ongoing evolution of an exceptional wine programme from opening day
- Continue building a cellar already approaching $300,000, sourcing benchmark producers, exciting discoveries and exclusive allocations
- Create thoughtful wine pairings and premium beverage experiences that elevate every menu
- Work closely with the culinary leadership team to deliver a seamless relationship between food and wine
- Mentor and inspire the front of house team, building confidence, knowledge and exceptional service standards
- Develop meaningful relationships with suppliers and producers who share the venue’s philosophy
- Deliver warm, intuitive and polished service that creates unforgettable guest experiences
What’s In It For You
- Up to $130,000 + Super
- Four-day work week
- Sponsorship available for the right candidate
- The opportunity to work alongside some of Australia’s most respected hospitality professionals
- The chance to shape one of the country’s most exciting emerging wine programmes from its very first service
- A leadership team that values ideas, collaboration and craftsmanship
- A project that has been built with patience, purpose and an uncompromising commitment to creating something genuinely special
Want to stay in the loop with the latest job opportunities, industry insights, and up-to-date pay rates? Align yourself with one of Australia’s top hospitality recruitment agencies to keep your career moving forward. Head to placedrecruitment.com.au or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Don’t miss out on your next big opportunity!