Definition

Noun: A restaurant or hotel employee whose specific duty is to manage and serve wine. This role typically involves extensive knowledge of wines, assisting customers with wine selection, and ensuring proper wine service.

Usage

• The wine waiter expertly recommended a Bordeaux to complement our steak.
• Please ask the wine waiter for the dessert wine list.
• His goal is to become a wine waiter at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Advanced Usage

• As a specialized role: The term emphasizes a specialization within waiting staff, distinct from general servers. It implies formal training or certification in oenology (the study of wine) and service etiquette.
  • The sommelier, or wine waiter, decanted the vintage red with great care.

Variants and Related Words

• Sommelier (noun): A more formal and professional term for a wine waiter, often implying a higher level of expertise and certification. While often used interchangeably, "sommelier" can denote a more senior or knowledgeable position.
  • The head sommelier oversees the entire wine program.

Synonyms

• Sommelier
• Wine steward

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to the job function of a waiter specializing in wine. It does not refer to a person who is simply waiting and also serves wine incidentally. The core meaning is the specialization and management of the wine service aspect.

Noun

1. a waiter who manages wine service in a hotel or restaurant