Job Opportunity: Head Sommelier

Head Sommelier

Full-time | Fixed-term maternity leave position until May 2027

We’re looking for an experienced Head Sommelier to join the team at Brae for a fixed-term maternity leave position through to May 2027.

This is an opportunity to take responsibility for an established and wide-ranging beverage program at one of Australia’s leading regional restaurants, while bringing your own knowledge, curiosity and personality to the role.

Brae’s beverage program is built around place, people and character. There is a strong focus on Victorian growers and producers, alongside carefully cellared Australian and international wines, rare and cult releases, sake, spirits, beer, cocktails and an evolving non-alcoholic program using ingredients grown on Brae Farm.

As Head Sommelier, you’ll work closely with our Restaurant Manager and the wider Brae leadership team to oversee the beverage program across the restaurant and guest suites.

You’ll be responsible for the wine and beverage lists, purchasing and supplier relationships, cellar management, stock control and budgets, while leading beverage service and helping develop the knowledge and confidence of the wider team.

Just as importantly, you’ll be part of service. Brae is a small team, and our Head Sommelier is an active presence on the floor — welcoming guests, serving food and beverages, sharing knowledge when it adds to the experience, and contributing wherever needed to create thoughtful, intuitive hospitality.

The role

You’ll take responsibility for:

• Leading Brae’s wine and wider beverage program

• Maintaining and developing our wine and beverage lists

• Managing purchasing, allocations, cellar investment and supplier relationships

• Championing exceptional Victorian producers while maintaining Brae’s Australian, European, rare and cult collections

• Overseeing stock control, stocktakes, beverage costs and sales performance

• Delivering confident, knowledgeable and engaging beverage service

• Developing pairings and recommending beverages that genuinely enhance the guest experience

• Training and mentoring the FOH team across wine, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, tea and coffee

• Contributing to the continued development of Brae’s alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

• Maintaining the organisation and presentation of the cellar, beverage storage and wine list

• Representing Brae at tastings, industry events and relevant educational opportunities

• Participating fully in restaurant service and the day-to-day life of a small hospitality team

About You:

We’re looking for someone who combines strong beverage knowledge with warmth, organisation and good judgement.

You’ll ideally be:

• An experienced sommelier with at least three years’ professional sommelier experience

• Confident managing a substantial and diverse wine cellar

• Commercially aware, with experience in purchasing, stock control and beverage costing

• Knowledgeable about Australian wine, with a particular interest in Victorian producers

• Curious about wine and beverages beyond traditional boundaries

• Comfortable sharing knowledge without ego

• A strong communicator and generous trainer

• Organised, accurate and confident using Excel and Word

• Calm and decisive during service

• Happy to be part of a small team where everyone contributes beyond their individual specialty

• Committed to exceptional hospitality and continual learning

Applicants should hold WSET Level 3 / WSET Advanced, CMS Certified Sommelier or an equivalent qualification, together with a current Victorian Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate and Do Food Safely certificate.

Working at Brae

Brae is a restaurant, organic farm and guest accommodation in Birregurra, Victoria.

Our work is guided by the values of Integrity, Excellence, Growth, Clarity, Sustainability and Innovation, and by the belief that restaurants and hospitality can have a positive impact on the people who work within them, their communities and the environment.

This is a full-time, fixed-term maternity leave position until May 2027, working across our Thursday to Sunday roster.

For the right person, it offers the chance to step into a significant beverage leadership role, work with an exceptional cellar and producer network, and contribute to a restaurant where food, farming, beverages and hospitality are all deeply connected.

To apply, please send your CV and a short introduction telling us about your experience, your approach to hospitality and what interests you about the role to Brae Co-Owner and Operations Manager, Jules Bagnato on [email protected]