HOW TO HIRE · PERSONAL & LIFESTYLE · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a sommelier in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A sommelier in Ireland costs €100–€500 per event, typically around €200. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a sommelier in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers sommelier work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — food Pairing Recommendations — beyond just wine, a sommelier can suggest food pairings that elevate your dining experience.
- How does their experience change the price?Qualifications are checked, renewed and paid for every year. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the service required change the price?It moves the price in both directions depending on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the engagement change the price?The longer the booking, the more it costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Cellar Management — sommeliers can assist in managing your wine cellar, advising on optimal storage conditions and inventory management — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a sommelier job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES to chefs, stylists, organisers, errand runners or concierges. You are buying somebody's time, taste and access to your home, so the checks are about trust and what is written down rather than about law.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether they are a trader — a business name and an invoice, not a favour with money attached; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; For anyone in your home unaccompanied, references you actually telephone; For food, whether they hold food-safety training and where the food is prepared; Exactly what the hours cover and what counts as extra; Keys and access in writing: who holds what, and how it comes back.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers sommelier work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — food Pairing Recommendations — beyond just wine, a sommelier can suggest food pairings that elevate your dining experience.
A good answer: Qualifications are checked, renewed and paid for every year. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It moves the price in both directions depending on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The longer the booking, the more it costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Cellar Management — sommeliers can assist in managing your wine cellar, advising on optimal storage conditions and inventory management — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a sommelier job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; for food work, ask about product liability too — tasting Events Coordination — many sommeliers organise and lead wine tasting events, guiding participants through various wine regions and styles.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the sommelier starts, and an itemised invoice after — wine Selection Expertise — A sommelier provides expert advice on selecting wines that complement your meal or event.
Getting the quote right
- Their experience — qualifications are checked, renewed and paid for every year.
- Complexity of the service required — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job.
- Duration of the engagement — the longer the booking, the more it costs.
- Number of guests — the first few are the slowest; the rest go faster.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: their experience — qualifications are checked, renewed and paid for every year
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the service required — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job
- They will not talk about it: duration of the engagement — the longer the booking, the more it costs
- A price for the sommelier before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the sommelier has begun
What a sommelier costs: €100–€500 per event
The figures are for the job, per event, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Private wine tasting and Wine list consultation each carry their own band. Sommelier price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Sommeliers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstTheir experience — qualifications are checked, renewed and paid for every year — that is what the sommelier is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the service required — it moves the price in both directions depending on the job — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the engagement — the longer the booking, the more it costs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherNumber of guests — the first few are the slowest; the rest go faster — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the sommelier is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, selection of wines involved — it has to be settled before anything can be ordered.
- Wine Selection Expertise
- A sommelier provides expert advice on selecting wines that complement your meal or event.
- Tasting Events Coordination
- Many sommeliers organise and lead wine tasting events, guiding participants through various wine regions and styles.
- Cellar Management
- Sommeliers can assist in managing your wine cellar, advising on optimal storage conditions and inventory management.
- Food Pairing Recommendations
- Beyond just wine, a sommelier can suggest food pairings that elevate your dining experience.
- Private Wine Tasting
- A curated experience where the sommelier selects wines for a private gathering, guiding guests through tasting notes and food pairings.
- Wine List Consultation
- Advising restaurants or venues on creating an appealing and diverse wine list that complements their menu.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a sommelier: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a sommelier can vary based on their experience, the complexity of the service required, and the duration of the engagement. specialised services, such as rare wine selections or large events, may also incur higher fees.
The duration of a sommelier service can range from a couple of hours for a small gathering to a full day for larger events. It's important to discuss your specific needs to determine the appropriate time frame.
While many sommeliers are highly trained professionals, the necessity for a qualified sommelier depends on the complexity of your event. For casual gatherings, a knowledgeable enthusiast may suffice, but for formal occasions, a certified sommelier is recommended.
Same-day sommelier services may be available, but it largely depends on the sommelier's schedule and your location. It's advisable to book in advance to secure the best professional for your needs.
Yes, many sommeliers offer packages that include additional services, such as food pairing consultations or event planning. Discussing your requirements upfront will help tailor the service to your needs.
Sommeliers primarily focus on wine-related services and may not cover areas such as full event planning or catering services. It's best to clarify the scope of their services during the initial consultation.
MORE GUIDES