Piazza Produce

Sommelier

Share the Wine. Shape the Experience. Create Connection.

Exceptional opportunity to work for Lucania, a new and unique piazza-inspired restaurant opening at the Ferry Building in Fall 2026.

Brought to you by the A16 Restaurant Group, Lucania is inspired by Southern Italian piazzas. It will be a gathering place where coffee turns into lunch, aperitivo into dinner, and the room fills as the day unfolds. Lucania becomes a place you can return to at any hour and find it alive, adding a sense of energy and gathering that the Ferry Building has not consistently held.

We are seeking an experienced Sommelier with an innate sense of hospitality and genuine curiosity about the people, places, and traditions behind every bottle. Lucania's wine program will be rooted in Southern Italy while celebrating the extraordinary diversity of Italian wine.

We're looking for someone who can make wine exciting and approachable, whether introducing a guest to an indigenous grape they've never heard of or helping a longtime collector discover a new producer.

THE ROLE

At Lucania, wine is an essential part of the experience.

As Sommelier, you'll be an active presence on the floor, guiding guests through the wine list, supporting the service team, and helping bring the stories of Italian producers and regions to life.

You'll work closely with ownership and restaurant leadership on a wine program shaped by the same curiosity, relationships, and commitment to Italian wine that have defined A16 for more than two decades.

This is not a role built around reciting tasting notes. We're looking for someone who listens first, understands what the guest wants, and uses their knowledge to create a memorable experience.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provide thoughtful, knowledgeable, and approachable wine service throughout the dining room.
• Guide guests through Lucania's Italian-focused wine list based on their tastes, menu selections, occasion, and budget.
• Create thoughtful food and wine pairings in collaboration with the culinary and service teams.
• Work closely with ownership and leadership to support the development and evolution of Lucania's wine program.
• Share the stories of Italian regions, indigenous grape varieties, producers, and winemaking traditions with guests and staff.
• Lead and support ongoing wine education, tastings, and pre-shift training for the FOH team.
• Maintain proper standards for wine presentation, opening, decanting, glassware, and tableside service.
• Assist with wine receiving, cellar organization, inventory, stocking, and product rotation.
• Communicate changes, limited availability, and new additions to the wine list to the service team.
• Support winemaker dinners, tastings, private events, buyouts, and special programming.
• Be an engaged member of the floor team and support the overall guest experience beyond wine service.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2+ years of Sommelier or wine-focused fine dining experience.
• Strong knowledge of Italian wine is required.
• Deep understanding of Italian regions, appellations, indigenous grape varieties, producers, and winemaking traditions.
• Strong knowledge of Southern Italian wine, particularly Campania, Basilicata, Sicily, Puglia, Calabria, and Sardinia, highly valued.
• Strong understanding of food and wine pairing.
• Exceptional hospitality and communication skills.
• Ability to translate extensive wine knowledge into an approachable guest experience.
• Experience with wine inventory, receiving, and cellar organization.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
• Wine certification through CMS, WSET, or equivalent education is a plus, but not required.

WHAT SETS YOU APART

• You believe great wine service begins with listening.
• You can talk just as comfortably about Taurasi, Etna Rosso, or Aglianico del Vulture as you can help someone simply find a bottle they'll love.
• You're endlessly curious about Italy, its grapes, its producers, its food, and its culture.
• You share knowledge generously and never use it to intimidate.
• You understand that hospitality matters more than showing how much you know.
• You get genuinely excited when a guest discovers something new.
• You are confident enough to be approachable and knowledgeable enough to stay curious.

THE DETAILS

• Full-time, exempt 50–60 hours per week including weekends
• Reports directly to ownership
• San Francisco, CA · In-person · Relocation required before start date
• Occasional attendance at off-site restaurant events

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

A16 takes care of its people. We offer:

• $19.61-$35.00
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity to work in a respectful, positive, and supportive workplace that encourages excellence, growth, and innovation

Sound like you? We’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your letter of interest and resume to: careers@lucaniasf.com

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lucania is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). A16 will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.