Meet Marek, our Head Sommelier at SkyCity Auckland. He helps to create and maintain the wine lists at our restaurants and is also in charge of our main wine cellar. Marek is a very well-accomplished Sommelier, having been named ‘2017 Poland Sommelier of the Year’ and more recently, ‘2018 New Zealand Sommelier of the Year’! In his spare time, he loves to travel – often visiting more vineyards and tasting more wine!
Read more about Marek below!
How long (in total) have you worked at SkyCity?
2 years
Can you describe your current role?
As the Head Sommelier, I am helping to create and maintain wine lists and wine service standards at our restaurants. I am also in charge of the main wine cellar of SkyCity Auckland.
It’s the easiest to find me on the floors of our Signature Restaurants advising and pouring some wine.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
Multiple opportunities to taste some of the most iconic wines in the world.
Working side by side with some of the best wine professionals and chefs in New Zealand.
What sorts of challenges do you encounter?
Working with people and for people is equally as fascinating as challenging sometimes.
Tell us about some of your career achievements/highlights at SkyCity
Working at SkyCity I managed to win the '2018 New Zealand Sommelier of the Year' competition. I was also 6th in the '2018 ASI Asia and Oceania Best Sommelier' competition.
Marek at Huami bar
What did you do before you joined SkyCity?
I held various sommelier positions in Poland and most recently I used to work as the Deputy Head Sommelier in Michelin-starred restaurant 'Northcote' in the UK.
What do you enjoy about working at SkyCity?
Access to great wine collection (with the library of great back vintages of some of the iconic wines, including Pétrus, Penfolds Grange, or Château Margaux)
Chance to work with great people from all over the world
Great choice of restaurants and cuisine styles
What would you say to anyone considering joining your team or applying for a job like yours?
World of wine is fascinating, but always grows. You need to stay at top of your game – constantly reading, tasting, studying.
New Zealand is also one of the most important winemaking countries – if you like to discover it and put in the international context, Front of House positions (including Sommeliers) are great way to do it!
To be successful in your job you need to be gentle, knowledgeable, flexible, self-confident and humble at the same time. And love the craziness of hospo life.
Be aware that being a sommelier most often the time is not just a job – it’s a lifestyle!
Which of SkyCity's employee benefit(s) do you enjoy most?
Health insurance
I love the discounted laundry service too 😊
Is there anything about SkyCity that makes it different to other work places?
Comparing to most of my previous work places, SkyCity sets itself apart due to our massive scale of operation and the cultural diversity within here.
Where were you born/raised and how long have you lived in Auckland?
I was born in central Poland, not so far from Warsaw – Polish capital city.
I moved to Auckland to take my recent position two years ago.
What do you like to get up to outside of work?
I love to travel (often to see more vineyards and taste some more wine), cook and shoot photos.
Wish to have time to read more books.
Thanks for sharing your story Marek! If his story inspired you to join our team at SkyCity, then head to our Careers website to view our current opportunities!
