The Hamilton Princess Hotel has appointed its first expert in pairing wine with food.

Oana-Alexandra Taflan has become sommelier — a trained wine steward — and will work with chefs at Marcus restaurant to decide the best pairing of wine and dishes.

She will also make sure the hotel’s wine cellar is stocked with quality wine from around the world and update the wine list.

Ms Taflan said: “The hotel is iconic and a staple of Bermuda’s hospitality so I’m proud to join the team.

“I hope to be able to guide diners to the best wine for their meal, mood and budget and to share my love of wine with everyone who comes through our doors.”

Ms Taflan, who has more than a decade of experience in the hospitality business, is expected to become the only advanced sommelier at a Bermuda restaurant when she sits the final exams at the UK-based Court of Sommeliers next month.

She said she hoped to be asked to study for master sommelier status and become one of only about 270 people worldwide to hold the qualification.

Ms Taflan has worked in Bermuda since 2012 and began her career on the island at the MEF restaurant group.

She started her career at the Monte Carlo restaurant in the Romanian capital Bucharest and has worked at Corbin & King’s Brasserie Zedel in London’s upmarket Piccadilly as a floor manager and at Borington Hall Hotel in Devon as head sommelier and buyer.

Jan-Peer Lehfeldt, director of food and beverage at the Hamilton Princess, said: “We think that she will be a fantastic addition to our team and that all guests, whether they are here for business or pleasure, will enjoy being able to get expert wine advice.”