Wine Shop Jobs
Overview
There are a few different industry sectors within the wine business. Besides the primary jobs that are listed below, there are also numerous supporting roles within each of the following sectors:
Winery
Grower/Vineyard Management
Broker/Retailer
Distributor/Importer
Restaurant/Hospitality
Winery Jobs
- Wineries vary in size from small, family-run businesses to large syndicates. Winery jobs focus on all aspects of the wine industry, from production to marketing. If you work for a winery, your focus will be on a single brand (or group of brands).
- Who’s ideal for this job? Winery jobs are ideal for people looking for long-term stable employment and community.
Jobs and Salaries
Winemaking Team: A job for the few people out there who enjoy both mental and physical activity. Winery jobs are full time and the hours can be somewhat insane during harvest season. It’s all worth it when everything goes right.
Winemaking Director ~$150k
Winemaker $90k–$125k
Assistant Winemaker $55k–$80k
Lab Manager $65k–$85k
Enologist ~$55k
Cellar Master $60k–$80k
Cellar Worker $35k–$40k
Sales and Operations: There are a variety of different jobs besides making wine, and the most important ones for growth are sales and marketing.
Operations Director $60k–$110k
VP of Sales ~$200k
Sales Manager $50k–$115k
PR Manager – $110k
Tasting Room/Wine Club Manager $40k–$56k
Vineyard Jobs
While many wineries have their estate vineyards, many independent vineyards grow and sell grapes and have little focus on making wine.
Who’s ideal for this job?? Vineyard and viticulturist jobs are for the true outdoors person who can work odd/all hours, is deeply interested in agriculture, and wants to live and work in the countryside.
Jobs and Salaries
Vineyard Manager $50k–$85k
A great retailer or broker has in-depth knowledge of wines and helps consumers or prosumers acquire great wines based on the customer’s tastes. Retail jobs may not seem as highbrow as a restaurant sommelier, but retailers are often the go-to contact for new wine drinkers.
Who’s ideal for this job? This job is perfect for someone who wants a consistent schedule, is warm and welcoming, has a passion for exploring all wines, and can develop lasting relationships directly with wine consumers and business peers.
Jobs and Salaries
Retailer $36k–$49k
Broker Sales $55k–$75k
Distributor and Importer Jobs
Great distributors and importers have a cultivated and concise collection of wines that they offer to other businesses like restaurants, retailers, caterers, and other corporate businesses. This job requires a shrewd understanding of the inner workings of the wine trade, a love of travel (and not always the glamorous kind), and the ability to network with peers.
Who’s ideal for this job? This job is for those who are super self-motivated, humble, persistent, and organized.
Jobs and Salaries
Top Sales Manager ~$135k
Sales Manager $60k–100k
Warehouse Manager $60–$90k
Restaurant and Hospitality Jobs
Great wine restaurants don’t have to be fancy, but they do have to offer a wine list that matches perfectly with the food and overall experience of the location. Dining is about the experience and ultimately entertainment, so the entire team must sync together in a seemingly improbable manner to deliver a consistent guest experience every night.
Who’s ideal for this job? This job is perfect for people who love to be on their feet, don’t mind working late hours with a team, enjoy a little acting, but most importantly: are humble.
Jobs and Salaries
Top Ranking Sommelier $150k
Sommelier $55k–$70k
Restaurant/Bar Manager $40k–$90k
Wine Educator $55k–$70k
The wine shop model is one of the most illegal business models in our society. But it is the most common necessity product among young to old. Once someone drinks it, again and again, he loves to want more. That means your model should be like, once you serve a customer best, he will be forever in your shop. In a place like Mumbai, it is the best option to open a wine shop. I have some advice that may help you:
Try to lower the price of the most demanded brands. For example beer, it is having more demand among light drinkers than heavy drinkers. If you can lower the price of each bottle by 10 to 30 rupees, it will not make a big loss to your profit. But it will help you to attract more customers to your shop.
Give offers to your regular customers. Offering small gifts to customers is another way to increase traction. For example, you can give them wine glasses, which you generally get free of cost from companies. Or, on special occasions and festivals, you can give a discount to customers, who buy a large amount. I can assure you that at the next festival they will come to your place.
Be ready to face any legal issues. Maintain a good relationship with local police. I think you know it better than me.
Don’t fight with local Dons and Mafia. Try to be a good friend to them, otherwise, you will create a lot of unnecessary troubles for yourself. They may be your best regular customers.
Sell every type of liquor. You should have the ability to serve liquor among an auto driver to the Mercedes owner. You must sell the liquor starting from low to high price. In this way, your shop will be popular among poor to rich people. Don’t think about your business expansion until you are capable enough to handle the whole tension.
Hire a reliable employee. You should hire an employee, who knows very well how to handle a drinker properly. Give them a good salary so that they will work in their wine shop.
Wine Shop Hiring Tips
Hiring employees can seem like a nerve-wracking process, but it doesn't have to be. We break the process down into four basic steps: (1) Planning; (2) Recruiting; (3) Interviewing; and (4) Completing the Hire. Here are some tips for each phase of the process
Plan to Staff Your Business
Wine shops should be professional and classy environments (as opposed to the average liquor store). While you can start as the wine expert of your store, you may want to hire additional help as your store takes off and you need more time for administrative tasks. Alternatively, you could hire part-time administrative help to give you more time on the floor interacting with customers.
Develop a Recruiting Strategy
Wine sales are a fairly steady industry, but not just anyone is qualified to sell wines. Advertise for employees around town at events like wine tastings, as you need to attract interviewees that are already quite knowledgeable about wines. Also, advertise online, and make sure that your job description accurately portrays the mood and mission of your business, as well as the roles and expected qualifications of the candidate you are looking for.
Interview with Confidence
If you take your time during the planning and recruiting phases of the process, you will likely end up with many qualified candidates.
Nonetheless, it is natural for a new business owner to be a bit anxious the first time hiring employees. Don’t forget that the interview is just a chance to get to know an applicant and to allow them to learn more about the role and the business. Also, it might help to remember that they are probably even more nervous than you are!
Throughout the interview process, it may help to keep in mind that most wine shop owners look for employees who are:
Knowledgeable about wines
Friendly
Reliable
Good at upselling
Here are some sample interview questions that will help you learn more about the character of your interviewees:
How flexible is your schedule?
What is your favorite wine?
What kind of wine would you suggest that a customer pair with fish? Red meat? Pasta?
Why are you well suited for sales?
Be Familiar with Hiring Laws
After selecting a job candidate, there are certain steps you will need to follow to complete the hiring process. Check out our Hiring Compliance Checklist for a step-by-step guide to the legal aspects of hiring employees.
One of the most important steps is to classify your new hire as an employee or an independent contractor. Become familiar with IRS guidelines on this matter, as there are serious consequences for misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor.
Conclusion
A job in the wine business starts with a solid foundation of knowledge in wine. You can check out our free resource or pick up a copy of the Essential Guide to Wine to get started. You might consider getting an education in viticulture and enology at a college or university. Consider taking your Sommelier accreditation to pursue your track into hospitality or sales.
Questions and Answers
Is winemaking a good career?
Winery jobs are full time and the hours can be somewhat insane during harvest season. It's all worth it when everything goes right. Sales and Operations: There are a variety of different jobs besides making wine, and the most important ones for growth are sales and marketing.
Why do you want to work in the wine industry?
Working in wine makes for a more enjoyable lifestyle. As a woman, one of the hardest things to juggle is your family and your career. This is dependent on your role, but for the most part, I can confidently say that wine has allowed me to have a wonderful career while still being able to raise a family.
What are jobs in the wine industry?
Jobs in the Wine Industry
Brand Manager.
Cellar Worker.
Grounds Supervisor.
Harvest Intern/Cellar Hand.
Lab Technician.
Sommelier.
Tasting Room Sales.
Tour Guide.
How do you get experience in the wine industry?
For the most hands-on approach to exploring wine growing and winemaking, reach out to local wineries. Most are happy to have help during the growing season and harvest. Some places offer internships, some offer full-time work, some are happy to show you the ropes over a long weekend.
What is a winery worker called?
A winemaker or vintner is a person engaged in winemaking. They are generally employed by wineries or wine companies, where their work includes: Cooperating with viticulturists. Monitoring the maturity of grapes to ensure their quality and to determine the correct time for harvest.