Wine Merchant
What is the work like?
Wine merchants, also known as wine retailers, buy wine from growers and shippers to sell in the UK. In a large wholesale business, wine merchants may work as buyers, importers or retail managers.
As a specialist buyer or importer, you would frequently travel abroad to find new wines. In your day-to-day work you would:
- visit vineyards
- negotiate prices
- check production standards
- maintain relationships with producers
- work with wholesalers in the UK who sell to restaurants and hotels.
As a wine merchant in a high street store, your responsibilities would include:
- taking payment for goods
- ordering and displaying stock
- managing sales targets
- keeping accounts and records
- following and enforcing the legal requirements for the sale of alcohol
- recruiting, training and organising staff
- greeting customers
- offering advice on wines.
You could also work as a small independent wine merchant, sourcing and buying your own stock and selling it from a shop or by mail order. You would buy and store wine, advertise it for sale and dispatch orders. You would usually buy from importers rather than travelling abroad yourself but you would attend wine tastings in the UK.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need any educational qualifications to enter the wine trade, but to work in retail sales you must be at least 18 years old.
If you are a graduate, you may be able to start work with a large wine retailer as a management trainee. You could be a manager within around two years.
To start as a manager, buyer or importer, you will need a full UK driving licence, and knowledge of one or more European languages would also be an advantage.
If you aim to become an independent wine merchant, you are likely to need business experience and extensive knowledge of the product. You will also need a premises licence and a personal licence for the sale of alcohol (issued licensing authorities, which is usually part of your local authority).
To gain a personal licence you need to complete an accredited qualification, such as the Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders awarded by the BIIAB, GOAL and GQAL. See the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website for details.
What further training and development can I do?
There is no standard training in the wine trade, and you would generally learn on the job.
On a general management training scheme with a large company, you could expect to receive around two years' training in management skills and company operations.
The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) offers Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Certificates, and a Level 4 Diploma, in Wines and Spirits. Many retailers will financially support you through these qualifications or run similar in-house training courses. WSET also provides short courses and seminars that can be used for professional development.
As a wine merchant, you could progress to become a Master of Wine (MW), the British wine trade’s highest qualification. See the Institute of Masters of Wine website for more details.
Where can I go for more information?
Fourth Floor93 Newman Street
London
W1T 3EZ
Tel: 0800 093 5001
39-45 Bermondsey Street
London
SE1 3XF
Tel: 020 7089 3800
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Salaries for trainee managers start at around £12,000 to £15,000 a year.
- Experienced wine merchants or managers can earn £18,000 to £25,000 a year.
- Top earners can make more than £30,000 a year.
Wine merchants who own their own business usually earn more than retail managers.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your work would be mainly office or shop based and you might work shifts to cover retail opening times. You may be involved in some heavy lifting and carrying of stock.
As a wholesaler or specialist buyer you would spend time in wine producers’ cellars and production areas. You would need to travel abroad several times a year to buy new stock.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a keen interest in wine
- a willingness to develop your knowledge and expertise
- a good sense of taste and smell (to judge the quality of a wine)
- strong communication and interpersonal skills
- the ability to negotiate (to buy and sell wine)
- sales, marketing and promotion skills
- good maths skills.
What opportunities are there?
The typical entry route into the wine trade is to start as a sales assistant for one of the large off-licence chains (found on most high streets) and progress to retail branch manager.
As a retail manager, you could progress to field manager or move into a specialist area of buying and marketing. You may find opportunities to become a specialist buyer are quite rare as even the largest companies employ very few.
With experience you could go on to become an independent wine merchant. For this you would need experience, capital, premises, and a well-researched business plan. If you are considering setting up a wine business, you should plan your entry carefully. The industry is becoming more and more competitive as the big supermarkets continue to claim an increasing share of wine sales.
You will find jobs advertised in the local and national press, in jobcentres and on retailers websites or shops. You could also contact wine merchants directly. You may also find the following links useful for vacancies and further reading:
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
