WINE MERCHANT JOBS
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
- liaise with wholesalers in the UK who sell to restaurants and hotels
Working 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 operate 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 wine (usually from importers), store the wine, advertise it for sale and dispatch orders. You may also attend wine tastings in the UK.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You would typically start out in the wine trade as a sales assistant for one of the large off-licence chains (found on most high streets) and progress to retail branch manager. You will not usually need any educational qualifications, but for 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 work 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 by licensing authorities, which is usually part of your Local Authority). Check the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website for details.
To gain a personal licence you need to complete an accredited qualification, such as the Level 2 National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders. The awarding bodies involved with this licence are the BIIAB, EDI, NCFE and GQAL - see the websites for more details about the qualification and where to study.
What further training and development can I do?
You would generally learn on the job, as there is no standard training in the wine trade.
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.
