Get Hired in the Wine Industry
For many people, getting a wine job is a dream come true. Getting from the day-dream to reality does take a significant amount of work, though.
It is important to understand that you are not the only person interested in getting a wine job. For every job in wine, there are at least ten qualified applicants. Here are the top ways to make sure you get the job.
Get certified by a respected wine school.
In Philadelphia, there are two schools that have regional and national respect: the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and the Wine School of Philadelphia. Their offerings are comparable, and its really up to you to decide on which is a better fit. We go over the pros and cons of both programs on our Professional Wine Course page.
Get connected to an influential wine professional.
Philadelphia is a major wine city, which surprises many people. Pennslyvania owns one of the largest and most affluent wine monopolies in the world, and the center of wine consumption is in Philadelphia. However, the professional wine community is small and getting a job recommendation from a power broker is very helpful. The two most often talked about are Keith Wallace (founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia) and Marnie Old (a sommelier and graduate of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust), but insiders like Ryan Margolis and Jonathan Newman are equally good to know.
Work your way up: get a job in the restaurant industry.
Working as a server in a fine dining establishment is one of the best ways to get your foot in the door. This option is good for someone who is younger and doesn’t mind spending a few years to reach his or her goal.
Work your way up: get a job with the PLCB
Getting a job with the Pennslyvania Liquor Control Board. AKA the PLCB, this government agency manages all the wine stores in the state. You don’t need any specialized wine knowledge to get a job, but it will take years to work up the ranks through this bureaucracy.
