A UK Guide to Building a Career in The Wine World

Why the wine industry is not just for romantics

If your mental image of a wine career is a winemaker idly strolling between vines with a baguette under one arm, it’s time for a gentle reality check. The wine world mixes agriculture, science, logistics, marketing and hospitality — all in one occasionally muddy package. In short: careers here are as varied as the wines themselves.

The three-sector map (quick and useful)

Think of the industry as three big islands connected by bridges:

• Production (viticulture & oenology) — the soil, the canopy, the ferments. For people who like dirt and lab results in equal measure.

• Commercial (imports & distribution) — logistics, sales teams, and the portfolio decisions that decide what ends up on the shelf.

• Hospitality & Retail — where wine meets people: restaurants, wine bars, shops and direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels.

Knowing which island suits your temperament makes choosing an entry point far less random.

Why the UK is a brilliant place to start

The UK is both a serious importer and a surprisingly lively domestic producer. The market was valued at around £20.7bn in 2024 and is projected to grow over the coming decade — yes, there’s growth and yes, that means jobs. The UK’s vineyards have expanded massively (area under vine up 510% since 2005, now about 4,841 hectares) and still-wine sales rose by 10% in 2024. Translation: demand, investment and a wide variety of roles.

Production pathway: get your hands dirty (and learn fast)

If you’re drawn to the grape-from-soil-to-bottle story, production gives you a real sense of accomplishment — plus blisters. Typical entry points and what to expect:

• Field / Vineyard Worker — pruning, trellising, harvesting. A proper outdoor apprenticeship.

• Cellar Hand (Harvest Intern) — the best single way to learn winemaking. Expect long hours, lots of hose-wrangling, and near-religious devotion to cleanliness. It’s mostly manual but invaluable experience.

• Lab roles & Enologist — for the scientifically inclined. If you like pH, ABV and tidy spreadsheets, this is your playground.

• Winemaker / Director — creative decisions, blending, barrel programs and the job where you get blamed or praised for the wine.

Pro tip: Work multiple harvests, spend time in the lab and taste constantly. Pair practical experience with formal study (WSET, Plumpton or a degree) and you’ll bridge the competency chasm.

Production — Wine Production Career Matrix

Role Title	Key Responsibilities	Typical Salary Range (GBP)	Essential Skills & Qualifications
Field Worker	Pruning, trellising, irrigating, harvesting vines	£20,000 – £28,000	Physical fitness, agricultural experience, able to work outdoors in all conditions
Vineyard Manager	Oversees vineyard operations, staff, budgets; coordinates with winemaker	£30,000 – £55,000+	Leadership, viticulture knowledge, communication and management skills
Viticulturist	Scientific monitoring of vine health, pests, soil and nutrition	£33,000 – £65,000	Degree in viticulture/agricultural science, strong analytical skills
Cellar Hand / Worker	Sorting grapes, cleaning equipment, monitoring fermentations, barrel work, bottling	£26,000 – £30,000	Hardworking, physically fit, attention to detail, willingness to learn
Lab Manager / Enologist	Manages winery lab; chemical & microbial analysis; quality control	£35,000 – £55,000+	Degree in enology/chemistry/microbiology; meticulous and analytical
Cellar Master	Manages cellar operations; supervises cellar team	£40,000 – £60,000+	Extensive cellar experience, leadership, organisational skills
Assistant Winemaker	Supports winemaker; manages staff and daily production operations	£28,000 – £48,000	Production experience, growing scientific & sensory skills, management ability
Winemaker / Oenologist	Oversees winemaking from harvest to bottle; blending and stylistic decisions	£35,000 – £75,000+	Extensive experience, degree in oenology/viticulture, refined palate, leadership
Winemaking Director	Executive oversight of production across brands/facilities	£100,000+	Senior winemaking & management experience, strong business acumen

Commercial pathway: sell the story, move the pallets

Commercial roles are less romantic but essential — and often better paid once you climb the ladder. Roles include:

• Sales rep — territory-based, autonomous, lively. Your car is your office.

• Distributor / Importer roles — from warehouse managers to national accounts directors.

• Brand & marketing — tell the winery’s story, run tastings, manage DTC channels.

Compensation models vary: large distributors offer stability; smaller specialists often give higher upside on commission and a portfolio you actually care about. Choose on whether you prefer certainty or a bit of hunger-driven hustle.

Commercial & Sales Career Matrix

Role Title	Key Responsibilities	Typical Salary Range (GBP)	Essential Skills & Qualifications
Sales Merchandiser	Stocks shelves, builds displays, supports sales reps in retail accounts	£24,000 – £30,000	Physically fit, organised, reliable; good entry-level role
Account / Sales Representative	Manages territory; presents portfolio; secures orders; builds relationships	£25,500 (entry) – £49,000+ (senior)	Strong wine knowledge (WSET recommended), sales skills, resilience, self-motivation
District / Sales Manager	Manages a team of reps; sets territory targets; key account oversight	£40,000 – £70,000+	Proven sales success, leadership and strategic thinking
Warehouse Manager	Oversees warehouse operations, inventory, shipping & receiving	£35,000 – £55,000+	Logistical expertise, organisational and management experience
VP of Sales / Sales Director	Executive leadership of sales function; sets national strategy & targets	£80,000 – £120,000+	Extensive sales & management experience, strong commercial and financial acumen

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Hospitality pathway: front of house, heart of the sale

For people who love people (and polished glassware), hospitality is where wine meets joy. Key roles:

• Sommelier — more than a wine waiter; you design lists, train staff, manage cellars and elevate dining experiences. Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) is the gold standard for fine dining roles.

• Retail — from shop floor to buyer. Independent merchants often offer faster routes into buying and curation.

Be warned: restaurant life can be exhausting. Many top sommeliers move into education, sales or brand ambassadorship later on. It’s a brilliant career accelerator.

Hospitality & Retail Career Matrix

Role Title	Key Responsibilities	Typical Salary Range (GBP)	Essential Skills & Qualifications
Server / Bartender	Front-line service; basic wine recommendations	Varies with tips / tronc. Trainee sommelier roles ~ £44,000 – £46,000 (tronc inclusive)	Basic wine knowledge, service skills; CMS Level 1 a plus
Sommelier	Curates wine list, trains staff, manages cellar, guest service	£30,000 – £55,000+ (inc. tronc)	CMS Level 2 or higher common; deep wine knowledge and service excellence
Wine / Beverage Director	Oversees beverage programmes for restaurants or hotels	£60,000 – £100,000+	Advanced certification (CMS Advanced/Master), extensive managerial & financial skills
Retail Associate / Wine Clerk	Customer service, stocking, point-of-sale	£22,000 – £30,000	Good customer service, willingness to learn about wine
Retail / Store Manager	Manages store operations, staff, inventory, sales targets	£25,000 – £40,000	Retail management experience, strong organisational skills
Wine Buyer (Retail)	Tastes and selects wines for a shop or chain	£50,000 – £80,000+	Extensive tasting experience, negotiation skills, market knowledge (WSET often preferred)

Ancillary careers: the unexpected fun bits

Not everyone wants to make, move or pour. The industry needs marketers, content creators, events managers, educators, tour operators and tech-savvy DTC specialists. Wine tourism and DTC are growth areas — if you love storytelling and guest experience, the tasting-room world is booming.

Education: which credential suits you?

• WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) — academic, wide-ranging, excellent for production, retail, marketing and distribution roles.

• CMS (Court of Master Sommeliers) — intensely practical, service-focused and the go-to for ambitious sommeliers.

Both are valuable. Pick based on the role you want first, then pursue the other as you progress. Good credentials + harvests = career rocket fuel.

Three practical next steps (start today)

1. Do a harvest — even one season will teach you more than months of reading.

2. Get WSET Level 2 (or 3) — it’s a tradeable qualification employers respect.

3. Network relentlessly — attend tastings, join trade events, message reps on LinkedIn. The wine world runs on relationships.

Useful recruitment websites & resources

If you’re job-hunting in the UK wine industry, these specialist sites and recruitment agencies are a great place to start:

• Wine Jobs UK — specialist job board for UK wine roles (production, sales, hospitality).

• WSET Jobs Board — industry vacancies and training-related opportunities.

• Nigel Wright Group — recruitment agency with drinks sector coverage.

• Match Search — specialist recruiter focusing on wine, drinks and hospitality.

• Vinokelly — recruiter with experience placing candidates across the drinks trade.

• Fluid Fusion — recruitment specialists for food & drink roles.

• LinkedIn — invaluable for networking and finding advertised roles; follow companies and recruiters in the sector.

If you’d like, I can turn that list into clickable links or a downloadable sheet.

Final glass: why it’s worth it

A career in wine is work, not a perpetual holiday. But for those who love craft, culture and a world that refuses to be dull, it’s a brilliant life. Whether you want to be knee-deep in compost during harvest, pore over lab results by day, or negotiate national listings by night, there’s a seat at the table. Expect hard graft, long hours and a steep learning curve — but also hands-on creativity, lifelong friendships and, yes, the occasional free tasting. If you’re curious, resilient and ready to learn, the industry will reward you with experience, stories and a career that never stops teaching.

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About the author

Damon Segal — @wineguide101  wine lover, marketer and the voice behind WineGuide101. Damon combines decades in marketing with a passionate, down-to-earth approach to wine. WSET Level 2 (Merit).