Sommelier / Wine Taster : Job Prospects & Career Options

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As the custom of drinking wine is beginning to gain popularity in India, an increasing number of Indian youth are finding that wine tasting is becoming a lucrative career in the country. Career prospects in wine tasting are changing rapidly and offering broader responsibilities for a greater pool of aspirants who need some special skills to succeed in the job. Though most wine professionals have the knack to start with, and well-known sommeliers are known to be self-taught, experts agree that the ability to taste wines can be learned, but this career is only for people who love wine, people and the hospitality business. For wine-lovers and connoisseurs who wish to profit from their passion, there are plenty of career opportunities in the wine industry. Wine jobs can range from cellar worker to sommelier to brand manager, with a number of other possible jobs in between.

A sommelier-in-training must learn how to properly store and care for the bottles for maximum flavour and longevity. Thus, becoming a sommelier requires some in-depth culinary arts training. This requires a blend of hospitality skills and in-depth knowledge of wines. Depending on their personal skills, sommeliers can join the wine trade and work in wine production, in the import and export of wine, consulting and advising, wine education, training and so on. As part of it, you select wines, work with the chef, educate the wait staff.

Extensive and frequent travel is part of the sommelier's career. Many travel regularly to different regions to learn more about wines for their restaurant- to try new wines and to attend food and wine shows. It is a tough job involving long working hours. Sommeliers may have to work long and irregular hours, including evenings and weekends. Restaurant and bar environments can be busy and demanding. Sommeliers often spend a lot of time on their feet, speaking to customers and colleagues, or visiting the kitchens and the cellar. Sommeliers must also develop excellent listening skills to understand what customers are looking for. He is as important as a restaurant manager or the executive chef.

If you want to take your wine passion from a hobby to a career, there are many wine-related jobs out there. From home-based wine tasting parties to related careers in sales and distribution, or as a sommelier or wine master at a top hotel or restaurant. After gathering experience professionally one can also opt for an independent career as a wine consultant. Depending on their personal skills, sommeliers can join the wine trade and work in production, in the import and export of wine, education, training, wine writing and so on. Fine restaurants are not the only types of businesses that hire sommeliers. A wine sommelier may also find employment: developing training courses for wineries or restaurants, managing beverages at casinos or tourist attractions, organizing and hosting wine tours, owning a wine shop, teaching about wines, writing about wines etc.