Become a Wine Consultant

Many a wine lover has thought about making their own wine, maybe owning a small vineyard, or just working in a vineyard wine shop on the weekends in order to learn more about wine. Taking on such an endeavor is of course intimidating, and quite often costly and time consuming. As an independent wine consultant with a direct sales company, you have the chance to learn about wine while earning a significant income. Best of all, as a business owner you get to set your own hours. So what exactly does an independent wine consultant do?

Try New Wines - Okay while this isn't an official job description, it is the BEST part of being a wine consultant. You have to know the wines you are serving, and the best way to do that is TASTE! If you are a consultant with a company that has a large assortment of wine that changes frequently, it can be interesting to have your first taste with your guests, but either way, you will definitely be tasting lots of wine as a consultant. WineShop at Home also has annual conventions where you will be able to taste the wines, as well as local training with other consultants.

Tasting Technique - One of the most important aspects of your job as a wine consultant is teaching proper wine tasting technique to your guests. Most guests will have either never attended a wine tasting or have only attended them in large groups at a festival. The guests may have seen others swirl their wine but have no idea WHY you are supposed to do it. They may know they should look at the wine but have no idea what they are looking for, it's your job to go through each of the steps so they can have a better appreciation for the wine they are tasting.

Wine Pairing - One of the most intimidating aspects of wine for your guests will be what to pair the wine with. As an independent wine consultant you will explain in simple terms what the wines you are tasting will be best paired with, and you may even have the host prepare some of these foods so the guests can taste the difference in the wine when paired with an appropriate food.

Collect Orders - Some companies call orders by other terms, but your quest is to sell or market as much wine as possible at a tasting, as that is how you earn your income. You will be responsible for collecting orders and payment and submitting them to the company to be fulfilled. After that you will make sure to follow up with your guests to ensure they are satisfied customers and everything was received.

Learn More About Becoming a Wine Consultant