Wine merchant
Buy wine from growers and shippers to sell in Scotland, or manage retail sales for a large business.
Also known as: wine vendor, wine specialist, wine seller, wine importer
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£308
Entry level
£673
Experienced
Monthly
£1,333
Entry level
£2,917
Experienced
Yearly
£16,000
Entry level
£35,000
Experienced
6,100
people are currently employed
High growth
300 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would work as a buyer, importer or retail manager. You would buy wine from growers and shippers to sell in Scotland, or manage sales for a large business.
As a wine merchant on the high street, you would:
Order and display stock
Organise events such as wine tastings
Serve customers and offer advice on wines
Take payment for goods
Manage sales targets
Keep accounts and records
Hire, train and manage staff
It would be improtant to understand and follow the legal rules for the sale of alcohol.
You could also become a specialist buyer or importer. You might often travel abroad to find new wines. You would:
Visit vineyards, and wine producers’ cellars and production areas
Discuss prices
Check production standards
Build relationships with producers
Comply with UK and EU wine laws and taxes
Work with wholesalers in the UK who sell to restaurants, hotels and shops
You could also operate as an independent wine merchant, finding and buying your own stock and selling it from a shop, by mail order or online. You would buy wine, usually from importers, advertise it for sale and send out orders. You might also go to wine tastings in the UK.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking responsibility
- reliable
- time management
- managing resources
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Business
Health and Food Technology
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role but most employers value a good general education including English and maths.
With a degree (SCQF level 9/10) you may be able to find a graduate management trainee scheme.
Qualifications and experience in sales, customer service, business and marketing.
It is possible to study for qualifications awarded by the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM).
The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) also has a range of courses which can help with professional development.
To be over 18 years old
To obtain a licence to sell alcohol such as the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders which is awarded by the British Institute of Innkeeping awarding body (BIIAB).
A driving licence is required for most jobs.
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