How do I become a wine merchant?

Are you fascinated by the world of wine? Do you aspire to a job that combines passion, expertise and business acumen? Being a wine merchant is a demanding job, but you’ll play a crucial role in developing and marketing exceptional wines.

Contents

In a nutshell:

Wine merchants buy wines from producers and then sell them to customers such as wine merchants, restaurants and supermarkets.
His job is to buy wines from different producers, negotiate prices and purchase conditions, and then promote and sell these wines to his customers.
To be successful, a négociant must have in-depth knowledge of the wine market, negotiation and marketing skills and a passion for wine.

Definition

What is a wine merchant?

A wine merchant is a professional who buys and sells wine in his own name. They act as an intermediary between wine producers and customers, such as wine merchants, restaurants or supermarkets.

There are two types of wine merchant:

Wholesalers: They buy large quantities of wine from producers and then sell it to professional customers, such as wine merchants and restaurants.
Retail” wine merchants: They buy wines from producers and then sell them directly to end consumers.

Missions

What does a wine merchant do?

A wine merchant has many tasks:

Identify and select the best wines from the winemakers ;
Buying wines at the best price and negotiating terms of sale;
Store wines in optimum conditions and manage the flow of goods;
Promote the wines to customers and develop brand awareness;
Find new customers and develop the distribution network;
Anticipating market trends to select wines in demand ;
Ensure compliance with wine trade regulations;
Managing relations with suppliers and partners.

Profile

What skills and qualities do you need to become a wine merchant?

A successful wine merchant needs a number of skills and qualities:

A thorough knowledge of the world of wine, vineyards, grape varieties and appellations is essential;
Be able to decipher the aromas and flavours of a wine and assess its quality;
A good understanding of wine market trends and customer needs;
Negotiation skills and the ability to conclude advantageous contracts;

Career

What is the average salary of a wine merchant?

On average, a wine merchant can earn between €3,000 and €10,000 a month. This depends on a number of factors, such as :

Experience: experienced traders generally earn higher salaries;
The type of company: Merchants who work for large trading houses generally earn higher salaries than those who work for smaller companies;
Performance: traders who perform well are eligible for commissions and bonuses.

Training

What training do you need to become a wine merchant?

There is no compulsory qualification to become a wine merchant. However, it is strongly recommended that you take a course in business and negotiation with a specialisation in wine and spirits.

Status

Is there any special status required to be a wine merchant?

Yes, you need to obtain “approved warehousekeeper” approval issued by the customs authorities. This authorisation allows wines to be stored under suspension of excise duty, which is essential if you are to operate as a wine merchant.

The request must be sent to the Customs and Indirect Rights Directorate in the place where the company is based.

Terms

What is the difference between a wine merchant and a wine buyer?

Wine merchants and wine buyers both work in the wine trade, but they have different roles and responsibilities.

Wine merchants are independent professionals who buy and sell wine in their own name. They act as an intermediary between wine producers and customers.

A wine buyer is an employee of a company who buys wine on behalf of that company. This may be a supermarket, a wine merchant, a restaurant or a wine importer.

Offers

What wine and spirits courses are on offer at INSEEC?

INSEEC offers a range of courses in wine and spirits, from Bac to Bac +5.

Here are the main courses on offer:

Bachelor of Wine & Spirits: this 3-year degree programme is designed to train wine and spirits sales and marketing professionals. It offers comprehensive training in marketing, negotiation, management, communication and tasting;
Master of Science in Wine and Spirits Marketing & Customer Experience: accessible after a Bac +3 or Bac +4, this programme welcomes students and professionals from the wine and spirits sector. With a strong focus on the international aspect of the market, it enables students to acquire managerial expertise in the field of wine and spirits marketing and customer experience, so that they can be fully operational in companies.