Getting into the Wine Industry: 2019 Redux

The most popular post on my blog is Getting into the Wine Industry that I posted back at the end of 2010.  With over 9,000 views of that post, I've gotten a great response over the years, and also have learned about a lot of successful transitions into the wine biz that the post facilitated.  Recently, a finance professional reached out to get a bit more personalized information on that.  Here's his query, along with my answer for today's job market.

Hi Amy,

I hope this note finds you well.  After spending 15 years in finance across various industries (wine/alcohol not being one of them), and getting my MBA along the way, I've decided that I want to work on the business side of wine.  However, getting the transition started has been rather difficult.  I wanted to reach out to see if you can provide any advice on how I can make the transition.

My ultimate goal is to be CFO of a winery but I understand I may have to take some intermediate steps before landing a finance role at a producer.  I live in New York City and job postings for companies in any part of the wine business seem to be few and far between.  And relocation most likely isn’t an option, although my wife has said she’d be willing to relocate if I land the right role in the right geography (i.e., northern California).  I’ve contacted the very few alumni from my business school who work in the industry and scheduled one informational interview so far.  I’m also considering sitting for Level 1 of the WSET certification so that I can add it to my resume.

I wanted to see if you have any additional information to offer, or if there’s anything you can recommend specific to my situation, such as types of companies I might not be considering, how to go about finding networking opportunities, or anything else I can do to make myself more attractive to potential employers.  I’d greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide.

Sincerely,

NYC MBA

Dear NYC MBA,

I'm glad you found that post from 2010, and it is definitely time to put up a new take on getting into the wine business.  Reading my post from 2010, I think a lot of it is relevant for your situation.  First of all, finance experience translates well to a broad array of businesses, including wine.  Having your MBA, from a very prestigious east coast school, is also very impressive and gives you a great foundation in business management that many companies will find valuable.  So you have a strong footing to get this transition going.

As you mentioned, networking is key.  I'm glad you put out calls to fellow alumni.  That's a great first start in building your network.  And you've reached out to me, which is helpful for us to build a relationship and for you to gain more industry information.  Keep doing that with others.  I would recommend reaching out to finance people at some of the wineries you like, and see if they would be up for an informational interview.  Most likely it would be a phone interview, given that you are in New York City.  

You mentioned that you would relocate to Northern California.  What about looking at finance positions that are in smaller markets?  Sometimes there are more viable candidates in the epicenter of the wine business than there are in smaller geographies, and you could set yourself apart by bringing an MBA and business experience to an underserved location.  And some of the other markets outside of Napa have major players in the wine business including Oregon, Washington and Upstate New York.  

But perhaps your goal is also to work in the wine industry in Northern California.  There are bigger companies that have more finance and business management needs in the major winemaking areas.  They also are facing fierce competition from their neighbors for the same talent.  The salaries and compensation packages do tend to be better in the bigger winemaking regions, with Napa Valley leading the way (please see the Wine Business Monthly Annual Salary Survey for more information).  Also, larger companies tend to be more willing to bring in professionals from outside of the industry, partly because many industries are so closely related, especially in finance, and because they have more ability to train and develop employees than smaller companies do.

Now, while the product wineries make gets all of the attention, there are a lot of ancillary businesses that need finance professionals.  Vineyard management companies, equipment suppliers, software development companies, fulfillment operations and packaging suppliers all support the wine business.  Don't forget to look at positions with companies that sell products and services to the wine industry.

And with three-tier distribution still alive and kicking, most states have importers, distributors and brokers supporting wine suppliers efforts to sell their wine.  These companies also need finance people, and have locations nationwide.  New York City has many importers and distributors right in your neighborhood.  

I do encourage you to dip your toe in wine education.  Right now, your LinkedIn profile doesn't reflect any wine knowledge.  Getting a first level certificate from WSET or the Court of Master Sommeliers will be a badge you can put front and center on your LinkedIn profile, and on your resume.  As I've blogged about before, you must show some interest in wine in your job search communications and your resume needs to show your strengths.  

I hope this is helpful, and I look forward to staying in touch.  Keep me posted if you head out to Northern California!

Sincerely,

Amy Gardner

WineTalent

What Certifications Make Sense in the Wine Industry

Frequently I get asked about what Certifications make sense for people in the wine industry. While I see a lot of different programs out there, I recently posed the question to my Facebook Friends. Here's the feedback I got.

WSET is a good foundation for Masters of Wine, which is a good background for writers or wine shop owners. The Master Sommelier certification is best for people working in restaurants and similar settings. As my FB friend wrote, the MS Certification is good so you can dance on a dining room floor, open all sizes of wine bottles, open a wine bottle with a saber, and talk the talk of food flavors, terroir and wine flavors.

As a sales person to restaurant and hotel client, the MS is appropriate in the fine dining world. It gives you a good working knowledge of wine, regions and service needs.

It looks like the WSET is a more rounded industry curriculum, while the MS is more specific for the restaurant wine professional.

Hope this is helpful. There are many wine education programs out there--if anyone has some feedback, I'd love to hear it.

Terroir: Experiencing it First Hand

I just posted this on my client blog, but think it will be interesting to you. This is my experience after having traveled for business recently.

Having gotten everything back in order from my travels and visits with clients in France, Spain and Portugal, I have a new found appreciation for how significantly the geography and the geology affect wines around the world. Having grown up in Northern California, I have traveled throughout many of our wine growing locales, and enjoy and appreciate the differences. Prior to my trip, I would have said I have a California palate. Before leaving, I attended a trade tasting for both Argentina and Spain's Rioja region, and the wines were significantly different from each other, in good ways. I have always tried wines from many areas, but haven't always understood what I was drinking.

Upon arriving in France I immediately visited E. Guigal in the Côte Rôtie area of the Rhone. E. Guigal is a large négociant in France that also has their own vineyards and winemaking facilities. Guigal has excellent wines in a broad range of price points. Getting to see the land and the winery allowed me to understand the different techniques they use, and to understand why certain wines tasted the way they did. The winery has several vineyard designate wines that are extraordinary. Seeing the difference a mountain, direction of a hillside or the soil the grapes grew on was quite a lesson in terroir.

Upon leaving Guigal which is in the Northern Rhone, I traveled down through the valley, witnessing the changes in topography, elevation and soil. Côte Rôtie is quite different from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the wines reflect it.

Traveling in to Spain, the weather was significantly warmer, and the countryside was much like California. Feeling at home, you would think that the wines would taste similar to Californian wines. But each region within Spain has significant differences. The wines of Tarragona were much different from Jumilla and Yecla, not to mention other wine districts in the country. And while the countryside reminded me of home, the wines had a different personality. While I know this is because the wines are made with grapes that aren't used as much as in California, I think it also has to do with a long history of wine making and use of the land.

I think I would be remiss not to point out that the attitude towards wine significantly affects how the wine tastes. Yes, in a blind taste test this wouldn't be the case, but when you pull in to a roadhouse in Alicante for lunch on a Tuesday and the two truckers next to you are eating a three course meal with a bottle of wine split between them followed by coffee and dessert, you see a different attitude to wine. In the countries I visited, it is a way of life to take your time, eat well and have a glass of wine with your meal. Coming home, I have found this almost impossible to institute in my own life--instead I am wolfing down my food while being distracted by what I have to do next. Wine is drunk here more like a cocktail, not as a dining accompaniment.

Spain is an immense land, which I found out while driving around it. It has so many different areas, all with their own personality. The Spanish are a very independent people, which is evident in the fact that the individual states have a lot of power in comparison to other Southern European countries. You also see this in the wines, with significant differences between regions and sub-regions.

Portugal was very similar to Spain in climate, but there was a different feel to it. Visiting the Douro River area and tasting the great wines and ports that are produced with distinctive grapes was eye-opening, and sometimes vertigo inducing. Many of the wineries still stomp their grapes underfoot, which was so surprising to me. Also the ports and other dessert wines were extraordinary, and won over many of my traveling companions who previously didn't like sweet wines.

Back on to Rioja in Spain. I had enjoyed the trade tasting the Rioja tourism group gave in San Francisco, and was able to tour many producers in this area. The wines were very good, and agreed with my palate. The people I met here were also very helpful and friendly, making the time there extremely enjoyable. This was the highlight of my Spanish wine tour.

Leaving Spain we headed to Bordeaux. This fabled wine making area I have read about for years, but have never understood the affect the land had on the wine. Getting to visit the different locations; St. Emilion, Medoc, Pomerol, gave me a new outlook on the wine. The geography was surprising to me, such a flat area without significant elevation. Throughout California vineyards boast their elevation, terrain and jagged cliffs. I didn't see that in Bordeaux. But tasting the wines, you see the difference. Yes, they have had significant success in the past, and money has been put in to maximizing the expression of ideal characters in the fruit. To look at a map does not allow you to understand what terroir means for the area. I was able to get to some great 1st growth properties and taste some exquisite wines, which yes indeed tasted unique to the area.

At the end of the trip I was in Burgundy. This was a late addition to the travel itinerary, but well worth getting to. Visiting several sites in the Beaujolais area, it was interesting how different the land was. The Saône river winds its way through, with some hilly areas and other flatter production areas. Many of the sites are small growers who sell their wine to a larger négociant or co-operative. Seeing the difference between small production areas and large Burgundy wines allowed me to understand the wines and the geographical distinctions better. The last stop in Burgundy was at a nice restaurant that served only local wines, which is easy to do in this area, and excellent traditional French cuisine.

Coming home I have been enjoying my glass of wine in the evening. I've been trying some new wines, while also going back to some house favorites. I have been surprised by how my palate has changed, often favoring the European wines I have visited. Some of the tried and true California wines taste big and overpowering recently. Now when I'm browsing the aisles at the wine shop, I know where the wine is coming from, and what impact the terroir has on the resulting taste. This is so exciting to me. Wine education is very important in explaining the story of a wine, and seeing the areas first hand has been enlightening. I recommend touring as many wine producing areas as possible, and am already planning the next itinerary. Argentina.....Chile.....