How to Get a Job in the Wine Biz

Let's say you want to be in the wine (or beer) business. You may not be interested in the production side (winemaking, cellar work), but more in running the business. This gives you a nice career path with an office job and something that's still transferable to other industries. Alcohol production is still a business like any other with requirements for leaders and people that understand such things as the supply chain, marketing, finance, and the laws.

Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute
photo from pressdemocrat.com

          
There is a wine degree program at Sonoma State University's business school. There are other universities, such as UC Davis and Fresno State, offering programs in making wine. Sonoma State is one of a very few offering education on how to run the business. The booming beer and spirits professions are similar enough so that this could be transferable to those industries.

If you already have a degree, but work at a winery or plan on starting one, SSU offers a Masters Program to get you going. Ray Johnson runs the Wine Business Institute at SSU and is just about the greatest guy you will ever meet. Check it out.