What more could you ask for at a dinner table where a bunch a people are sitting back and enjoying a delicious meal, while witty conversations fill the air with laughter, especially when all of this is complemented by a refreshing and rejuvenating drink of wine?

Wine as a cultural thing is no longer confined to the West; it is fast gaining popularity in India as well. What does this mean for students? Well, you will be surprised to know that there are a good number of career opportunities available in the Indian wine industry. Becoming a qualified sommelier (one who manages wine services in a hotel) is one such career opportunity.  This respectable occupation can be turned into a home-based business as well.  Read on to know more about how you can be a sommelier.

How Can I Become a Sommelier?

Learning to be a wine expert takes less time than earning a college degree. You can earn a professional degree from an adult education center or join a wine and food academy that offers professional wine-tasting programs. Certificates are conferred upon graduates.

Is It Very Important to Get a Professional Degree?

The history of winemaking in India is very recent. Therefore, to get a clearer picture and acquire basic knowledge of winemaking, it is necessary to go to a certified academy for learning the ways of the industry.  Also, if you have the inclination, professional training will help you turn your passion into a career. You have a wide range of options to choose from: wine writer, wine journalist, wine critic, food and wine person, sommelier, wine educator, a lecturer in wine academies, consumer trainer, and so on.

Courses offered for being a sommelier will give you knowledge about vineyards, climatic and geographical requirement for the cultivation of grapes, knowledge about alcohol and how to blend wine with the right kind of food, cocktail preparations, etc.

Career Opportunities in India and Abroad:

The wine industry in India has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks to globalization. An increasing number of people are now well traveled and well informed. An Indian meal sharing table space with an international wine is no more rare. Most wine drinkers have engaged with a sommelier at restaurants abroad and wish to experience the same in India too.

Some of the hotels in the country that employ sommeliers are Olive Restaurants, Azurro Restaurants, Hotel Le Meridien, Galaxy Hotel, Hotel Oberoi, Hotel Hilton, Radisson Hotel, Hotel Manor, Hotel Samrat.

In case of job opportunities abroad, you may want to try your luck in the UK, as it is the best place to be for a career in wine tasting.  As a sommelier, one can expect a starting salary ranging from 15,000 to 20,000. If one can own a company or become a consultant, a lakh a month is quite attainable.

Am I the right person for the job?

Bookish knowledge will not be of much help if you want to be a sommelier or a wine consultant. You need to be genuinely interested in the art of wine tasting and have a natural inclination to explore the subtle distinctions between a good wine and a great wine.  A strong background in international cuisines is essential to being a sommelier.  A good sense of taste and smell is required for the job. Chewing tobacco is a strict no-no for wine tasters as it may hinder their work.

Institutes in India:

Vincrest India, Delhi Manipal University, Karnataka KBR School of Wine, Mumbai Institute for Wine and Beverage Studies, New Delhi (Indicative listing)

Institutes Abroad:

Sommelier Society of America Wine and Spirit Education Trust School, UK (Indicative listing, as suggested by experts in the field)