Wine Buyer

What is a wine buyer?

A wine buyer or procurer is dedicated to sourcing, selecting and buying wines for an establishment. They play a key role in shaping the wine list, ensuring it’s aligned with the cuisine, brand and customers.

 It’s more common for a wine buyer to work as a freelancer or by contract rather than full-time employment. However, larger businesses like hotels, retailers may employ a permanent procurer due to the demand.

A wine buyer will often work during the day, coordinating tastings, meeting with suppliers, managing the wine inventory, as well as negotiating any contracts. This can create flexibility in the role, with some individuals working part-time and others full-time.

Although wine buyers are typically the most senior role in this specialism, some may want to move into a more customer-facing role like a sommelier. This role is great for those keen to share detailed knowledge of flavour profiles, grape varieties, regions and pairing recommendations.

What skills does a wine buyer have?

Wine buyers need to be able to demonstrate a range of skills to confidently emerge into a career specialised in wine:

• An ability to maintain personal and beverage hygiene standards to an exceptional level
• Is detail-oriented, especially when analysing tasting notes and flavour profiles
• An in-depth understanding of food and wine pairings
• WSET Level 1&2 qualifications, which are preferred for senior roles
• Management and Organisation skills, rotating and controlling inventory
• Confident negotiation skills for producers and suppliers
• An ability to work within a set budget

What salary is a wine buyer expected to earn?

The salary for a wine buyer can be incredibly varied depending on the contract of employment; some may be on a fixed rate for their contracted hours. Employed wine buyers can expect a salary somewhere between the range of £30,000 to £50,000, depending on the business.