How to Work at a Wine Bar

In order to work in a wine bar, you must acquire a great knowledge of wines and the ways to drink them. However, there are other positions available, so determining which aspect of a wine bar is of greatest interest to you is your best starting point.

• Become familiar with a wide variety of wines. Customers may ask you what wines you recommend, and you should be able to give them a suggestion based on what taste they’re looking for in a wine.  Some wines are sweet and some wines are dry.


• One way to increase your wine knowledge is to travel to vineyards where wine is made, and take part in wine tasting events.


• Learn how to cook because some wine bars also serve food. Getting a job cooking at a wine bar could be a little more difficult, but the pay also has potential to be higher than at other restaurants.


• Network with people currently working in wine bars and learn from them. You may consider interning at an area wine bar to see how the business works.


• Decide what job you would like to have at a wine bar. Wine bar positions include managers, chefs or cooks, and servers to name a few.


• Gain customer service knowledge to be able to treat customers properly. This is important in any business. You will need to have great communication skills and a great personality especially if you become a server at a wine bar.


• Wine bars tend to be formal establishments. You’ll need the wardrobe to dress to impress in a wine bar atmosphere.