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3 Minute Spirit School

We have teamed up with the best in the spirits business to bring you a new collection of short films about spirits, showcasing each category and inspiring you to learn more. Welcome to the 3 Minute Spirits School.

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WSET Alumni insights

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Service Roles

Service roles focus on selling wines, beers and spirits to the general public. That could be in the on-trade: bars, pubs, restaurants or hotels. Alternatively, you could land a service role in the off-trade, which encompasses independent retailers, large retail chains, supermarkets, cellar door operations and online retailers. We have delved into the most common roles below.

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Production roles

These roles focus on producing wines, beers, spirits and sake. It’s a dynamic sector of the industry, covering award-winning winemakers, master distillers, seasoned viticulturists and much more. We have discussed the key responsibilities of each role below. You will discover the main skills required to flourish in each sector, and we will also discuss career progression.

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Distiller

A distiller is responsible for the production of spirits, such as whisky, gin, rum, brandy, vodka or tequila. Distilling involves turning raw ingredients – grain, fruit, molasses, botanicals – into drinks that can be enjoyed around the world.

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Vineyard manager

A vineyard manager oversees the day-to-day operations and logistics of a vineyard. This is a hands-on role, which requires deep agricultural knowledge, leadership skills and a deep understanding of vine health.

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Beverage industry sales

Drinks industry careers in sales can be exciting, varied and highly rewarding. You will be required to sell drinks to businesses, such as bars, restaurants, hotels and supermarkets. It’s also possible to sell direct to consumers, but we have covered drinks retailing jobs and hospitality career options within our service roles guide.

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Brand manager

A brand manager is responsible for developing the strategy behind a drinks brand. The role requires strategic planning, project management, commercial analysis, creative flair and an expert understanding of your particular category.