Role: Fine Wine Manager
Company: JNwine
Track Record: There is no such thing as a typical day for fine wine manager Jane Boyce.
HOW I BECAME A FINE WINE MANAGER
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I first got a position as a graduate trainee with Saccone and Speed wine merchants in London. They put me through all the different departments: shipping, sales, marketing and buying which gave me a great overall view of the wine business. They also funded my Wine and Spirit Education Trust exams which took me through to the WSET diploma, a highly respected qualification within the Trade. Then, as my husband to be was back home in County Down I made the move back and took up the position of Wine Development Manager at Holywood and Donnelly. When my first boy was born I wanted to work three days a week so I moved to Gilbeys as Wine Brand Manager and then four years later to JNwine as a wine consultant. I remained there until the boys were at school and the taxi-ing years began! At that point I decided to go freelance and had 15 wonderfully varied years writing about wine, organising wine auctions for Ross’s, holding my own wine courses and most significantly passing my Master of Wine exams. I then returned to JNwine five years ago as Fine Wine Manager, still retaining my three days a week status.
What was your favourite subject at school?
French – I had a wonderful teacher who was inspirational.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
Yes, I studied Modern European studies in the University of Bath (majoring in French with Russian).
How did you get into your area of work?
Following my year abroad when I was teaching English in the Cognac region. I did my dissertation on Cognac and loved it so much I started to explore careers in the wine industry. I joined a large multinational company in London which had an excellent graduate training programme.
They put me through my wine exams and I got the chance to work on a six week rotation in the various different departments of the company: sales, marketing, buying and shipping.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I didn’t know what I wanted to do until my year in France. All I knew was that I wanted to travel and work with people.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Languages help greatly, although not essential. Experience within the hospitality industry helps.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
Yes indeed. For sales/ marketing jobs, experience within the hospitality industry can be a good starting place but the WSET qualifications are vital if you want to progress into senior buying and marketing positions.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Flexibility of approach, honesty, hard work and attention to detail.
What does a typical day entail?
There is no such thing! Variety is the spice of life in this industry.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspect is meeting the winemakers from around the world, getting to know about their vineyards and, of course, tasting their wines. I particularly enjoy travelling to meet producers and attending wine fairs abroad to seek out exciting new wines.
Why is what you do important?
Important probably isn’t the best adjective for my job. Let’s face it, we like to think we provide enjoyment for the more relaxed moments in life once the important things have been attended to.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Don’t come into this industry expecting to make a lot of money. But if you enjoy culture, good food and wine and meeting people from around the world then I would highly recommend it. Be prepared to work long hours and be flexible in your approach.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
It would still be something within the broader hospitality industry – perhaps something in travel or the arts. Maybe even a cheesemaker!
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Listen and learn!
Describe your ideal day off.
My day off always involves walking the dogs. I love to get into the mountains for a good walk. There will always be a bit of cooking too and perhaps some gardening. I enjoy unwinding with a game of tennis or some yoga.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Read the job description carefully. Do your research and find out all you can about the job and the company before putting in your application. Know your own skills, strengths and weaknesses and make sure you are a good fit. Then go for it!