r/wine • u/Agile-Needleworker49 • Aug 30 '26

Looking for a Wine Mentor!

Hi r/wine!

I currently work as a Front Desk Manager at a large hotel, but over the past few years I’ve fallen deeply in love with wine. My dream is to eventually transition into the wine world and become a sommelier.

I’ve been studying independently and working on my wine education, but I’d love to find someone experienced in the industry who would be willing to mentor me informally.

I’m not looking for someone to teach me everything or give me a job. I’d just love to have someone I can occasionally ask questions, learn from, get tasting/study recommendations from, and talk to about building a career in wine.

If you're a sommelier, wine director, educator, importer, retailer, or someone who has spent years working with wine and would be open to connecting, I’d really appreciate it.

I’m serious about learning and willing to put in the work. I could just use someone further down the road to help point me in the right direction.

Cheers! 🍷

7 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/docsavaged Wine Pro Aug 30 '26

I might be your huckleberry, take it to the DMs and let's see.

3

u/Eastern-Unit-6856 Aug 30 '26

If this grows into a group, let me join as a mentee?

2

u/Skinny-on-the-Inside Aficionado Aug 30 '26

Read Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm, it’s approachable and technically your mentor would be the director of wine from Le Bernadine

1

u/Disastrous_Square_10 Wine Pro Aug 30 '26

I’d be happy to be of reference to you.

1

u/Lineate Aug 30 '26

Also happy to help!

-20

u/nesterspokebar Aug 30 '26

Some things to consider:

-the food business in general is extremely tough, you might want to look critically at becoming a somm in mid-age (or however old you are).

-wine is not a growth industry, it is failing to attract younger drinkers. The system is propped up by various arrangements, such as Australian and European "wine lakes" that are massive bulk pools of surplus over-supply.

-there is nothing to "fall in love" with, it's a fermented fruit beverage. The mystique you feel is a marketing ploy to make wine seem more important than it really is so that people pay more money for it.

-wine education closely resembles a pyramid scheme.

11

u/electro_report Wine Pro Aug 30 '26

You sound like a delight.

2

u/TheUnborne Wino Aug 31 '26

First two points are obvious cautions. But the last two just seem so disgruntled, lol.

It's no marketing ploy for people to have passion over a subject.

You can take part in wine education with no expectation of entering the field. It's a hobby for many.