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WSET Wine Service Series

Originally created for the WSET Level 1 Award in Wine Service - this is a series of four short films on 'wine service'.

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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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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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Toji (Master Sake Brewer)

A Tōji is a master sake brewer. This deeply respected role blends art, science and intuition, while building upon centuries of Japanese tradition.

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Other production careers

Wine, spirits, beer and sake production can encompass several other jobs too.

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Beverage buyer

A buyer is responsible for sourcing a diverse range of drinks on behalf of a business, such as a supermarket, a wine merchant or a hotel chain. Buyers aim to build a range that appeals to existing customers, but they also need to attract new customers. The portfolio should stand out from the competition, while offering a strong blend of quality and value.

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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.