Written on 07/04/2022
The job of oenologist will hold no secrets for you
It's a job that many people dream of doing: oenologist, which etymologically means: one who possesses the science of wine. In fact, oenology allows you to combine business with pleasure, by tasting wines and trying to understand where they come from, their history and so on.
And not everyone can be so knowledgeable about wine. Of course, there are training courses and internships that allow you to learn a little more. Our own culture and thirst for learning can also make us a little expert, but if you're really passionate about wine, don't hesitate any longer and throw yourself wholeheartedly into the oenologist's profession, especially as it remains fairly accessible.
The oenologist's job involves bringing together a range of legal, technical and scientific skills to support and supervise wine-making.
Missions may vary if the position is with a winegrower or a wine merchant.
Working with a winegrower, the oenologist is responsible for ensuring the annual quality of production. He can also advise on the choice of grape varieties, vine planting and so on. He will also have an eye on cellar fermentations, wine processing and packaging.
In the case of a négociant producer, the oenologist will play the role of blending expert.
Thanks to his knowledge of wine, he can guide them, understand the market and know what wine to produce at what time, according to customer expectations.
They can work in many different places, including laboratories, cooperatives, wineries, wine merchants, teaching and research. Working hours are obviously varied, depending to some extent on the vineyard and production.
So how do you become an oenologist? It's quite simple. You need to have the national diploma of oenologist, the DNO, at bac+5 level. It's open to people with a bachelor's degree in the biological, chemical or biochemical agronomic sciences.
Preparation for the diploma lasts two years and can take place in Bordeaux, Dijon, Toulouse, Reims and Montpellier.
In terms of salary, a young oenologist will start at around 2000 euros. More experienced oenologists can earn up to 5,000 euros. Oenologists also have a wide range of career possibilities, from cellar manager to technical director to cooperative manager.
