👩🌾 Wine professions
Who grows the grapes, makes, judges and sells the wine.
Wine professions are the specialists who grow grapes, produce and age wine, judge it and sell it. On the way from vine to table, a bottle passes through the hands of a dozen trades.
The vigneron, or grape grower, prunes and ties the vines, works the soil and removes surplus shoots. In 2025 Champagne counted 16,460 growers, 120 cooperatives and 410 houses. Grapes there are picked by hand only, and every autumn about 120,000 seasonal workers take part; this is the job of the Grape picker.
The Winemaker turns grapes into wine, and on small estates one person handles growing, blending and oenology. The Cellar master oversees riddling, disgorging and bottling and, together with the oenologist, puts together the blend in the house style. In France the title of Oenologist is protected by a law of 19 March 1955: only holders of the national diploma may use it, and since 2007 the course has been at master's level.
A Négociant buys grapes, juice or wine and sells wine under its own brand; all the large Champagne houses work this way. The Cooper makes barrels: EU rules allow only oak for wine, a classic barrique holds 225 litres, and a medium toast takes about 60 minutes at 100–190 °C.
The Sommelier builds the wine list, pairs wines with food, trains staff and serves guests. The top level is Master Sommelier: the first exam took place in London in 1969, and today 299 people from 19 countries hold the title. Another prestigious title is Master of Wine. A Wine critic rates wines: from 1978 Robert Parker scored them from 50 to 100 points.
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👩🌾 Wine professions → kind of → 🍷 Wine
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Frequently asked questions
How is a sommelier different from an oenologist?
A sommelier works with guests: the wine list, food pairings and service, from opening and decanting to temperature and glassware, and often the cellar and purchasing too. An oenologist is a qualified winemaking specialist; in France the title is protected by law and may be used only by holders of the national oenology diploma.
What levels does a sommelier go through?
The Court of Master Sommeliers has four: Introductory Sommelier, Certified Sommelier, Advanced Sommelier and the Master Sommelier Diploma. The final exam includes an oral theory part, a service part and a blind tasting of six wines, three red and three white, in 25 minutes, naming grape, region and vintage.
What is a négociant?
In Champagne a négociant-manipulant (NM) buys grapes, juice or wine, makes the champagne on its own premises and sells it under its own brand; all the large houses work like this. A négociant-distributeur (ND) buys finished bottles and labels them with its name, while an RM is a grower who uses only its own grapes.
Is it true that anyone in France can call themselves an oenologist?
No. Law No. 55-308 of 19 March 1955 reserves the title «œnologue» for holders of the national oenology diploma. It is awarded jointly by the ministries of agriculture and higher education, and since 2007 the course lasts 2 years after a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or agronomy.
Similar
🍷 Wine taste and composition · 🏪 Wine storage and trade · 🥃 Grape products · 🍾 Wine containers, glassware and serving · 🏷️ Wine classifications · 🗺️ Wines of Europe
Sources
- Court of Master Sommeliers — About Master Sommeliers
- Court of Master Sommeliers — What a Sommelier Does
- Assemblée nationale — question n° 8537 (loi n° 55-308 du 19 mars 1955, titre d'œnologue)
- Comité Champagne — Champagne and its people