Timing
I was recently speaking to a group of business folks in Western North Carolina (actually conducting a wine seminar for them) and we were talking about what a wine label really says and that price is not the way to purchase that fine fruit. At the end of the seminar I asked if there are any questions as I always do and this middle aged gentleman asked me how I got started in the wine business at Biltmore and could he get a job! I went on to tell him that after I retired from public school life I wanted to play with adults and wine and heard about Biltmore Estate. After doing some research, I decided that I would throw my hat into the ring to see if I could work at the Winery. I was fortunate to get a position and started out pouring wine to thousands of people in the country’s biggest and busiest tasting room! Before long I was asked to write and create a new wine training program for all employees in the retail shops on the Estate. Once a teacher always a teacher I guess. It is now almost nine years later and I continue to learn new things about wine and the wine business. I write and teach employees how to give wine seminars as well as give refreshers to veteran staff members, and introduce the rookies to the world of wine. I assist guests in food and wine pairings and just help people to demystify the world of wine. This is a most challenging time in the economic world of retail and the wine world is no different. Many company’s are not hiring, taking steps to reduce the work force, cutting benefits and trying to find ways to keep their heads above water. Losing time and benefits is difficult, but when a job is lost it is tragic. So the answer to that middle aged gentleman was, probably not now.