Raising a Toast to Sparkling Careers in Winemaking

Students interested in the Indian wine industry have more opportunities now, as the sector is growing in the global market and needs skilled professionals

- SRIDATRI THAKUR

Imagine a decade ago if you approached your parents and told them that you wanted to be a sommelier or a wine consultant or enologist (a food scientist specializing in the chemistry of winemaking), you would have surely raised a storm in the house. But not today. Today, you don't always need to be an engineer, doctor or a top boss at an MNC to demand respect in society. Today the job market is dynamic and students have the option to choose from a range of specializations. Just think of YouTubing as a career. That one could become a millionaire from YouTube was the least one could imagine. But today, it is the reality. Similarly, jobs in the wine industry are witnessing a major surge.

For the enthusiast in this business, a course in wine technology, alternatively labeled as viticulture and oenology, provides not only a solid route to a successful livelihood but also an elaborate journey through every aspect of winemaking, from the meticulous cultivation of grapes to the detailed process of winemaking and ultimately to the calculated marketing and distribution strategy.