Also called: Wine Critic, Wine Journalist, Drinks Writer, Wine Reviewer
Tastes and reviews wines, beers or spirits and writes about the people and places behind them for magazines, websites and books.
You blind-taste 30 Napa cabernets and score each one, then interview a winemaker by phone for a feature. In the evening you edit a newsletter about affordable summer wines for your readers.
Estimate; most wine writers freelance and mix writing with teaching, judging or consulting. BLS writers and authors: $76,910 median (May 2025).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in journalism, English or communications is common, plus deep wine knowledge (WSET Level 3 or higher).
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Journalism, English, Communication, Wine Studies.
Growing slowly (about 0% over 10 years). BLS projects 0% for writers and authors, 2025-35; staff wine critic jobs are very few.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI writes generic tasting notes and articles, shrinking paid writing work; trusted palates, reporting and a personal voice still draw readers.
Classes: English and creative writing, Journalism or school paper, Chemistry.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-3043.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.