Oenologist
Snapshot
Oenologists track the wine manufacturing process in its entirety and supervise the workers in wineries. They supervise and coordinate production to ensure the quality of the wine and also give advice by determining the value and classification of wines being produced.
Oenologists play a vital role in the entire wine manufacturing journey. Your days involve meticulous tracking of each stage, from grape selection and fermentation to aging and bottling. You’ll supervise winery staff, coordinate production activities, and leverage your expertise to maintain and enhance the quality of the final product. This role combines scientific understanding with a deep appreciation for the art of winemaking.
- • Supervise and coordinate all aspects of wine production, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
- • Monitor fermentation processes, analyze wine samples, and make adjustments as needed to achieve desired characteristics.
- • Evaluate and classify wines, determining their value and potential for aging.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Netherlands and 1 more.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $88,720 2025-05 | +6.5% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +35.5% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Shortage reported Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Surplus reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
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Future Outlook for oenologist
The outlook for oenologist reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could oenologist change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- apply HACCP
- apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
- apply GMP
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- monitor the process of wine production
- perform sensory evaluation of food products
- analyse samples of food and beverages
Tasks most exposed to automation
- manage wine cellar inventory
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Agriculture
A typical day as an oenologist
09 09:00 · Morning filter wine
10 10:30 · Mid-morning handle wine sales
12 12:00 · Midday manage wine cellar inventory
14 14:00 · Afternoon analyse samples of food and beverages
15 15:30 · Late afternoon apply GMP
17 17:00 · Wrap-up apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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tend wine manufacturing machines
Tend machinery, appliances, and special equipment designed for the production and the manufacturing of wine. Make maintenance and implement preventive actions to the machinery in order to ensure operability.
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operate pasteurisation processes
Follow and apply procedures to pasteurise food and beverages. Recognise the properties of the products to be pasteurised and adapt procedures accordingly.
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perform detailed food processing operations
Perform precise food processing operations with great attention and detail to all steps in the creation of a qualitative product.
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filter wine
Filter the wine to remove any solid residue. Place filtered wine in tanks or casks for storage and maturation.
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monitor the process of wine production
Oversee wine production to take decisions, in order to achieve the desired output.
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monitor winemaking process
Conducts wine making and monitors processing steps. Supervises and participates in the bottling and labelling work.
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assist bottling
Prepare wine for bottling. Assist with bottling and corking.
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check bottles for packaging
Check bottles for packaging. Apply bottle testing procedures to verify if the bottle is fit for containing food and beverage products. Follow legal or company specifications for bottling.
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apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages
Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.
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apply GMP
Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
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handle wine sales
Handle all aspects of wine sales. Communicate with members through telephone and email. Follow up appropriately in order to achieve wine sales.
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perform sensory evaluation of food products
Evaluate the quality of a given type of food or beverage based on its appearance, smell, taste, aroma, and others. Suggest possible improvements and comparisons with other products.
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mark differences in colours
Identify differences between colours, such as shades of colour.
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store wine
Keep in reserve various types of wine according to standards, regulating temperature, heating and air conditioning of storage facilities.
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prepare containers for beverage fermentation
Prepare containers for beverage fermentation according to the type of beverage to be produced. This includes the qualities that the different kinds of containers can give to the final product.
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apply HACCP
Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
beverages filtration processes
Safe and economic method for removing impurities from food products and extending its shelf life. Importance of contamination control and how it contributes to superior quality product, a significant reduction of waste and a minimum of product spoilage.
fermentation processes of beverages
Fermentation processes related to the conversion of sugar to alcohol, gases and acids.
food and beverage industry
The respective industry and the processes involved in the food and beverage industry, such as raw material selection, processing, packaging, and storage.
pathogenic microorganisms in food
The identification and characteristics of pathogenic micro-organisms in food and the adequate prevention methods to inhibit its reproduction in food materials.
variety of grapes
Varieties of grapes and the types of wine that can be produced with them. Specifications during fermentation and the treatment of the juice during the process.
wine blending
Blending processes of wines considering factors that affect how wine is perceived by the taster and eliminate anything that may hinder objective testing.
wine characteristics
The origins and characteristics of international wines.
wine fermentation process
Process of fermentation of wine, which involves the different steps to be followed, the time lapses in the process and the parameters of the product.
winery production process
Winery production processes and safety requirements. Winemaking principles. Engineering and flow process technology (pumps and hoses).
- biotechnology
- financial capability
- quality assurance methodologies
Path to become an oenologist
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
Regulated in 1 countries on record. Minimum EQF 6.
Reflects the EU regulated-professions database. Not legal advice — confirm requirements with the relevant national authority before relying on this for a career or immigration decision.
The closest officially recognised professional qualification in the Flemish qualification structure:
- Oenoloog Flemish level 5
A closest match, not an exact equivalent: a qualification is often narrower than the occupation. Source: AHOVOKS, Flemish government (Kwalificatiedatabank), reused under the Flemish Open Licence for free reuse.
291 programmes in 28 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 170 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) · New Zealand
Bachelor of Business in Wine and Beverage Management
Technological University Dublin · Ireland
These are 6 of 461.
Sources
- 1. Source: Study with New Zealand (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz), Education New Zealand. Copyright in the material is owned by Education New Zealand (All content (c) Education New Zealand). Listings are provided by the education providers, are for information and promotional purposes only, and are not endorsed by Education New Zealand; each provider is responsible for its own content.
- 2. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 3. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
- 4. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does oenologist fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of scientific knowledge is important for an oenologist?
Does this role involve a lot of hands-on work, or is it mostly supervisory?
What are the common career paths for an oenologist?
Is there a shortage of Oenologist in Europe?
How much does Oenologist pay in the United States?
Is Oenologist a regulated profession?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data