Recently, I started a new side hustle pouring wine at a
vineyard’s tasting room. How hard could it be? It’s just pouring wine. Nothing
to it...right? Greet your wine tasters, pour a little wine, learn a few wine
terms and enjoy the camaraderie.
Turns out, my first day I felt clueless and my comfort
zone was challenged. Pouring wine was the one thing I thought I could do with
some degree of ability. I mean, having more than a few years of experience
pouring wine into my own glass this was sure to be a breeze.
Truth is... this task even seemed a bit fumbled on my
first day. Normally, I could uncork a bottle, pour a glass, and do a jig before
you could say Pinot Noir.
In my defense, I thought I’d have more time to learn about their wines, get acclimated with the wine bar and test drive a few corkscrews before being put in the trenches.
The first and most important piece of learning the job
was the cash register. Well, of course, it was! They’re in the business of
selling wine...to make money! So, naturally, charging for wine and getting the cash was a priority. How silly of me to
overlook this important fact.
