Yes!
I currently just got out of the industry in NorCal after almost 5 years. The economy is no bueno, and even though alcohol in general still sells it's at a lower price point.
I started in the restaurant biz, moved into retail, the best job I had was as a wine & beer department buyer for a .. well; THE major "organic grocery" store.
My education was three AA's from community college, extensive wine knowledge, forklift certification, TIPS certification for the serving of alcohol; and my pay was $12/hr. with 32-38 hrs. per week. The job title topped out at max $17/hr. It was "throwing" (moving cases of wine, they are heavy) all my own freight, all the bottles of beer and wine that came in the back door to the shelf, putting together all the orders, helping customers in all departments, making phone calls, creating displays, doing paperwork, a lot was expected of me.
I worked closely with sales representatives and they were all doing okay but nowhere near the sales of 5+ years ago. Their jobs are commissioned (they get a percentage of $$ for their pay based on how much $$ the order was that was place) and they have a route, use their personal car, and "call" on accounts to place orders and try and get products from their company & portfolio in the stores. Thing is, most major retailers have a set, or pre-set list of wines to carry, it just depends.
I also worked at a wine bar for a few months, it was fun and I had hoped to stay there for awhile and perhaps continue working there when I decided to go back to school for a BA. Unfortunately I took a weeks vacation, they had no problem with, but I came back and had no hours. Bummer.
I've been unemployed for ... gee coming up on 7 months. I've applied to restaurant jobs, retail, everything.
I worked very, very hard, to get to where I was, but the pay was just too little with no room from promotion unless I wanted to be a grocery store manager. Bleh.
Also something to consider is that with a marketing degree in wine is that you're competing with sommeliers; people that are INCREDIBLY keen on all the varietals of wine, can educate customers and are a real asset especially for owners and managers in the business that may not be educated on wine but great on the business side. A job may come up between you and a sommelier, you may have the schooling, but he may have the on-the-job-training training to put him ahead of your game.
You could probably get a job working at a retail place with that degree... I'm reallllly not sure what else at this point. A lot of places have resorted to the employee that does multiple things (cashiers, stocks wine and cheese and beer).
The money to be made in the wine industry is all business managerial, and at wineries perhaps wine club etc. but those all at the least require a BA. You may be able to work the tasting room for $13/hr. with an AA in wine marketing.
Overall it's an incredibly competitive industry, there is money to be made but you have to be prepared to deal with people that are hacks, shady, alcoholics, a little kooky, not always the nicest, and customers and businesses that are cranky.
I am going back to school in the fall for business but may change my major to anthropology. After I learned all there was to the different wine regions around the world there was no spark left in it for me. It's not glamorous, fun, or interesting.
Best of luck with your decision, it's tough world out there!
