World of Wine Internship

Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style Château, and since 1883 the Manor has been synonymous with exceptional hospitality and fine wine as part of the heritage of the Rothschild family who, under the Rothschild Foundation, continue to care for Waddesdon Manor in partnership with the National Trust. As the World of Wine Intern, you’ll experience everything from cellar to service, taste incredible wines, and work towards your WSET Level 2 qualification. It is an incredible opportunity to gain real world skills in wine, sales, events, and luxury hospitality.

You’ll split your time between Rothschild Waddesdon Ltd (RWL), our heritage-focused trading company, and Goedhuis Waddesdon Ltd (GWL), a fine wine company serving private clients, retail, and hospitality. This gives you a chance to see two very different sides of the wine industry, all while being mentored by experts based mainly at Waddesdon, with some travel to London and beyond.

From September you’ll benefit from a hands-on induction, before moving to RWL to get to know the wine business at Waddesdon Manor. From November to February, you’ll be at GWL, learning about the retail, hospitality, and private client areas of the business during the busy Christmas season. You’ll gain experience in account management, working across both on-and-off trade sectors, marketing, organising supplier days, and identifying new business opportunities. In March, you’ll return to RWL to start planning the 2027 events season at Waddesdon Manor alongside our Wine Ambassador. From March to August, you’ll help deliver these events while contributing to exciting projects, gaining hands-on experience in event management, wine storytelling, and client engagement.

Throughout the internship, you’ll build your wine knowledge by tasting and documenting over fifty wines and presenting your insights in reviews. You’ll also gain event management experience, helping run wine tastings and dinners, working closely with marketing and events teams. A highlight is planning and delivering a wine-focused dinner, at the Five Arrows Hotel, in partnership with the Hotel Intern, Waddesdon’s Wine Ambassador and culinary team. You will develop themes, pair wines and food, target guests, and evaluate success, all while building skills in project management, storytelling, and customer engagement.

Another highlight will be to develop and deliver a fully integrated Valentine’s Day sales campaign for Goedhuis Waddesdon. The campaign will drive both Trade and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) sales through a cohesive, end-to-end approach across email, website, social media, PR, and partnerships.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for someone curious, motivated, and interested in building a career across food, wine, hospitality, and events. You don’t need prior wine knowledge—what matters is a willingness to learn, get involved, and grow.

You’ll be part of a small, close-knit team within a wider heritage setting, with opportunities to experience both on-site operations and time in London. This means being adaptable, open to new environments, and ready to support across a variety of tasks.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are important, as you’ll be working with colleagues, clients, and suppliers to help create welcoming and engaging experiences. You should be comfortable working with others, taking initiative, and approaching your work with a positive, professional attitude.

You’ll also have the opportunity to build your confidence with the commercial side of the business, including budgets, pricing, and reporting. A basic level of confidence with tools such as Word and Excel will be helpful.

This is a hands-on internship, so being reliable, flexible, and willing to get stuck in matters more than prior experience. If you’re curious, engaged, and interested in learning how a wine business operates across both heritage and corporate contexts, this role will give you a strong foundation.

Skills you will gain

By the end of the year, you’ll have hands-on experience and a strong foundation for a career in wine and hospitality. This includes practical wine knowledge (aligned to WSET Level 2), experience supporting tastings and service, and an understanding of how a wine business operates across retail, events, and commercial sales.

You’ll develop skills across four key areas:

• Wine & service – tasting and sensory skills, food and wine pairing, and fine dining service
• Events & customer experience – supporting and delivering events, client engagement, and storytelling
• Commercial & retail – sales, upselling, account support, and e-commerce
• Operations & business awareness – stock and cellar management, marketing, and exposure to budgeting and reporting

You’ll also have opportunities to attend industry events and build confidence working across teams in both heritage and commercial environments.

Additional opportunities

By the end of the internship, you will have a strong foundation in both the practical and business aspects of the wine industry, equipping you for future roles in hospitality, wine retail, event management, and beyond.  You will also have the chance to gain formal qualifications and additional training/experience, including:

• WSET Level 2 in wine qualification
• Multiple opportunities to attend tastings off-site (London/Oxford)
• Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 Certification
• Visiting a winery/vineyard
• Meeting with suppliers, châteaux owners and brand ambassadors
• Networking within the wine trade
• Tasting in London and around the country
• Tasting a world-renowned Rothschild wine portfolio

As part of the Pathways Internship, you will have the opportunity to participate in a three-day Intern Skills Workshop, designed to support your personal and professional development. This workshop will cover a variety of topics aimed at enhancing your skills, broadening your knowledge, and preparing you for future career opportunities.

In addition, you will be able to take part in staff and intern events throughout the year, providing valuable networking opportunities, insight into different roles across the organisation, and a chance to engage with the wider team. You will also have access to a training budget to support your learning and development, allowing you to attend relevant courses, workshops, or conferences.

To ensure you make the most of your internship experience, you will receive full one-to-one mentor support from the Pathways team. Your mentor will guide you through your projects, help you set and achieve personal development goals, and offer advice and encouragement as you explore potential career pathways.

You might be looking for a future career in…

This internship is an excellent introduction to a variety of careers within the world of wine and hospitality, including:

• Sommelier – Specialising in wine knowledge, food pairing, and service in high-end restaurants, hotels, or private events
• Account manager – Identifying new business opportunities, creating a sales strategy and building client relationships and partnerships to grow sales
• Wine Buyer– Curating wine selections for retail shops, restaurants, or distributors, using their expertise to select and source quality wines
• Wine Retail Manager– Overseeing wine retail operations, including sales, inventory management, and customer relations
• Event Manager– Organising and managing wine-related events, such as tastings, festivals, and wine dinners, in both private and public settings
• Wine Marketing & PR Specialist– Promoting wine brands, events, and experiences through creative marketing, communications, and brand management
• Hospitality Manager– Managing daily operations in restaurants or hotels, with a focus on wine service, guest experiences, and staff training
• Vineyard & Winery Operations– Working in viticulture or winemaking, using knowledge of wine production and biodynamics in vineyard management or winery operations
• Food and Wine Writer/Journalist– Writing about wine trends, restaurant reviews, wine pairings, and the broader food and wine culture for publications, blogs, or media outlets
• Wine Educator– Teaching wine appreciation and certification courses, such as WSET, to enthusiasts or industry professionals
• Wine Consultant– Advising restaurants, hotels, or private clients on wine selection, pairing, and cellar management