Writing about food/wine- anything I should know?

1. Congratulations, @Haleth! I’m sure you’ll do very well. Your interest, enthusiasm, intelligence, and eagerness to learn are great assets. And you’ve done this before. (That is, found your bearings in new territory and proved yourself.) So calm down, darlin’.

2. Is there anyone among your colleagues that you might consider asking to mentor you as you gain experience in this new aspect of the food-and-beverage business?

3. The difference between knowing what you’re doing and looking like you know what you’re doing is sometimes very small.

4. Everyone else started out knowing no more than you do.

Take a class in wine, food and hospitality.

5. Take a few books out of the library to fill in some gaps in your knowledge.

6. Don’t try to write like anybody else, and above all don’t copycat some columnist using jargon you don’t really understand.

7. Breathe. Deep breaths. There. Good girl.

Everyone has felt the same way that you do when it comes to taking on a new job, be it with a new company or a new position. You have honestly described yourself as a beginner and one out to learn.

I agree with Jeruba’s suggestion to seek out a mentor who is willing to take on the task, be it someone within or outside of the company. As for reviews of any articles written, you know that there will be a mixture of the good versus the bad. Food and wine is very preferential. It seems like it is just a matter of appreciating the good and learning from the bad.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks, a dose of level-headed advice was just what I needed. Whew.

Here’s what I’m doing so far:
-Asking lots of questions. We have a few people working there who are very knowledgeable.
-Getting in on every tasting I can; I carry a notebook with me to take tasting notes.
-The wine reps visit every week, so I talk to them as much as possible.
-When I can afford it, buying bottles on my own and drinking them.
-Talking about wine with the customers, just so I get more comfortable/confident about it.
-Reading up on wine. I’ve already taken out a few books on the subject, but sometimes there’s so much information that it gets overwhelming.

You’re doing all the right stuff.

8. Trust your instincts.

See if there’s a WSET education course in the city you live.

@breedmitch Awesome point. I’ve looked into that and it’s on the other side of the city, about an hour away. But I think it would be worth it to have this certification.

It really is the certification that is taken the most seriously.
Work a few months at the shop. Then skip the intermediate course and take the advanced. If they have the week long intensive, do that. You’ll fare better on the exam having just learned it.
I’m ¾ through the diploma course and already eyeing the MW ordeal.

@breedmitch is a voice of authority in this realm.

I know nothing about the subject matter, but if I were in your place, @Haleth, I would not hesitate to ask my manager if the company had a policy on supporting employee education.

In addition to the wonderful advice you’ve already received, you might want your first article to be in an interview format. Something like: “Wines We Love”, where you can do little interviews with the rest of the staff on their favorites, and the characteristics of each. That way, you don’t even have to know anything about wine, but can still use your writing skills.

Don’t forget to dress up your fine articles with beautiful photography of vineyards and everything winey. Lot’s of free stock images on Google, and the subject matter is ripe for gorgeous imagery.

Jeruba has a good point. My first certification was paid for by my boss.