Our tips for becoming a wine merchant in 2025

Becoming an independent wine merchant is an exciting project that combines love of wine and entrepreneurship. In 2025, the wine market continues to evolve, offering great opportunities for professionals wishing to open a wine cellar. 

But before getting started, it is essential to understand the requirements of the profession, the administrative procedures, as well as the layout and marketing of your store. 

Follow our advice to succeed in your project and become an independent wine merchant with a space that is both functional and welcoming!

Understanding the profession of a wine merchant

The profession of wine merchant: what does it consist of?

The wine merchant is an expert in wine who selects, buys and sells bottles to his customers, whether they are amateurs or connoisseurs. His role is not limited to sales: he advises, organizes tastings and creates a unique experience to build customer loyalty. As an independent wine merchant, you will also need to manage your stock, negotiate with suppliers and develop your brand image.

The skills required to become a wine merchant

To become an independent wine merchant, it is essential to have a solid knowledge of wine, but also of grape varieties, appellations and food-wine pairings in order to effectively advise clients.

But passion for wine is not enough. Good business skills are also necessary to establish a trusting relationship with customers and maximize sales. 

In parallel, mastery of management and accounting is essential to ensure the monitoring of stocks, control margins and anticipate costs.

Finally, to become an independent wine merchant, you must also think about the layout of your wine cellar. A well-thought-out arrangement allows you to tidy up your wine cellar while enhancing your bottles and offering a pleasant experience to your clients, thanks to wine cellar furniture for example. 

If some of these aspects are not mastered, training in oenology or business management can be a real asset to secure your project.

The steps to become a wine merchant in 2025

Analyze the market and define its concept

Before becoming an independent wine merchant, you must first study the local market. Who are your future clients? What types of wines are they looking for? Is there strong competition in your sector?

This analysis will allow you to define a unique concept based on the sector’s demand: cellar specializing in organic wines, foreign wines, champagnes, or even a space to organize a wine tasting.

What administrative steps to open a wine cellar?

First of all, it is necessary to obtain a liquor license, generally a III or IV license, which allows the sale of alcohol to take away. This request is made to the town hall and requires specific training on the regulations in force. 

Then, one must register their company in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS), an essential step to practice legally. 

Compliance with health and safety standards is also paramount. The storage of wine must comply with strict conditions regarding temperature and humidity, not forgetting the display of prices which must be clear and compliant with regulations. 

Finally, it is important to be well informed about tax obligations, especially regarding VAT and excise duties on alcoholic beverages, in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises when launching your activity.

Choose the ideal location

Location plays a key role in the success of your cellar. A good place must be visible from the outside, easily accessible and located in an area where your target clientele is present (downtown, tourist district, residential area with wine lovers).

What is the legal status for an independent wine merchant?

Individual Enterprise (EI)

The Individual Company is simple to create and suitable for small wine cellars. You are the only one responsible, but your personal wealth is not protected in case of debts.

EURL or SASU: what differences?

An EURL, which stands for Sole Proprietorship with Limited Liability, is a structure adapted to single entrepreneurs, with simplified management and limited liability to contributions. While a SASU, Simplified Unipersonal Joint Stock Company, is more flexible and ideal for evolving into a company with several partners.

SARL and SAS: create your company with partners

If you want to become an independent wine merchant with one or more partners, the LLC and the SAS are viable options. The LLC is governed by strict rules, while the SAS offers greater freedom in the distribution of powers.

Establish a solid business plan

Estimate start-up costs

Opening a wine cellar requires a significant initial investment:

• Purchase of starting stock: between €10,000 and €50,000 depending on the size of your cellar
• Arrangement of your premises: furniture, shelves, reception counter (count between 5,000 and 20,000 €)
• Administrative and legal costs: about 2,000 €
• Marketing and communication: website creation, local advertising (budget €3,000 to €10,000)

Plan the sources of funding

To finance the opening of your wine cellar and become an independent wine merchant, several options are possible depending on your initial budget and the specific needs of your project. 

Bank lending remains one of the most common solutions, provided that it presents a solid and convincing business plan to financial institutions. Certain local aids and subsidies may also be mobilised, in particular those intended for local businesses or business start-ups.

Crowdfunding, via crowdfunding platforms, is an interesting alternative to mobilize a community around the project and obtain funds while testing the market interest.

Finally, soliciting private investors can make it possible to benefit from an additional financial contribution, often in exchange for a stake in the company. 

It is therefore essential to evaluate each option based on its strategy and its ability to repay the financial commitments made.

Arrange your wine cellar: furniture and layout

The layout of your store is essential to attract and retain your customers. At Tradis, we offer furniture for professional wine merchants: robust wine shelves, bottle racks, reception counters and wine displays. 

Consider optimizing the storage of your bottles to offer them easy access and a beautiful enhancement. Create a tasting space to combine conviviality and discovery of your products. Finally, play on the lighting and decoration to give a warm and authentic atmosphere to your establishment and wine cellar equipment.