Over the past few years, professional training has been experiencing strong growth across the wine, spirits, sake and now beer industries. Specialized companies — online wine retailers, distributors, hospitality professionals, brand owners — are increasingly investing in the upskilling of their teams, aware that strong expertise in tasting, terroirs and styles has become a real strategic advantage.
This is the context in which the partnership between Vinatis, the leading online wine and spirits retailer in France, and Weeno, a WSET-certified training provider, was born. This autumn, we trained 20 Vinatis employees at WSET Levels 2 and 3 in Wines, directly on site at their headquarters, through an in-house corporate training program specifically designed to meet the needs of their purchasing, marketing, customer service and logistics teams.
The objective of this article is simple: to show how WSET corporate training programs can transform a company’s internal culture, strengthen product expertise, boost team motivation and enhance the quality of customer advice. Through the concrete example of Vinatis, we highlight the tangible benefits of a structured, internationally recognized training program, fully aligned with professional business challenges.
In the following sections, you will discover:
– an overview of Vinatis, its positioning and expertise,
– how a WSET in-company training program is delivered,
– why this format brings immediate value to teams,
– feedback from the Vinatis x Weeno training session,
– as well as an exclusive promotional code reserved for our readers.
1. Vinatis: A leading online wine retailer in France and across Europe
Founded over twenty years ago on the shores of Lake Annecy, Vinatis has established itself as one of Europe’s leading online retailers for wines, champagnes, beers and spirits. What began as an innovative and pioneering e-commerce project has now become a key player in the digital wine market, widely recognized for the seriousness of its approach, the quality of its selection and its strong commitment to consumers.
A clear vision: making wine accessible to everyone
Vinatis’ philosophy is built on a simple principle: wine should remain a pleasure accessible to all, regardless of knowledge level, budget or personal tastes. The company speaks just as much to curious beginners as to seasoned enthusiasts, through an intuitive online experience, personalized recommendations and curated selections tailored to each profile.
An exceptional range: over 6,000 carefully selected references
At the heart of the Vinatis model lies an exceptionally diverse catalog:
– French wines from all regions and appellations,
– Champagnes and sparkling wines,
– Spirits (rum, whisky, gin, cognac, anise-based spirits, etc.),
– Craft beers,
– A wide range of organic, biodynamic and natural wines,
– One of the largest selections of world wines available online.
All products are tasted and approved by in-house experts, ensuring consistent quality across the entire range.
Key figures 2025: an infrastructure designed for quality
In 2025, Vinatis represents:
– over 6,000 active references,
– more than 1 million bottles in stock,
– 5,000 m² of temperature-controlled warehouse space,
– 120 employees based in Annecy,
– 6 international websites serving the European market.
The company fully controls its logistics chain, with climate-controlled storage, shock-resistant packaging, precise order preparation and delivery within 24 hours throughout France.
A widely recognized expertise
The quality of Vinatis’ service has been repeatedly acknowledged:
– Voted Best E-commerce Website by Capital magazine,
– Voted Best Online Wine Merchant by Le Figaro.
These awards reflect a long-term commitment to customer satisfaction, innovation and transparency.
A dedicated service for professionals
Beyond its core consumer market, Vinatis also offers a dedicated PRO service for companies, hospitality professionals and event organizers:
– personalized advice,
– support for building wine lists,
– tailor-made solutions for large-volume orders,
– an integrated customer service team capable of responding quickly to specific requests.
With its high-level expertise, impressive catalog and authentic educational approach to wine, Vinatis now stands as a key partner for enthusiasts, companies and professionals across the industry.
👉 Take advantage of the exclusive Vinatis x Weeno promo code: WEENO10
– 10% off orders over €100 on vinatis.com to explore one of the finest online wine selections.
2. Why companies like Vinatis invest in WSET training
In a sector where product knowledge makes all the difference, companies specializing in wine, spirits or beer can no longer rely solely on empirical experience. To remain relevant, competitive and aligned with evolving consumer expectations, they must invest in structured, internationally recognized training adapted to real market needs. This is exactly what the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) represents: a global benchmark that professionalizes teams and raises their expertise to a certified and homogeneous level.
Standardizing technical knowledge across teams
When employees come from diverse professional backgrounds, the WSET helps establish a shared technical language around wine:
– precise and professional vocabulary,
– standardized tasting methodology,
– clear understanding of wine styles and terroirs,
– structured product analysis framework.
For a company like Vinatis, managing over 6,000 references, this technical consistency is a major strategic asset.
Strengthening skills in tasting and product description
WSET training provides a solid foundation to:
– describe a wine accurately and objectively,
– identify grape varieties, aromas and potential faults,
– clearly explain winemaking choices and their impact on the palate,
– confidently guide customers toward the right bottle.
The result is sharper, more credible expertise, immediately applicable in a professional context.
Improving customer advice… and commercial performance
Better-trained teams naturally become:
– more relevant in their recommendations,
– faster at identifying wines that match a budget or taste profile,
– more persuasive in their sales arguments.
WSET is not just a diploma: it is a practical lever to improve customer service, often translating into higher sales performance and stronger customer satisfaction.
Boosting internal motivation and team cohesion
For employees passionate about the world of wine, undertaking a globally recognized certification is a powerful source of motivation. Group training sessions create a strong collective dynamic:
– reinforced team cohesion,
– cross-departmental exchanges,
– sense of pride and belonging,
– stimulating intellectual challenge.
At Vinatis, this approach transformed training into a true team-building project, both unifying and motivating.
Gaining an internationally recognized certification
WSET certifications (Levels 1, 2 and 3) are regarded as the global gold standard in wine education. They enhance employees’ professional profiles, strengthen both internal and external credibility, and contribute to the company’s long-term professionalization.
For employees, it is a lasting qualification that adds value throughout their career.
For the company, it is a powerful signal of expertise and reliability to clients and partners alike.
Raising product culture at every level of the company
By training their teams, companies like Vinatis build a strong internal foundation:
– a structured wine discourse,
– in-depth understanding of terroirs, grape varieties and styles,
– sharper market awareness,
– a more expert reading of consumer trends.
This overall increase in expertise strengthens the brand image and consolidates Vinatis’ position as a reference player in online wine retail.
📩 Looking for tailored training advice for your company?
Contact us at [email protected] or call +33 7 68 94 12 49.
3. The Vinatis x Weeno case study: An exemplary in-company training program
When Vinatis partnered with Weeno, the objective was clear: to provide its teams with structured, certified training immediately applicable to their daily professional activities. With more than 6,000 references to recommend, analyse and promote, technical mastery of wine had become a true strategic challenge for the company.
A team of 20 employees across multiple departments
The project brought together around twenty employees from key departments:
– Purchasing
– Customer Service
– Logistics
– Marketing
– B2B Professional Services
This diversity perfectly reflects Vinatis’ challenges: to harmonize wine knowledge and technical discourse across the entire company, not only among product experts.
Vinatis’ ambitions: expertise, consistency and human capital development
The partnership was built around three main objectives:
1. Strengthening product expertise
Developing a shared vocabulary, understanding terroirs, mastering international wine styles and analysing wines accurately using the WSET methodology.
2. Harmonizing internal and external communication
Ensuring that every employee – from customer service to content creation – speaks about wine with the same level of technical rigor and consistency.
3. Investing in employee development
Enhancing team value, boosting motivation and supporting the overall professionalization of the company.
An ambitious program: WSET Level 2 in Wines & WSET Level 3 in Wines
Weeno supported the Vinatis teams across two key levels of the WSET pathway:
– WSET Level 2, to build strong foundations in tasting, wine styles and global wine regions,
– WSET Level 3, an advanced level dedicated to in-depth technical analysis of wine, from viticulture to winemaking, including evaluative tasting.
These programs were delivered in-house, directly on Vinatis’ premises, to facilitate participation for all employees involved.
A format combining active learning and real-world application
Each session combined:
– structured theoretical lectures,
– comparative tastings of international wines,
– practical aroma recognition exercises,
– case studies,
– individual and group work to master the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting®.
This dynamic format allowed for rapid, concrete and motivating skill development.
A fully tailored training program adapted to Vinatis’ needs
Weeno designed a customized training program, taking into account:
– the initial skill level of the teams,
– the diversity of job roles,
– the scale of Vinatis’ product range,
– and the technical specificities of their e-commerce activity.
This tailored approach immersed participants in a complete and global vision of wine: styles, terroirs, viticulture, winemaking, tasting and commercial description.A comprehensive training experience, designed to enhance both product knowledge and the relevance of customer advice and editorial content on the Vinatis platform.
4. How an in-company WSET training program with Weeno works
The strength of a WSET in-company training program lies in its ability to fully adapt to the needs, constraints and objectives of each organization. At Weeno, this tailor-made support is based on a clear, proven, and results-oriented methodology.
1. Preliminary analysis of the company’s needs
Each project begins with an in-depth assessment of the company’s context:
– the team’s current level of knowledge,
– operational needs,
– upskilling objectives,
– commercial or educational goals,
– preferred language of instruction (French or professional English).
This stage ensures that the training program is perfectly aligned with the company’s operational reality.
2. Development of a customized training program
Based on this diagnostic, Weeno designs a fully tailored program:
– selection of the appropriate WSET level (1, 2 or 3),
– scheduling adapted to team availability,
– flexible pacing (intensive, modular or hybrid formats),
– integration of professional wine English vocabulary if required,
– prioritization of practical topics (international wine styles, terroirs, product description, sensory analysis, etc.).
The objective is to deliver a technical, immersive and immediately applicable training experience.
3. On-site delivery at the company’s premises
Weeno’s certified trainers travel directly to the company’s location.
This format offers several advantages:
– no need for employee travel,
– a strong collective learning dynamic,
– a comfortable and familiar learning environment,
– immediate application of knowledge in the real working context.
Weeno provides all educational materials: course content, sensory analysis tools and carefully selected wines for tastings.
Alternatively, teams may also be welcomed at Weeno’s training centers, depending on the company’s preference.
4. A complete pedagogical structure: theory + practice
Each WSET in-company session combines several learning formats:
• Structured Theoretical Instruction
Viticulture, winemaking, appellations, styles, quality factors…
All courses strictly follow the official WSET syllabus, ensuring international standards of education.
• Professional Wine Tastings
Participants learn to use the WSET SAT® (Systematic Approach to Tasting) to:
– describe a wine accurately,
– assess its quality,
– identify styles,
– understand regional differences.
• Sensory Training Workshops
Aroma recognition, balance analysis, grape variety comparisons, influence of climate and winemaking techniques.
• Professional Role-Playing and Case Studies
Commercial scenarios, customer advisory simulations, real-life business cases…
Teams learn how to apply WSET knowledge directly to their professional activities.
5. WSET certification exams: optional or included
Depending on the company’s objectives, the training program may include:
– official WSET examination sessions,
– or a non-certifying program focused purely on operational skills.
In both cases, participants benefit from:
– official WSET study materials,
– accredited WSET instructors,
– full educational and technical support throughout the program.
5. Tangible benefits observed at Vinatis
The in-company training program delivered by Weeno at Vinatis did much more than provide an internationally recognized certification. It deeply transformed the way teams work, taste and advise on a daily basis. The results were rapid, visible and measurable, impacting both service quality and internal cohesion.
1. Enhanced mastery of aromatic profiles and terroirs
Thanks to the WSET SAT® methodology and guided tastings, team members developed:
– a sharper understanding of aromas, textures and balance,
– the ability to analyze wines with greater rigor,
– a more precise reading of the influence of terroirs and winemaking techniques.
This increased expertise is now directly reflected in the accuracy and relevance of product recommendations provided to customers.
2. A more consistent customer discourse, from B2C to B2B
With a uniformly trained team:
– customer responses are more structured,
– technical vocabulary is harmonized,
– wine is described with the same level of precision across all departments.
The result is a stronger premium positioning and a more consistent customer experience across all channels: website, customer service and B2B relationships.
3. Significantly increased professional confidence
The WSET certifications strengthened the teams’ sense of legitimacy.
This translates into:
– greater ease during technical discussions,
– stronger ability to justify product choices,
– increased autonomy in wine tasting and selection.
This confidence directly supports commercial performance and credibility.
4. A stronger internal culture of quality
The training initiative created a shared technical language around wine.
Today, teams share:
– the same analytical frameworks,
– the same tasting rigor,
– the same qualitative ambition.
Training thus acts as a structuring cultural foundation, fully aligned with Vinatis’ values: excellence, accessibility and expert selection.
5. A positive impact on team engagement and motivation
Training a team also means recognizing its value.
Vinatis clearly understood this: the WSET program was experienced as a genuine mark of trust, generating:
– strong collective dynamics,
– a sense of personal progression,
– reinforced team spirit,
– and a true team-building experience through wine tasting.
The educational investment therefore had both a technical and a powerful human impact.
6. Why choose Weeno for your corporate WSET training
More and more companies (wine merchants, distributors, hospitality professionals, importers, wine start-ups and e-commerce players) choose Weeno to train their teams. And this is no coincidence: our approach is designed to match real business needs, field constraints and product diversity.
Here is what truly sets Weeno apart.
1. Highly qualified and certified trainers
All Weeno programs are delivered by experts who are:
– WSET Diploma holders, one of the highest international qualifications in the wine and spirits world,
– WSET Certified Educators, officially accredited by the international organization,
– active industry professionals (sommelier, distribution, production, brand and marketing).
This guarantees rigorous, structured teaching aligned with the highest international standards.
2. A rare multi-category expertise on the market
Weeno is one of the very few training centers in France capable of offering certified education across:
– wines,
– spirits (whisky, rum, cognac, gin, etc.),
– Japanese sake,
– and now beer (WSET Beer).
For companies, this means cross-category skill development, perfectly adapted to the diversity of modern product ranges.
3. Funding options for your corporate training programs
Training your teams is a strategic investment, but it does not necessarily have to be a heavy financial burden.
Weeno is a Qualiopi-certified training organization, giving access to several easy-to-activate funding solutions.
Funding through OPCO (skills operators)
All our professional programs (wine, spirits, sake and beer) can be financed through your company’s OPCO.
Simply request a quotation at [email protected] or call +33 7 68 94 12 49. We support you throughout the administrative process to ensure a smooth approval.
Funding via the Personal Training Account (CPF)
Employees may also use their CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation) for our professional wine English programsincluding certified language assessments:
– CLOE,
– LTE.
An efficient solution to combine technical wine education with professional English skills.
Specific funding in case of redundancy or career transition
For employees in professional transition, several public schemes can fully fund WSET training:
– CSP (Professional Security Contract),
– AIF – Individual Training Aid (France Travail),
– PTP – Professional Transition Project.
These mechanisms provide high flexibility for both companies and individuals to access internationally recognized certifications.
In short: whether you are an SME, a large group or an individual in career transition, your WSET training can be easily financed with our dedicated administrative support.
4. A program fully adapted to business challenges
Whether your teams work in:
– sales,
– sommelier services,
– product marketing,
– logistics,
– customer service,
– or purchasing,
Weeno designs tailor-made programs aligned with their operational realities.
Our goal: immediate application of skills in their everyday professional activity.
5. Maximum flexibility: on-site, Paris, Marseille or online
Depending on your organization, Weeno can operate:
– directly on your premises (in-company format),
– in our training centers in Paris and Marseille,
– or online, with tasting kits shipped in advance (Europe, Switzerland and French overseas territories).
This flexibility allows companies to train geographically dispersed teams and adapt sessions to operational constraints.
6. A recognized teaching method: clear, structured and sensory
Our pedagogy combines:
– structured WSET theory to clarify technical foundations,
– extensive guided tastings to anchor sensory perception,
– hands-on workshops (vocabulary, service, analysis),
– clear and progressive teaching materials adapted to each level.
The result?
Teams that are more skilled, more confident — and above all truly passionate about their products.
7. Bonus: The exclusive Vinatis x Weeno promo code
To celebrate our collaboration with Vinatis, the leading online wine, champagne and spirits retailer in France, we are offering an exclusive benefit reserved for readers of this article.
🎁 Promo Code: WEENO10
– 10% off from €100 of purchase on vinatis.com
– Valid once per customer
– Applicable across the entire website (excluding shipping fees)
– More than 6,000 references: French wines, international wines, champagnes, spirits, beers, organic and biodynamic wines
– 24-hour delivery available with secure, anti-breakage packaging
This code is the perfect opportunity to explore new wine regions, discover cuvées recommended by Vinatis experts, or restock your cellar after your WSET training.
Investing in training: A strategic lever for wine and spirits companies
Training your teams is no longer just a “nice to have” — it has become a true strategic necessity for every company operating in the wine, spirits, sake or beer industry.
In a fast-evolving market where customers are increasingly knowledgeable and product ranges are more extensive than ever, product mastery, consistency of discourse and precise advisory skills are now key differentiators.
The example of Vinatis clearly demonstrates how a structured approach such as in-company WSET training can transform a team:
– stronger technical expertise,
– increased confidence,
– reinforced team cohesion,
– and a significantly higher quality of customer advice.
Choosing a recognized and certifying professional training program means investing directly in:
– quality,
– performance,
– and long-term employee engagement.
Want to Go Further?
👉 Contact Weeno to organize a tailor-made in-company WSET training program for your teams.
👉 Discover all our WSET programs (wine, spirits, sake and beer) in Paris, Marseille or online.
👉 Use the exclusive Vinatis x Weeno promo code: WEENO10
– 10% off from €100 of purchase on vinatis.com to explore one of the finest online selections.
👉 Get personalized advice for your company by contacting our team:
📩 [email protected] | 📞 +33 7 68 94 12 49
