Tastemakers are people with knowledge of wine, and potentially professional wine industry experience, who sell wine-related products and services on behalf of Melier and our winery partners.

Tastemakers drive sales through hosting in-person and virtual events, referring potential clients to Melier's team, and through their online Melier storefront.

Anyone with the interest and drive to be successful in the wine industry can become a Tastemaker. Our Tastemakers come from diverse backgrounds and include sommeliers, real estate agents, teachers, retirees, attorneys, sales reps, and stay-at-home parents.

All Tastemakers must submit an application and complete a brief interview in order to join. Although prior wine industry experience can be helpful, it isn't required. We will tailor our onboarding and training to meet your level of experience.

Our only non-negotiable is your desire and ability to ethically and professionally represent Melier, our wineries, and our industry partners both in front of customers and in your public-facing life.

As a Tastemaker you earn commissions on:

• Sales that you make yourself
• Sales from customers you refer to Melier
• Sales made by other Tastemakers that you've recruited

Products and services that are eligible for commission include:

• Wine bottles
• Melier wine club memberships
• Wine tastings (in-person or virtual)
• Melier concierge referrals

Tastemakers are ultimately responsible for driving their sales. However, Melier will provide promotional support via social media & email marketing, and targeted customer outreach.

We've structured commissions to give Tastemakers the opportunity to generate a nice side income, with the potential to earn a full-time living. Your success ultimately depends on how much time you invest in the program.

Tastemakers are paid commission on direct sales & customer referrals. Rates are as follows:

Wine bottle sales - 16%

Wine club membership sales (including renewals) - 20%

Concierge service referrals - 40%

Commissions are paid net of all expenses (e.g. processing fees). Shipping + taxes are not eligible for commission.

To be eligible to earn commissions on your sales and referrals:

• You must have an active Tastemaker membership and be up to date on member dues
• Transactions, including referrals, must originate from your online storefront or other Melier approved source

To be eligible to earn commission on your team's sales and referrals:

• Your team member must have submitted their online Tastemaker application and listed you as their referring party
• Your team member's application must be approved and they must have successfully completed onboarding
• Your team member must have an active Tastemaker membership and be up to date on member dues
• Your team member's transactions, including referrals, must have originated from their online storefront or other Melier approved source

There is no cost to apply to the Tastemaker program.

Tastemakers who are accepted and decide to join the program will be required to pay a membership fee of $39/mo to cover the costs of training, growth & promotional resources, storefront hosting, membership benefits, and general support. Your membership dues will be refunded in any month during which you meet the waiver eligibility requirements.

Tastemakers also have the option to purchase a program launch package that include wines and educational materials for your first tasting. Launch packages are optional and start at $195.

Your Tastemaker membership dues will be waived for any month in which you transact $1000 or more in combined sales + referrals.

Nope! We understand that needs and circumstances change, and you can pause (or end) your Tastemaker membership at any time.

However, we kindly request that new Tastemakers make a good-faith effort to commit to the program for at least six months.

All wine purchases must be transacted online through your personal online storefront, through the main storefront on melier.com, or through the winery website with appropriate tracking code.

Any wine that you order for a tasting event may be purchased at Melier's preferred partner rate. You may request that Melier subsidize the cost of the wine in return for a minimum guest spend guarantee. Requests for a subsidy must be made in writing and agreed to at least 7 days in advance of the event.

All wine fulfillment and shipping must be handled by the winery or a licensed third party. Tastemakers are not permitted to transact orders offline, or to ship wine to customers themselves.

We've designed our program to ensure that all Tastemakers have an opportunity to earn a nice income — not just the ones who got in first, as is the case with an MLM.

The compensation model, by virtue of commission being paid only to the Tastemaker and their immediate team, incentivizes Tastemakers to mentor and support their team instead of simply trying to build the biggest team possible.

Lastly, Melier provides Tastemakers with a myriad of tools and services they need to be successful, including:

• Growth/promotional resources
• Weekly virtual meetups
• Feedback and strategy sessions
• In-person networking events