Interesting to see this discussion that goes back several years.
I too was a wine 'broker' at Montesquieu who indeed made the first cuts (meaning I worked there for more than a few weeks). I was employed at one of the California offices until the job became intolerable. I then left.
The wines were decent but obviously over-priced, with very questionable origins. But this is not why I departed so abruptly. The spin and out-and-out lies that I was coached to give people over the phone was absolutely disgusting.
The tele-sales gig is not an easy one (for many reasons), but this company takes the game to a new low. We were encouraged to watch the 'veteran' brokers as they lied, manipulated and often made degrading fun of the people they were calling (while pretending to be their best buddy while on the phone).
Looking back, some hilarious moments unfolded (that I must try to remember if I ever write an 'Office' style TV parody of the wine industry). One stand-out moment involved an experienced blonde broker breaking down and crying on the phone as she insisted that a man NEEDED to buy an expensive Bordeaux style red, as if she was pleading with someone not to jump off a bridge. Quite a performance. Another involved a grungy sales guy (who I think was the Big Veteran on staff) screaming at the top of his lungs that he was not a telemarketer, that he was trying to reach his long lost brother (and how DARE you accuse me of harassing you at home!).
All this happened while our aging party-girl of an office manager poured us wine (I needed it) and coached us secretly on the other end of the line.
Proceed with caution if you are contacted by Montesquieu. :)
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