Seeking Wine Sages

So, it's time for a career change, and I've been considering doing something related to wine. I'm not sure what yet. I've sought out advice from a successful wine shop owner, and done a bit of reading here and there, and the consensus seems to be that wine, like any career, takes knowledge and experience from as many points of view as possible. To that end, I've got to try out as many different wine-related jobs as possible over the next couple of years. Production, marketing, wholesale, retail, etc, all are points of view to understand in the business. I'm going to start by getting a job in a wine bar, and trying to get a part-time job (either paid or as a volunteer) at a local winery.

It's a bit daunting - wine, unlike a lot of other professions, really can't be learnt from a book. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good books out there! But tasting is a necessity. And to taste, and to really experience and learn about wine, you've got to travel. Since 10 dollar bottles are a stretch on the budget right now, intercontinental wine tours seem difficult to arrange. My hope is that I'll get a job that exposes me to opportunity. (And pays the bills, let's not forget that!)

Does anyone out there have advice for a fledgling wine employee?