Wine Educator

WINE EDUCATOR

Yountville, CA

Laying in the heart of Napa Valley, The Estate Yountville features two magnificent hotels that embody the perfect getaway and retreat. Surrounded by vineyards, Michelin-star restaurants and exquisite views in Yountville, our 22-acre haven sits among one the most coveted viticulture regions in the world. We invite our guests to immerse themselves in a redesigned Wine Country experience in a delightfully vino-cultured manner: two luxury hotels with decidedly different personalities – the vibrant Hotel Villagio and its sophisticated counterpart, Vintage House, a chic and tranquil sanctuary. A combined room-count of nearly 200 rooms and suites allows us to create a memorable experience for any occasion!

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Wine Educator to deliver exceptional wine education experiences to our guests. As a Wine Educator, you will play a key role in showcasing our portfolio, leading tastings, and deepening members’ appreciation for wine. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of Napa Valley wines, a friendly demeanor, and an engaging presentation style.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Hosting Guests

• Conduct engaging and informative wine tastings, tours, and educational sessions for wine club members and visitors.
• Manage and coordinate private tasting experiences, ensuring each event is tailored to the preferences of the guests.
• Maintain a clean and organized tasting room environment and ensure all guests are attended to with exceptional service.
• Support the execution of all on-site events, including but not limited to winery dinners, member events, group lunches, etc.
• Send a handwritten, personalized thank you note after each visit and tasting.

Operations

• Maintain knowledge of current wine trends and industry standards to provide an up-to-date and exciting experience.
• Conduct each sale from bottle to delivery, overseeing the entire sales process through to customer receipt, including promptly addressing any issues that may arise.
• Assist with wine shipments (i.e., packing of wine, re-routing of shipments, replacing broken shipments, printing labels, scheduling UPS/FedEx pick-ups, and other shipping duties as necessary).
• Enter sales orders into Commerce7, ensuring orders are complete and accurate.
• Maintain up-to-date consumer database (i.e., update payment information, billing/shipping addresses, etc.).
• Restock inventory of wines and required materials.
• Clean and buff all stemware.

Relationship Management and Outreach

• Foster strong relationships with wine club members, enhancing their wine knowledge and deepening their connection to the club.
• Assist in a concierge role for customers by referring wineries and local restaurants to our guests.
• Respond in a timely manner to all calls, texts, and emails inquiring about orders, shipping, tasting requests, etc.
• Support the Wine Club Manager in evaluating the overall performance of the hospitality program by capturing all necessary metrics.
• Set follow-up tasks and make notes of customers’ preferences, purchasing habits, and other sales opportunities.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with other hotels, wineries, drivers, tour and transportation companies, high-end destination management companies, etc.
• Educate guests about the history, varietals, and winemaking techniques of our wines and the Napa Valley region.
• Provide recommendations on food pairings, when to drink, how to store, and how to serve wines.
• Collaborate with the marketing and events teams to create new educational content and promote upcoming wine events.
• Perform outreach campaigns (phone/SMS/email), delivering a sales-focused approach to generate DTC sales.
• Participate in networking events to promote referral business.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Extensive knowledge of Napa Valley wines, viticulture, and winemaking processes.
• Previous experience in wine education, hospitality, or customer service, preferably in a tasting room or winery setting.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage a diverse audience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a passion for customer service.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with flexibility in scheduling, including weekends and holidays.
• Wine certifications (such as WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers, or equivalent) are highly preferred.
• Must be at least 21 years old and have the ability to lift and carry wine boxes and supplies (up to 40 lbs).

Estate Yountville offers an attractive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to be part of a dynamic team.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Estate Yountville is an equal opportunity employer.

(Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans) ~~~/

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