Wine Educator (seasonal part-time)

Find your place at Gloria Ferrer, where our vineyards stretch over 300 acres of Estate Vineyards in the stunning Los Carneros region of Sonoma. Whether you're passionate about viticulture, a hospitality expert, or a pro in production, Gloria Ferrer offers an energetic and forward-thinking environment that values fun, creativity, and a shared love for exceptional wines.

At Gloria Ferrer, every role is important to our success and every day presents a chance to innovate, grow, and enjoy the fruits of our labor, quite literally! We pride ourselves on being a community that stays true to its roots, commits to sustainability, embraces innovation, and fosters a culture grounded in respect, integrity, passion and excellence. At Gloria Ferrer we laugh together, work hard together, and raise a glass together.

SUMMARY

Our Wine Educators play an important role in delivering exceptional service and experiences for our guests and members. They host engaging, informative, and enjoyable experiences, such as full course meals with wine pairings, walking tours, and traditional wine tastings. Our Wine Educators deepen our guests' appreciation and understanding of our wines by sharing insights into our varietals, the winemaking process, and our commitment to sustainable and organic practices in our estate vineyards. Our Wine Educators are naturally skilled in sales and customer interactions, embodying the spirit of our winery’s culture and values, and ensuring that guests fall in love with what we offer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide engaging and tailored explanations of our unique wines, and the rich history of our estate vineyards to various groups, ensuring each visit is memorable and informative.
• Actively promote our wine selections and encourage guests to join our wine club by highlighting membership benefits and exclusive offers.
• Provide exceptional hospitality and lead a variety of winery experiences, including full course food and wine pairings, guided walking tours, and traditional wine tastings.
• Maintain the visual appeal and organization of our retail area and visitor center, ensuring they are well stocked and neatly presented both inside and out.
• Handle day to day tasks including greeting guests, assisting wine club members and guests with their orders, and conducting sales transactions using the POS system.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continual learning and improvement while maintaining high operational standards, including safety and regulatory compliance.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Consistently support the Gloria Ferrer culture in all business and employee interactions ensuring ethical and legal compliance with federal and state laws and GF policies and procedures.
• Attend special events and tastings outside the winery for special pouring including virtual experiences.
• Contribute innovative ideas for improving safety, service, merchandise, sustainability, and general operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• High school diploma or equivalent and/or one to three years’ experience in hospitality and wine, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, is necessary.
• WSET, CSW or other equivalent certifications, a plus
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have RBS and Food SERV Safe certification (or complete within 30 days)
• Experience in retail sales and/or food and beverage service experience helpful.
• Competency with computers and iPad usage is required.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Exceptional customer service skills and strong leadership experience are important.
• Must be comfortable with public speaking and remain calm under pressure
• Must be a team player and ability to think with a safety, sustainability and quality mindset.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule which includes weekends and holidays

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to taste, read, talk, and listen. The employee frequently uses hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.

• Must be able to work outdoors in extremes conditions, including heat, humidity, cold, and other inclement weather.
• Must be capable of walking on uneven ground.
• Must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 lbs. (case of wine)
• Must possess sufficient visual acuity to drive safely (golf cart), recognize employees/guests, and work on computers and tablets.
• Must be able to endure repeated use of hands and sustain long periods of standing, walking and bending.

COMPENSATION

• $20 per hour, plus gratuity and incentive bonus. Depends on candidates overall skills and qualifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer