Tasting Room Associate

Now hiring enthusiastic, hard-working individuals who are looking to gain experience in the hospitality field and learn about wines. Must be over the age of 18 and available to work most weekends. This position does have the potential to become a year-round position for the right individuals. Most workdays will be from 9am-5:30pm. This position is responsible for providing genuine hospitality by greeting guests and serving them in a friendly and timely manner. The right candidate will exhibit knowledge about Wagner’s history and the beverages the guests are here to taste (training is provided).

Wagner Vineyards is the largest estate winery in the Finger Lakes, producing 30 wines made from grapes we grow on our fifth-generation family farm. Wagner Vineyards marked its 45th Anniversary in 2024. Wagner Valley Brewery celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2022 and makes regular and seasonal hand-crafted beers on site. Wagner Vineyards is an equal opportunity organization. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Retail Operations

• Greets each guest as they arrive at the facility.
• Engages customers in relaxed conversation that allows them to connect to Wagner’s.
• Gives confident and enthusiastic tastings that showcase Wagner wines and beers while connecting with customers and conveying the Company’s history.
• Strives to finish each tasting with a completed sale.
• Uses POS system and sales register to complete customer transactions.
• Stocks wine, beer, and other items, as needed.
• Works in conjunction with other tasting room staff to complete daily checklists in order to maintain the cleanliness of the entire facility and outside grounds.
• Assists with processing and shipping of wine orders.
• Daily cleaning tasks, organizing of customer facing product displays.
• Ensures compliance with NYS Laws by checking ID’s and not serving guests who are intoxicated.

Customer Service/Events

• Works evening and special events as needed.
• Represents Wagner wines or beers at outside events, occasionally.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists in the expansion and management of the “Select Case Club” and the “Octagon Cellar Club.”
• Helps with new employee training, when requested.
• Conducts winery and brewery tours, as needed.
• Works bottling line, as needed.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Prior retail experience preferred but not required
• Must attend T.I.P.S. training upon hire

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of winery and brewery products and services (training provided)
• Ability to work independently and with others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This position requires work on weekends, some holidays and overtime, as necessary.