Area Sales Manager

Job Description:

Grgich Hills Estate was founded in 1977 by Miljenko "Mike" Grgich and Austin Hills of the Hills Bros. Coffee Company, following the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that Mike crafted, which won the history-making 1976 Paris Tasting, beating the best wines of France.

Today, Grgich Hills Estate remains a family-owned and operated business, passionately devoted to the art of winemaking and regenerative farming. Our 100% estate-grown vineyards are Certified Regenerative Organic through the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a leading force in the Regenerative Agriculture movement worldwide. Referred to as "Organic Plus,” regenerative farming is a science-driven approach focused on no-till soil management, building organic matter to sustain microbial life, incorporating livestock and biodiversity, and caring for people who work in the fields and winery. It is a key component of combating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas pollution. Regenerative farming enables winemaking with minimal intervention and wild yeast fermentation, creating elegant, balanced, and complex wines with a distinct sense of place.

We care deeply about crafting world-class wines that help build a better future for ourselves and future generations, regenerating the earth and fostering peace. We are dedicated to maintaining a safe, friendly, healthy environment to ensure employee well-being by building loyalties, pride, trust, and mutual respect. Our values come from Mike Grgich, whose father said: "Every day, do your best, learn something new, and make a friend." We all live these values daily, personally, professionally, and passionately. This is an opportunity to be part of a winery that cares about making the world a better place, one friend at a time.

Summary
We are seeking a driven, relationship-focused Area Sales Manager to expand and maintain our presence with restaurants and wine retail accounts across Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and Kern counties. This role is ideal for a motivated sales professional who thrives on building lasting partnerships, delivering exceptional service, and driving measurable results. This territory covers a large area. You will manage and expand a designated territory, cultivate new business, and ensure our brands are represented at the highest level in the marketplace.

Responsibilities
Sales & Account Development
•  Actively sell and promote our wine portfolio to restaurants and wine shops within an assigned territory
•  Open a minimum of six (6) new accounts per month
•  Foster strong relationships with new and existing customers to maximize sales growth and brand presence
•  Conduct organized, professional work-withs and tasting appointments
•  Visit by-the-glass (BTG) accounts monthly to ensure optimal brand positioning
•  Document BTG placements by photographing menus and uploading to GreatVines (via Chatter)
•  Provide a monthly summary of successes and BTG placements to your direct supervisor by the 3rd of each month
Customer Service & Relationship Management
•  Deliver exceptional customer service to all accounts
•  Return all customer calls within the same business day (or next business day if received after hours)
•  Follow up consistently and systematically to ensure customer satisfaction and continued growth
•  Maintain accurate, current account and contact information in GreatVines CRM
•  Enter detailed call notes and account activity into GreatVines
Organization & Reporting
•  Schedule and maintain one dedicated office day per week
•  Utilize GreatVines for reporting, account management, and customer insights
•  Submit monthly expense reports by the 5th of each month
•  Maintain organized records and territory planning
•  Perform additional duties as assigned

Other duties as assigned
Skills & Competencies
•  Exceptional organizational and time management skills
•  Proven track record of successful sales performance
•  Strong attention to detail and follow-through
•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills
•  Customer-first mindset with strong service orientation
•  Persuasive and confident presentation skills
•  Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
Qualifications
•  Minimum of 3 years of related sales experience (wine or beverage industry preferred)
•  Must be at least 21 years of age
•  Valid California Driver’s License and valid auto insurance
•  Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs regularly
•  Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods
•  Flexibility to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed

Pay Transparency Disclosure:
The base salary range for this position is $75,000 – $105,000 per year, plus sales performance bonus and car allowance. Actual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, experience, skills, education, geographic location, and market data alignment. The Company reserves the right to modify the compensation range in the future.

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