Tasting Room Ambassador

Do you want a career in Hospitality? Do you want to be a part of a Dynamic, Engaged, and Motivated Team that works hard and plays hard? Then maybe this is for you.

Telaya Wine Co has a strong focus on hospitality and delivering The Telaya Experience. We believe that each team member contributes significantly to the company’s success. This job description outlines the primary duties, qualifications, and scope of work. It is not intended to limit you or the Winery to the work identified in this document. Telaya Wine Co. expects you to offer your services where and when necessary to ensure the Winery's success and to maximize your skills. Hospitality is a night, weekend, and holiday business and requires a regular commitment to work during these times. Telaya is a high-paced, large-venue operation that demands constant attention to detail and an energetic pace. Employees must be able to sustain long days on their feet in a dynamic environment.

Position Summary:

We are looking for passionate candidates with a positive attitude and a very strong work ethic. This candidate will be hospitality-driven, interested in wine, and willing and able to learn more about wine, events, and the Telaya process. In addition, they must have the initiative to deliver excellent hospitality, as we believe this is the most important element of offering a world-class winery experience (as we call it, “The Telaya Experience”). 

The position focuses on presenting and selling wine in our tasting room(s) during tasting room hours, as well as at events, off-sites, and other unique pouring opportunities. This is a multifaceted position that requires initiative, attention to detail, high energy, excellent communication skills, and strong relationships with management, customers, and staff. 

Another element of this position is assisting with setting up, taking down, and hosting special events held in our tasting room(s) and at various venues throughout our facilities, and sometimes off-site.

This person will be an ambassador for the Telaya brand, its wines, and its ethics. They should represent our brand and company professionally, graciously, and enthusiastically at all times.

The duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

● Adhere to and follow Telaya’s hospitality standards and expectations.

● Be present and on time for all company meetings unless traveling or communicated otherwise.

● Participation in all company off-site retreats, meetings, workshops, and other client or industry events, either as a representative or for education purposes, as schedules allow.

● Responsibility for a section of the company outside of daily tasting room roles.

● Flexibility in schedule during release months (Fall Release=September and Spring Release=April) to help with release events outside of the tasting room responsibilities.

● Availability to work weekends and evenings is a must.

● Working events both onsite and offsite from the winery.

● Preparing the tasting room for opening and closing on days you work.

● Hosting and educating customers about Telaya Wine Co., our story, our wines, and our winemaking techniques.

● Pouring samples of our wine while focusing on building our tasting room sales and wine club memberships.

● Conducting educational tours of the winery, teaching our guests about winemaking, the facility, the equipment, the barrels, and the wines made at our winery.

● Accurately handle purchasing transactions, which include operating a POS system, entering orders, updating member profiles, processing returns, assigning discounts, etc.

● Washing and polishing glassware.

● Various cleaning responsibilities as needed.

● On occasion, perform general work in the cellar during harvest if needed.

● Copy and display miscellaneous promotional materials.

● The ability to carry and move cases of wine, for example, to a guest's car or restocking wine within our facility.

● Aiding in the planning of winery events: logistics, rentals, catering, music, etc.

● General office activities, including but not limited to scanning, copying, and filing.

● Packing wine club installments to be picked up in the tasting room.

● Shipping and packing of materials to be shipped domestically and internationally.

● General research projects.

● Other duties as assigned.

General Competencies:

● Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time, climb stairs, sit and operate a computer, and lift 50 lbs.

● Physically capable without limitations of standing for a period of up to 8 hours.

● Physically capable without limitations that would inhibit safe working in a winery cellar during harvest.

● General wine knowledge and the ability to sample a variety of wines.

● Computer literate with working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

● Ability to learn regulations related to the industry.

● Faces problems head-on with anyone or any situation quickly and directly. Is action-oriented and is not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning.

● Is a problem solver, not just a problem identifier.

Professional Competencies:

● Positive attitude with an extremely strong work ethic

● Ability to work well as a team member with the rest of the Telaya staff

● Good written and oral communication skills.

● Strong attention to detail.

● Excellent hospitality, sales, organizational, and customer service skills.

● Strong sales acumen and ability to close transactions with customers and potential customers.

● Demonstrated ability in analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills.

● Highly skilled in planning and organizing, problem identification and resolution, multi-tasking, follow-through ability to bring tasks to closure promptly, prioritization, setting, and having a sense of urgency to accomplish assigned tasks promptly.

● Passion for knowledge of wine and willingness to learn more.

● Professional appearance and demeanor

● Reliable and punctual.

● Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence others positively and effectively.

● Willing to follow directions and open to constructive criticism.

● Demonstrated ability to contribute to a continuous learning and process improvement environment.

● Capacity to react quickly and decisively in unexpected situations.

● Ability to proofread and check documents for accuracy and inconsistencies.

Training/Education and Prior Experience Preferred:

● Must be at least 21 years of age.

● Must have a valid driver’s license and insurance.

● Prefer 1+ years’ experience in a winery-related sales position or 3+ years in sales.

Salary and Benefits:

Starting Salary $40,000 / year

$550 / month in health benefits (If not used it becomes additional salary)

SIMPLE Retirement plan with an up to 3% of salary match

Cell phone coverage

4-day work week- hours range from 8 + hours per day

Inclusion in the Special Wine Club at Telaya (2 cases of wine per year)

An Education Budget for continuing education

A Charity Budget, to work with a local charity

Annual Retreat- travel required.

• 40 hours of PTO annually after first year. Earned every month the first year.