Head Wine Ambassador

Malmaison & Hotel du Vin; Henley-on-Thames; On-site; GBP 37,195,000 - 49,594,000; Full time

Job summary

Hotel du Vin Henley on Thames is seeking a Head Wine Ambassador to champion the Wine First philosophy and elevate the guest journey with storytelling-led wine experiences.

You will direct peak-time wine service, mentor FOH staff toward WSET Level certifications, manage cellar operations, and collaborate with partners to create immersive wine programs, while supporting sustainability goals.

Qualifications

• WSET certifications preferred for leadership in wine service.
• Experience in premium, high-volume F&B environments.
• Stock control, cellar management, and prestige wine lists.

Responsibilities

• Direct wine service during peak hours across venues, delivering engaging, story-driven guest experiences.
• Recommend expert food-and-wine pairings to drive upsells and premium wine flights.
• Own signature experiences like Taste du Vin and host tastings.
• Onboard FOH staff with training and mentor them toward WSET Level certifications.
• Design and lead daily 'Wine of the Day' briefings and quarterly tasting sessions.
• Oversee cellar rotation and inventory to minimize waste and optimize stock.
• Ensure wine lists and merchandising align with luxury brand guidelines.
• Collaborate with Bibendum to train staff and host events; support ESG goals.

Skills

Wine service

Storytelling

Team training

Upselling techniques

Inventory control

Supplier collaboration

Brand alignment

Education

WSET Level 3 certification

WSET Level 2 with commitment to Level 3

Job description

Role:Head Wine Ambassador

Pay: £14.21ph + tronc / 40 hours

Location: Hotel du Vin Henley on Thames

The Head Wine Ambassador is the primary guardian and local champion of Hotel du Vin’s legendary "Wine First. Always." philosophy. Grounded in the enduring legacy of our co‑founder, the late Gérard Basset, this role exists to demystify wine and deliver "unpretentious excellence."

By merging technical wine knowledge with an engaging, storytelling-driven approach, the Head Wine Ambassador ensures wine is placed at the absolute center of the guest journey. This role is responsible for driving beverage revenue, cultivating on‑property wine expertise, championing sustainability and ESG targets, and leading a passionate, certified front‑of‑house (FOH) team.

What will you be doing as Head Wine Ambassador?

• Direct wine service during peak hours in the Bistro, bar, and private dining rooms, delivering engaging, approachable, and story‑driven guest interactions.
• Recommend expert food-and-wine pairings to drive consistent upsells, premium wine flight bookings, and beverage upgrades.
• Own the execution and growth of signature brand experiences, hosting structured packages like Taste du Vin alongside spontaneous, informal guest tastings.
• Onboard front‑of‑house staff with basic training and mentor team members toward achieving their WSET Level 2 certifications.
• Design and lead daily "Wine of the Day" briefings and host monthly/quarterly deep‑dive tasting sessions to keep staff knowledge sharp.
• Oversee cellar rotation, manage inventory PAR levels to minimize waste, and strategically move bin‑end wines using the Prestige Wine List.
• Ensure all wine lists, promotional displays, advertising, and merchandising are immaculate and aligned with luxury brand guidelines.
• Collaborate with partners like Bibendum to align training, co‑host events, and successfully navigate quarterly mystery guest audits
• Champion winemakers with low‑carbon footprints to support our Net Zero targets, and coordinate local activations like English Wine Week.
• Target measurable growth including a +10% increase in Bistro average beverage spend, a 95%+ mystery guest audit score, and improved online review sentiment.
  

What we're looking for:

• Demonstrable experience in a premium, busy F&B environment, boutique hotel, or upscale restaurant environment.
• Track record of delivering structured, engaging team training and mentoring FOH staff.
• Proven experience in stock control, inventory auditing, cellar management, and working with prestige lists.
• Experience working in collaboration with external suppliers/merchants (e.g., Bibendum) is beneficial.
• WSET Level 3 certification (or WSET Level 2 with a commitment to achieving Level 3 within 6 months).
• Exceptional commercial acumen, with a strong understanding of upselling techniques, gross profit (GP) margins, and inventory optimisation.
• Advanced storytelling and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex wine tasting notes simply.
• Strong organisation skills for managing training plans, audit reports, and supplier meetings.
• Charismatic, warm, and highly approachable ("Passionate, Not Pretentious").
• Self‑motivated with an infectious passion for wine, hospitality, and food‑matching trends.
• Physically able to handle cellar logistics, lifting, and the correct storage/organization of heavy stock.
• Highly adaptable and willing to work flexible shifts, including peak weekends, holidays, and evening dinner services.