Head Wine Ambassador

Malmaison Hotels; Henley-on-Thames; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Room Rates

Friends and Family Discounts

35% dining discount

Fully funded Apprenticeship programmes

Cycle to work scheme

Healthcare Cash Plans

Job summary

Malmaison Hotels in Henley-on-Thames is seeking a Head Wine Ambassador to place wine at the heart of the guest journey, delivering unpretentious excellence with storytelling. You will train FOH staff to WSET Level 2/3, lead signature experiences, manage cellar stock, and collaborate with suppliers to grow wine revenue while supporting sustainability goals.

You will design wine programs, host tastings, and maintain luxury brand standards across Bistro, bar, and private dining rooms.

Qualifications

• Premium F&B experience in a busy hospitality setting.
• Training FOH staff to wine standards and service excellence.
• Strong knowledge of wine regions, styles and pairing concepts.

Responsibilities

• Direct wine service during peak hours in the Bistro, bar, and private dining rooms.
• Recommend food-and-wine pairings to drive upsells and premium wine flights.
• Own signature wine experiences and host tastings for guests.
• Onboard and mentor FOH staff toward WSET certifications.
• Manage daily wine briefings and staff training sessions.
• Oversee cellar rotation, inventory PAR levels, and stock usage.
• Ensure wine lists and branding align with luxury guidelines.
• Collaborate with suppliers and partners for events and audits.
• Support sustainability targets and local wine activations.

Skills

Wine knowledge

Storytelling

Guest service

Staff training

Stock control

Upselling techniques

Budget awareness

Collaborative

Education

WSET Level 3

WSET Level 2 with commitment to Level 3

Tools

POS systems

Inventory management

Job description

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.
• 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.
  In addition to competitive rates of pay we offer:
• Heavily discounted Staff Room Rates at Malmaison & Hotel du Vin with rooms available from £65 per night.
• Discounted Friends and Family Room Rate with 50% off best available rate.
• 35% off your bill when you dine in our Brasseries and Bistros
• Fully funded Apprenticeship programmes that support you in developing your career
• High Street Discounts on a range of high street shops, experiences, holidays and much much more
• Cycle to work scheme - save up to 40% on a wide range of bikes
• Healthcare Cash Plans - dental, optical, medical and more available from £5 per month
• Referral schemes that pay up to £1500 (just for getting your mates jobs!)
• A decent uniform that doesn't make you look like an extra from a 70s TV sitcom.
• We have a Wellness & National Campaign Days Calendar which promotes and encourages activities like - Pay Day Lunches/Treats, National Popcorn Day, Mental Health Awareness week and more
• We work with Stream giving instant access to your pay as it's earnt. Stream is a tool for everyday life that lets you get paid your way by letting you track your wages in real time, stream up to 50% of the money you're already earned, learn easy tips to manage your money better and save direct from your salary
• We also offer complimentary stays on your 1st, 3rd and 5th anniversary with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
• We are a proud sponsor of The Brain Charity, helping people with all forms of neurological conditions to lead longer, healthier, happier lives.
• Employee Assistance Programme - free, confidential advice available 24/7 to you and your family

Our Sustainability Goals:

• 100% of our electricity is generated using renewable energy with most of it coming from Wind Farms around the UK
• We recycle a minimum of 70% of the waste from our hotels. This target is achieved by everyone I the hotel focusing on the waste we produce and is championed by our Sustainability Council who work on project year round
• We have moved to a chemical free cleaning system in our bedrooms and public areas and an enzyme based eco-friendly system for our kitchens.
• Volunteer to work for sustainable charities 2 days per year on full pay instead of your normal workplace