Head Wine Ambassador

Hotel Du Vin; Southmoor; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Hotel du Vin Henley on Thames seeks a Head Wine Ambassador to lead our wine-first guest journey. You will blend rich wine knowledge with storytelling to elevate beverage experiences and revenue.

You will mentor FOH staff, run wine events, and coordinate with partners like Bibendum, while driving sustainability and Net Zero alignment across operations.

Qualifications

• Premium F&B experience in a busy, upscale environment.
• WSET certification or commitment to Level 3 within 6 months.
• Strong commercial acumen with inventory management and GP awareness.
• Excellent storytelling and wine knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Direct wine service and guest interactions during service periods.
• Recommend expert food-and-wine pairings to drive upsells and premium bookings.
• Own signature wine experiences and host tastings with structured and impromptu formats.
• Onboard and mentor FOH staff toward WSET certification goals.
• Lead daily Wine of the Day briefings and plan staff training sessions.

Skills

Storytelling

Team training

FOH management

Upselling

Inventory control

Supplier liaison

Education

WSET Level 3

WSET Level 2

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.
  

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