Cellar Door Host

Mission Estate Winery; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wine training

Seasonal contract

Iconic winery setting in Hawke's Bay

Job summary

Mission Estate Winery in Hawke's Bay seeks friendly, customer-focused staff to deliver engaging wine tasting experiences and promote our direct-to-consumer offerings. You’ll confidently recommend wines, share our heritage, and help build lasting connections with guests.

Ideal candidates have strong communication, sales confidence, and a proactive attitude for a fast-paced environment. Training will be provided, with weekend and holiday shifts required to support busy periods.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidence in recommending products and closing sales.
• Energy, initiative, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility to work weekends, public holidays, and busy trading periods.
• Willingness to contribute wherever needed, including serving guests and stock replenishment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging and memorable wine tasting experiences.
• Confidently recommend and sell wines to visitors.
• Promote wine club memberships and other direct-to-consumer offerings.
• Share the stories behind our wines, people, and heritage.
• Build rapport with guests and create lasting brand connections.
• Assist with stock presentation, merchandising, and Cellar Door operations.
• Work with hospitality and tourism teams to ensure a seamless visitor experience.

Skills

Communication

Sales ability

Customer service

Team player

Fast-paced work

Job description

The story of Mission Estate Winery begins when French missionaries reached New Zealand shores in 1838. Our history, special character, and the evolution of our winery are intertwined with the rich history of New Zealand. Mission Estate is New Zealand’s oldest winery, and we’re looking for top-notch, enthusiastic people passionate about delivering exceptional customer experiences.

The Cellar Door team are at the forefront of our brand experience, telling our stories, sharing our wines, and creating amazing memories for our guests. Our Cellar Door is one of the busiest in the country and is open seven days a week, year-round.

About the Role

• Deliver engaging and memorable wine tasting experiences
• Confidently recommend and sell wines to visitors
• Promote wine club memberships and other direct-to-consumer offerings
• Share the stories behind our wines, people, and heritage
• Build rapport with guests and create lasting brand connections
• Assist with stock presentation, merchandising, and general Cellar Door operations
• Work collaboratively with the wider hospitality and tourism teams to ensure a seamless visitor experience

About You

You'll be a people person who enjoys engaging with customers and naturally builds enthusiasm around products and experiences.

To be successful in this role, you'll have:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Confidence in recommending products and closing sales
• Energy, initiative, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility to work weekends, public holidays, and busy trading periods
• Willingness to roll up your sleeves and contribute wherever needed, whether that's serving guests, replenishing stock, or helping maintain a clean and welcoming environment

Previous experience in retail sales, hospitality, tourism, or a customer-facing role will be highly regarded. An interest in wine is advantageous, but your willingness to learn and enthusiasm for sharing our wines with visitors matter more. We will provide full wine and product training.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work for one of New Zealand's most iconic wineries
• Comprehensive wine and product training
• A supportive and passionate team environment
• Valuable experience in wine tourism, retail sales and hospitality
• A unique workplace set amongst the vines in the heart of Hawke's Bay

This is a fixed-term position from December 2026 through to 31 March 2027. Because this role is seasonal, applicants must be available to work for the full duration of the fixed-term contract. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications from candidates who are not available through to the end of March 2027.

Our Cellar Door operates seven days a week, and successful applicants will be required to work weekends and public holidays. We prepare rosters 2-3 weeks in advance.