Part-Time Tasting Room Associate

AJA Vineyards, LLC; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

AJA Vineyards, LLC in Santa Monica seeks a Tasting Room Associate to deliver an exceptional guest experience through wine knowledge, friendly service, and a sales-driven mindset. This part-time role requires weekend availability and involves leading tastings, building club member relationships, and helping with events.

You will handle POS transactions, assist with daily operations, and ensure proper display and pricing of retail items while maintaining a polished appearance.

Qualifications

• Must be 21+ years old and able to lift 50 lbs.
• Part-time role with weekend availability.
• Experience in retail, hospitality or customer service preferred.
• Knowledge of OrderPort POS is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors with enthusiasm and provide excellent guest service.
• Lead tastings and educate guests on wines and the winery story.
• Upsell and recruit wine club members.
• Handle POS transactions and assist with events.
• Assist with opening/closing, stocking, and display of retail items.
• Help with tasting room maintenance and cleanliness.

Skills

Customer service

Sales skills

OrderPort POS

Education

High School Diploma, or equivalent

Tools

OrderPort POS

Job description

AJA Vineyards Tasting Room Associate provides an exceptional experience to guests of the winery through his or her wine knowledge, stellar customer service and sales driven attitude. A tasting room associate is responsible for the sale of wine and actively soliciting new members to our various wine clubs. The associate also provides assistance with set-up and breakdown of most winery events. This is a part-time position that requires weekend availability.

Specific Responsibilities Include (but are not limited to):

• Greet all visitors with enthusiasm and provide all guests with excellent customer service
• Lead guests through wine tasting experiences – educating them about the winery story, wines, growing regions, and brand.
• Build relationships with guests and club members
• Recruit wine club members
• Effectively and skillfullyexplain the wines and upsell when appropriate.
• Support the team to meet and exceed DTC sales goals

Tasting Room daily operations:

• Opening and closing, stocking wine and retail products, and assisting with the proper display and pricing of retail items
• Responsibly pour selected wines for visitors according to tasting room guidelines and procedures and in accordance with laws and regulations
• Develop basic knowledge of the wines and winemaking practices to continually promote and educate guests on the winery and its offerings
• Handle POS transactions on an integrated database system
• Assist customers to their vehicles with large purchases (Must be able to lift 50 lbs)
• Available to work special winery events on weekends and evenings
• Cleaning tasting room main rooms, organizing office and cleaning bathrooms
• Monitor and organize inventory
• Wash and polish glassware and tableware used in the tasting room
• Responsible for ensuring all wine orders are properly packaged, including but not limited to DTC shipments, club shipments, and order pick ups.
• Always maintain a professional and polished appearance.

General Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must be willing to work weekdays, evenings and weekends as well as scheduled events as needed
• Available to cover shifts on occasion
• This position requires the ability to lift 50lbs on a regular basis and stand for seven hours
• Education: High School Diploma, or equivalent
• Wine Education (CMS, CSW, WSET or equivalent).
• Strong communication and sales skills
• 2-3 years employment in a similar environment such as: retail, restaurant, hospitality or customer service
• Knowledge of OrderPort POS system is a bonus
• Basic math skills
• Flexibility and ability to manage constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
• Ability to follow company policies and procedures regarding federal and state shipping compliance

This role is anticipated to have shifts 0-3 days per week 4-8 hours per shift.