Tasting Room Assistant Manager

Tasting & Tap Room Expo; Livermore (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Wente Family Estates in Livermore, CA, is seeking an Assistant Tasting Room Manager to lead the floor, coach staff in real-time, and elevate guest experiences across hospitality, wine club, and events. You will oversee daily tasting room operations, scheduling, and financial accountability while maintaining luxury standards.

Role emphasizes storytelling, guest connection, and collaboration with Marketing and Events to deliver memorable experiences and grow Direct-to-Consumer revenue.

Qualifications

• Experience in hospitality, restaurant, or retail leadership/management.
• Proven ability to meet and exceed sales goals.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with a customer-centric approach.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Wine/beverage operations experience desired.
• Ability to motivate and develop a team.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the tasting room floor by example with exceptional hospitality standards.
• Coach associates in real time to elevate service, storytelling, and wine presentation.
• Assist in daily tasting room operations, scheduling, and labor management.
• Oversee reservations flow using Tock and Commerce7 to maximize guest experiences.
• Drive sales, wine club conversions, and promotional campaigns.
• Prepare reports on sales, labor, inventory, and guest metrics.
• Maintain brand standards and guest experiences across touchpoints.

Skills

Leadership

Hospitality

Coaching

Sales

Communication

Teamwork

Training

Customer service

Problem solving

Tools

Tock

Commerce7

POS systems

Job description

The Assistant Tasting Room Manager serves as a visible floor leader who coaches associate’s in real time, builds a culture of accountability, and consistently raises the standard of service. This role works collaboratively across Hospitality, Wine Club, Marketing, Culinary, Events, and Winery Operations to deliver memorable guest experiences while supporting the growth of the Direct-to-Consumer business.

Essential Functions

Hospitality Leadership

• Lead the tasting room floor by example while maintaining exceptional hospitality standards.
• Foster a culture where every guest feels genuinely welcomed, valued, and personally connected to the Wente Family Estates story.
• Ensure every guest receives a memorable, personalized experience that exceeds expectations.
• Coach associates in real time to elevate hospitality, storytelling, and wine presentation.
• Resolve guest concerns professionally while creating positive recovery experiences.
• Maintain luxury hospitality standards throughout all guest touchpoints.
• Protect and elevate the Wente Family Estates brand through consistent execution.

Tasting Room Operations

• Assist in the daily operation of the tasting room, ensuring efficient, organized, and profitable operations.
• Support opening and closing procedures.
• Ensure all Standard Operating Procedures are followed.
• Monitor labor and staffing levels to maximize guest service while managing labor costs.
• Assist with scheduling and shift assignments based on business demands.
• Ensure proper cash handling, POS accuracy, inventory controls, and financial accountability.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, merchandising, and visual presentation throughout the property.
• Oversee reservation flow utilizing Tock and Commerce7 to maximize guest experiences.
• Assist with inventory counts, transfers, ordering, and wine allocations.

Sales Leadership & Business Performance

• Drive achievement of monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals.
• Coach associates to increase Average Order Value (AOV), wine sales, and club conversions through storytelling and personalized recommendations.
• Support execution of sales promotions, seasonal campaigns, and new product launches.
• Monitor daily business performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze key performance indicators and coach the team toward measurable results.
• Partner with leadership to achieve Direct-to-Consumer revenue goals.

Wine Club Growth & Guest Loyalty

• Lead by example in introducing guests to Wine Club membership.
• Coach associates on identifying buying signals and creating authentic membership conversations.
• Build long-term guest relationships that encourage repeat visitation.
• Support club retention initiatives and member engagement.
• Ensure club members consistently receive elevated recognition and service.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, interview, onboard, and develop hospitality professionals.
• Conduct engaging daily pre-shift meetings focused on hospitality, wine education, sales initiatives, safety, and operational updates.
• Provide continuous coaching, recognition, and performance feedback.
• Complete performance reviews and development plans.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture built on accountability and mutual respect.
• Identify future leaders and assist with succession planning.
• Maintain accurate scheduling, payroll, and labor documentation.

Guest Experience & Brand Excellence

• Ensure associates confidently communicate Wente Family Estates' history, wines, vineyards, sustainability practices, and hospitality experiences.
• Promote storytelling that creates emotional connections rather than transactional sales.
• Deliver consistent luxury hospitality reflects our five-generation family legacy.
• Partner with Marketing and Events to execute special experiences and brand activations.
• Support winery tours, club events, wine dinners, concerts, and VIP experiences.

Financial & Administrative Responsibilities

• Prepare reports related to sales performance, labor, inventory, and guest metrics.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and internal controls.

Physical Demands/Qualifications

• Requires the ability to walk and stand, for potentially long periods of time throughout the workday.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs.
• Moderate to heavy physical work including but not limited to bending, stretching, grabbing and reaching (moving wine cases and retail supplies, setting up for special events)
• Manual dexterity and vision sufficient to operate a computer for potentially long periods of time without experiencing abnormal hand, wrist or eye strain.
• Hearing sufficient to understand conversations, both in person and on the telephone.
• Must have coordination sufficient to operate various office machines, including but not limited to fax machines, calculators, telephones, computers, scanners, cash register, etc.
• Repetitive bending, stretching and reaching.

Non-Physical Demands/Qualifications

• Management or supervisory experience in a hospitality, restaurant, or retail environment required
• Proven ability to meet and exceed sales goals
• Food and beverage operations experience, desired
• Background in the wine/special events, desired
• Strong leadership skills: ability to inspire your team and maintain a commitment to exceeding guest expectations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational, problem-solving. Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm.
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Good judgment with the ability to make timely and sound decisions
• Demonstrated ability to make successful presentations to individuals and/or groups.
• Success in supervising and motivating employees
• Ability to take initiative with minimal direction: own your projects and goals and hold yourself accountable.