Tasting Room Associate

Tasting & Tap Room Expo; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly wage $20

Tips

Sales incentives

Wine club incentives

Employee wine benefits

Wine education programs

Vineyard/winery environment

Job summary

The Brander Vineyard in Los Olivos, California invites a part-time Tasting Room Associate to join our hospitality team and deliver warm, personal experiences. You will conduct tastings, share our story and winemaking philosophy, and help grow wine sales and club memberships.

We welcome candidates with hospitality experience; wine interest and initiative are valued. Must be able to stand for extended periods and lift cases. Weekend availability is important and training is provided.

Qualifications

• Warm, approachable demeanor and strong hospitality instincts.
• Reliable, punctual, and a good communicator.
• Ability to upsell and ask for the sale.
• Interest in wine and willingness to learn.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift cases of wine.
• Weekend availability.

Responsibilities

• Welcome guests and create a warm, memorable first impression.
• Conduct relaxed, personal, and educational wine tastings.
• Share the Brander family story, vineyard history, winemaking philosophy, and wines.
• Tailor the tasting to different guests.
• Provide attentive service while maintaining tasting pace.
• Help grow tasting room wine sales and wine club memberships.
• Process tastings, wine purchases, memberships, pickups, and shipping orders.
• Assist wine club members with pickups and hospitality.
• Participate in winery events and special experiences as needed

Skills

Hospitality

Customer service

Communication

Upselling

Education

Wine education/certification (preferred)

Tools

Commerce7

Job description

The Brander Vineyard
Los Olivos, California

Founded in 1975, The Brander Vineyard is one of the original wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley and remains family-owned and operated today.

Located on our estate vineyard in Los Olivos, Brander has built a reputation over the past five decades for Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux varieties, and wines that emphasize freshness, balance, and a strong sense of place.

As we move into our next 50 years, we are looking for a part-time Tasting Room Associate to join our hospitality team and help create the warm, personal experience Brander is known for.

-We are looking for someone friendly, dependable, outgoing, and comfortable connecting with people.

This is first and foremost a hospitality position, but sales are also an important part of the role. Great hospitality should naturally lead to bottle sales, returning guests, and wine club memberships.

Previous wine, tasting room, restaurant, retail, or hospitality experience is appreciated, but it is not required. We are happy to train someone who is genuinely interested in wine, enjoys working with people, takes initiative, and wants to learn.

Responsibilities

• Welcome guests immediately and create a warm, memorable first impression
• Conduct relaxed, personal, and educational wine tastings
• Learn and confidently share the Brander family story, vineyard history, winemaking philosophy, and wines
• Read the table and tailor the tasting experience to different guests
• Provide attentive service while maintaining appropriate tasting pace
• Help grow tasting room wine sales and wine club memberships
• Process tastings, wine purchases, memberships, pickups, and shipping orders through Commerce7
• Assist wine club members with pickup orders and provide strong member hospitality
• Participate in winery events and special hospitality experiences as needed

What We Are Looking For

• Warm, approachable, and comfortable talking with new people
• Strong hospitality instincts and genuine interest in taking care of guests
• Reliable and punctual
• Positive attitude and strong communication skills
• Comfortable recommending products and asking for the sale
• Willingness to learn about wine, vineyards, winemaking, and the Brander story
• Able to stay organized while managing multiple guests and responsibilities
• Self-starter who notices what needs to be done without requiring constant direction
• Comfortable working as part of a small team
• Able to stand for extended periods and safely lift and move cases of wine
• Comfortable working in both indoor and outdoor tasting areas
• Weekend availability is important

Previous winery, restaurant, hospitality, retail, or customer-service experience is preferred, but not required.

Wine certifications or formal wine education are a plus.

Compensation & Perks

• $20.00 per hour
• Tips
• Monthly tasting room sales incentive opportunities
• Wine club sign-up incentives
• Employee wine benefits
• Ongoing staff wine education and tastings
• Eligible employees may apply for reimbursement for approved professional wine education programs
• Opportunity to learn directly within a working vineyard and winery environment

Schedule

This is a part-time position, generally 2 days to start and eventual/potential 3 day schedule.

Availability on weekends is important, as weekends are some of our busiest tasting room days. Additional hours may occasionally be available for winery events, holidays, club releases, and other special occasions.