Tasting Room Server

Chiwinery; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

Chiwinery is seeking a passionate Tasting Room Server in Chicago, IL, to provide exceptional guest experiences. The role includes engaging with guests, showcasing our wines, and promoting our Wine Club and events.

The ideal candidate will have strong customer service skills and a love for wine, with a focus on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Responsibilities include wine education, cash handling, and ensuring operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• 1 year of experience in hospitality or retail.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and flexible hours.
• Knowledge of accepted sanitation standards and Health codes.

Responsibilities

• Engage with guests and provide personalized wine recommendations.
• Maintain a welcoming environment and enhance guest experiences.
• Drive wine and event sales through effective communication.

Skills

Customer service

Wine knowledge

Cash handling

Education

Certification in safe alcohol and wine knowledge

Job description

The First Batch wineries create magic for our guests everyday, whether that’s bringing a dream wedding to life, creating a new delicious food dish from our wine, or letting people discover a new passion on one of our winery tours. We do this while maintaining an approachable, warm, inclusive, down-to-earth attitude that reflects our passion to bring traditional winemaking into urban centers so people don’t feel they have to travel to experience the magic of winemaking.

We are searching for team members who are committed to working as hospitality professionals. People who deeply care about creating a friendly, warm experience for our guests. People who live and breathe passion for food, wine and events. People that love to learn, share, and tell others about their stories and adventures.

Position Summary

The Tasting Room Server at First Batch plays a pivotal role in delivering a world-class guest experience. In this hourly position, you will engage with guests, showcasing our wines, small plates, and overall winery experience. You will be responsible for confidently guiding guests through wine tastings, recommending wine pairings, and promoting our Wine Club and retail bottles. As a key representative of First Batch your primary goal is to enhance the guest experience while driving membership sales, retail bottle purchases, and awareness of our events, tours, and classes. This position requires a deep knowledge of our wines and events, a genuine passion for wine, and the ability to work seamlessly with a team.

Responsibilities

Guest Engagement & Hospitality

• Create a warm, welcoming environment for all guests to ensure they feel valued and attended to throughout their visit.
• Provide personalized wine recommendations based on guest preferences, knowledge of the wines, and the guest experience.
• Ensure an impeccable guest experience by maintaining an enthusiastic, approachable attitude and addressing any concerns or questions promptly.

Wine Knowledge & Education

• Be able to describe the wines confidently, sharing relevant details about the grape varieties and tasting notes.
• Understand wine pairings and be able to recommend food pairings with each wine, utilizing the small plates menu.
• Actively participate in wine education classes to explore diverse grape varietals and enhance tasting skills.
• Stay current on all wine offerings, new releases, and seasonal specials to provide accurate and up-to-date information to guests.
• Confidently talk about the Wine Club benefits, actively engage guests in conversation to subtly encourage sign-ups, and close Wine Club memberships.
• Promote retail wine sales, demonstrating knowledge of available bottles and suggesting purchases based on guest preferences.
• Drive sales through the promotion of tours, classes, and ticketed events, ensuring guests are aware of all the unique experiences First Batch has to offer.
• Work well with fellow tasting room associates, kitchen staff, and management to ensure smooth daily operations and a positive team environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to adapt and assist in other areas of the winery as needed, such as supporting special events or guest services.
• Take initiative to maintain a clean, sanitized, organized, and well-stocked tasting room, ensuring all supplies and equipment are readily available.

Operational Efficiency & Cash Handling

• Accurately process sales transactions using the Point of Sale (POS) system, ensuring all orders and payments are logged correctly.
• Handle cash and credit card transactions securely, following proper cash handling procedures, and maintaining accountability.
• Keep the tasting room well-stocked, organized, and running smoothly, including performing opening/closing duties and managing stock inventory.

Qualifications

• 1 year of experience in hospitality or retail; certification in safe alcohol and wine knowledge.
• Knowledge of accepted sanitation standards and Health codes required.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and flexible hours.
• Regularly required to reach, carry, push, pull and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to walk/and or stand for 8-10 hours per day.
• Must be able to climb stairs in the venue.

Pay

Chicago Winery provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.