Wine Steward

Giant Eagle; Grandview Heights (OH); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Giant Eagle seeks a knowledgeable and personable Wine Steward to enhance the customer wine experience. With responsibilities ranging from wine selection to training new team members, this role is crucial in creating a welcoming environment for guests. Candidates should possess strong customer service skills and a passion for wine, ensuring compliance with regulations while maximizing sales opportunities.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of strong customer service experience required.
• Knowledge and/or experience in wine industry preferred.
• At least 21 years of age.

Responsibilities

• Enhance customer shopping experience by offering wine recommendations.
• Maintain compliance with state liquor laws and sanitation regulations.
• Assist with merchandising and marketing programs to drive sales.

Skills

Customer service

Wine knowledge

Sales

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Certificate from a sommelier organization

Job description

Job Summary

You know your wine. You’re charming, personable, and persuasive – but most of all, you know how to make the wine drinking experience a delight for guests, by selecting the appropriate glasses and pouring properly for our guests to taste. Wine selection, wine pouring, and wine selling are the cornerstones of our Wine Steward role. As a Wine Steward at Giant Eagle, you’ll create points of difference from our competition by enhancing the customer shopping experience, offering recommendations for wine, food, and entertainment. Our well-trained, knowledgeable Wine Stewards help develop and showcase our expertise to position our stores as “THE” stores to shop for wine and beer.

Job Description

• Experience Required: 1 to 3 years
• Experience Desired: Strong customer service experience required; wine knowledge and/or wine industry experience; experience in retail food, catering, or restaurant environment
• Education Desired: High school diploma or equivalent
• Certification or Licensing Preferred: Certificate from a sommelier organization, such as The Court of Master Sommeliers, is strongly preferred
• Lifting Requirement: Up to 50 pounds
• Age Requirement: At least 21 years of age

Job Responsibilities

• Demonstrate strong knowledge, interest, and passion for products and services associated with the role.
• Participate in ongoing product and customer service training programs; attend distributor trade shows as necessary.
• Understand and adhere to all relevant local, state, and federal laws/guidelines as well as company policies. Responsible for reporting any incidents in violation of these guidelines or policies.
• Participate in in-store team meetings and regional meetings.
• Attend and conduct daily team huddles as directed by the Team Leader.
• Ensure store and personal compliance with State Liquor Laws and company policies and procedures regarding alcohol; ability to identify potential underage or intoxicated individuals and ensure no alcohol is sold to them.
• Maintain cleanliness of equipment, tables, utensils, floor (to ensure safety), and ensure sanitation regulations are met.
• Knowledge of code dating.
• Visit competition regularly and at least once a month.
• Maintain safety as the top priority in all aspects of work, for team members, guests, and products.
• Assist customers with B/W/L purchases by providing knowledgeable recommendations and suggestions.
• Enable unparalleled guest service by leading the team by example, constantly striving to delight and surprise our guests, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Take an active role in building the store's beer/wine assortment, throughout the year and at resets, by regularly communicating with distributors and LOB Merchandising staff.
• Plan seasonal and major promotional operations with the Store Leader for out-of-department display placement and keep record of results.
• Oversee the wine list, helping to maintain it for the restaurant, and make suggestions to add to the list to fit the chef's dishes if necessary.
• Assist with implementing marketing techniques to drive sales.
• Develop and execute merchandising and marketing programs to drive sales and profit margins.
• Be comfortable talking to guests and have the ability to make knowledgeable recommendations to suit their tastes.
• Ensure that you are knowledgeable and approachable, without being intimidating.
• Follow proper procedures to ensure BWL meets out-of-stock, shrink, and inventory level goals.
• Perform all functions of a Team Leader in his/her absence, when necessary and where appropriate.
• Direct team members using work lists and understand all duties required to include directing, overseeing, and evaluating training of new and current team members.
• Develop unique customer tasting events and sampling programs.
• Write department orders, monitor ordering, and supervise stocking and receiving with latest tools and technology/automated ordering systems.
• Track and reduce out-of-stocks and participate in physical inventories.
• Utilize all available tools to help reduce and eliminate shrink.
• Ensure proper ordering, receiving, and stocking of BWL products, and proper signage within the department.