Tasting Room Associate | Gilroy, CA
Schedule: Primarily Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., with occasional evenings for winery events and private functions. Part time, non-exempt
Cinnabar Winery is a premier winery known for producing exceptional wines and providing a welcoming, educational, and memorable tasting experience for our guests. We pride ourselves on our rich heritage, dedication to quality, and commitment to customer satisfaction.
Position Summary:
We are seeking an enthusiastic and customer-focused Tasting Room Associate to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for wine, exceptional sales skills, and the ability to create a positive and engaging experience for our guests. This role involves conducting wine tastings, promoting our wine club, and ensuring the tasting room operates smoothly and efficiently.
For candidates with marketing experience, there is also an opportunity to take on additional responsibilities supporting the winery's social media, email marketing, and event promotions. This expanded role offers the chance to combine hospitality with creative marketing while helping grow the Cinnabar brand.
Responsibilities:
- Greet and welcome guests warmly to the tasting room.
- Conduct informative and engaging wine tastings, sharing knowledge about our wines and winemaking process.
- Provide exceptional customer service, answering questions, and addressing concerns with professionalism and courtesy.
- Promote and sell wine and wine club memberships, meeting or exceeding sales targets.
- Assist with the setup and breakdown of the tasting room, ensuring a clean and inviting environment.
- Handle transactions accurately using our POS system, including cash, credit card and wine club sales.
- Maintain knowledge of current wine offerings, seasonal releases, and winery events.
- Support winery events and private functions as needed.
- Comply with all safety and alcohol service regulations.
Opportunity for Expanded Responsibilities (Preferred)
For the right candidate, this position may also include part-time marketing support, including:
- Managing and scheduling content for the winery's social media accounts.
- Assisting with email marketing campaigns and customer communications.
- Updating event calendars on the winery website and community event listings.
- Helping promote winery events, wine club releases, and special promotions.
- Assisting with basic marketing projects and other administrative tasks as needed.
Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Previous sales experience, preferably in a retail or hospitality setting.
- Passion for wine and a willingness to learn about Cinnabar Winery’s products and history.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to engage and connect with diverse groups of people.
- Reliable, with strong work ethic and attention to detail.
- Ability to work on weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings.
- Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds and stand for extended periods.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a winery or tasting room setting.
- Knowledge of wine production and varietals.
- Experience managing social media for a business or organization.
- Familiarity with email marketing platforms and digital communications.
- Strong written communication skills with an eye for detail.
- Experience with Canva or other basic graphic design tools is a plus.
- Ability to balance hospitality responsibilities with creative marketing projects.
Benefits:
- Competitive hourly wage plus sales incentives.
- Employee discounts on wine.
- Positive and supportive work environment.
Pay: From $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
