Tasting Room Manager

Company Description

A new era of luxury hospitality is coming to Napa. Opening this year, Lewis Cellars will build on its legacy, now with a reimagined estate and a world-class culinary program led by our MICHELIN-Starred Executive Chef. This is more than just a new tasting room—it's an opportunity to shape something extraordinary at a destination where handcrafted wines meet exceptional service.

As we prepare to unveil this incredible property, we seek passionate professionals to be part of the journey—bringing warmth, expertise, and a commitment to providing unparalleled customer service. If you’re passionate about hospitality, fine wine, and creating unforgettable guest experiences, this is your chance to be part of something truly special.

We are seeking a Tasting Room Manager to lead the opening of our newly designed, state-of-the-art tasting room and build a world-class hospitality experience. Under the direction of the Director of Hospitality, the Tasting Room Manager will oversee all aspects of the tasting room, from creating positive customer interactions to helping meet Wine Insider sign-ups. This role requires a creative, detail-oriented, and customer-focused individual who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The ideal candidate must possess strong leadership skills and have experience mentoring and training a team. The Tasting Room Manager will also collaborate cross-functionally with other departments such as Hospitality, Marketing, and Production.

This full-time role requires a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays, and the ability to work evening shifts as needed. The target start date for this position is mid-March to early April.

Job Description

• Provide on-the-floor leadership as part of the opening team at the new Lewis Estate
• Support the hiring process for the tasting room team, from interviews to creating a welcoming onboarding experience
• Motivate, coach, and develop staff to achieve or exceed established targets
• Collaborate with the Winery Education Team to craft the Tasting Room Training Guide, including protocols and SOP
• Design guest experiences and service standards to maintain the brand's reputation for excellence, ensuring service delivery stays above 98% and meets departmental KPIs
• Promote and enhance the Lewis Brand by participating in VIP visits/tastings, virtual tastings, cross-training employees, and leveraging shared learnings when needed
• Contribute as a serious revenue-generating team member, helping meet or exceed monthly and annual sales targets
• Develop new services to maximize guest visitation, repeat visits, and member engagement, presenting proposals to senior leadership for approval
• Create and manage annual/monthly spending budgets and forecasts with the support of other Department Heads while maintaining budget expenditures
• Craft and oversee staffing scheduling, payroll, tips, commissions, incentives, and other employee benefits programs
• Enforce company policies and collaborate with other departments to promote Lewis Cellars
• Partner with Service Delivery, Concierge, and other teams to enhance guest touchpoints before, during, and after visits
• Monitor competitive offerings and share insights with leadership
• Monitor and respond to customer reviews and support Marketing by verifying that all public listing sites accurately reflect our service offerings and brand image
• Provide regular reports to leadership (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly)
• Conduct department meetings ("standups") to ensure communication flow and share expectations with staff
• Work with the Logistics team to process and deliver orders, approve wine shipments, and coordinate with warehouses as needed
• Assist with wine and supply deliveries, including loading/unloading, moving cases/pallets, and transporting supplies between locations as needed
• Manage timecards, performance reviews, employee development, and employee safety
• Champion WOW (Way of Work), the company's continuous improvement program and support the Continuous Improvement Committee by identifying improvements in waste management or operational effectiveness
• Work with Accounting on order corrections, invoicing, new SKUs and merchandise requests for all POS platforms when needed
• Verify that new products are priced accordingly and loaded into systems for sale
• Work with IT to maintain and update POS systems

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of hospitality operations management experience, with a proven track record of leading a sales-driven team; high-volume hotel, retail, or restaurant experience preferred
• 2+ years of management experience in hospitality or customer service
• Strong sales background with the ability to promote and sell luxury products
• Knowledge of luxury wines and wine production processes
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed
• Wine Educational Coursework is required or must be completed within 3-6 months of hire. It is expected this position will pursue Advanced Sommelier Education (company sponsored) or WSET Level 3
• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or a related field
• Must obtain and maintain Alcohol and Food Handlers cards (e.g., ServSafe, TIPS)
• Proven success in recruiting and hiring high-performing team members
• Certifications in Continuous Improvement, financial planning, project management, LEAN practices, supply chain, Six Sigma, or similar are a plus but not required
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office programs, particularly Excel (formulas, tables, charts) and PowerPoint
• Strong team player with the ability to work independently and adapt to changing priorities
• Proven success working with others, excellent communication skills and ability to relate to people at all levels to educate and serve as a mentor
• Must be self-motivated and can work just as effectively alone or remotely when needed
• Must possess a "big picture" perspective and be well-versed in administrative, property management or Point of Sale systems
• Ability to establish direction, obtain commitment, and execute appropriate management processes

Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 base salary and may include a discretionary bonus. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills and experience.

Additional Information

• Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including: 
  • 24/7 online physician consultations 
  • virtual mental health resources 
  • life coaching 
  • engaging employee community groups 
  • cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements 
  • library of on-demand fitness videos 
• Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units. 
• Focused Learning and Development: Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses. 
• Empowering Mentorship Program: Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward. 
• Continuous Improvement Training: Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace. 
• Building a Healthy Society: We focus on improving the social determinants of a healthy society-quality education and medical care, economic mobility, and a healthy environment-to help build thriving communities. Wonderful CSR
• Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities. 

As part of The Wonderful Wines portfolio—alongside JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery and Landmark Vineyards—Lewis Cellars is a luxury Napa Valley winery specializing in bold, opulent reds and seductive Chardonnays. The winery emphasizes the importance of the journey from grape to glass, crafting world-class wines that are unmistakably Lewis. Offering more than 30 years of excellence, Lewis Cellars captures the attention of in-the-know wine connoisseurs, having been named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2016 for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Discover Lewis at its new Napa Valley estate, opening soon in the historic Stags Leap District on the Silverado Trail, offering sweeping views and a singular, lavish tasting experience. Lewis wines can also be found at LewisCellars.com or through select retailers, fine wine shops, and restaurants. Lewis Insiders are the first to receive access and updates about the latest releases and estate events. To learn more or become an Insider, visit LewisCellars.com, LewisInsiders.com or explore our Corporate Social Responsibility work at csr.wonderful.com/.

The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

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