Sommelier & Brand Ambassador

Job Description:

About Early Mountain Vineyards

Early Mountain Vineyards is among the leading wineries in Virginia, known for producing world-class wines from our premier vineyards, and offering an exceptional guest experience in our elegant tasting room. Our wines have received numerous 90+ point reviews from Decanter, Wine Enthusiast and James Suckling. In 2024, our winemaker was nominated for Winemaker of the Year by both Wine Enthusiast and VinePair. Our culinary program is also exceptional, with a focus on creative offerings featuring hyper-local seasonal ingredients and thoughtfully paired with wines from our portfolio.

We have a thriving direct to consumer (DTC) sales channel including online sales, two wine clubs, and our tasting room, where we host over 30k guests each year. We also sell our wines via the wholesale channel throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC with plans to add more regions. Our team is fast-paced, collaborative, and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of Virginia wine and luxury hospitality, while championing excellence, innovation, and a strong sense of community.

Sommelier & Brand Ambassador

We are seeking an experienced wine professional to drive increased sales in all channels, while also enhancing the level of wine service offered in our tasting room, events, and other programs. The ideal candidate has a passion for wine, a deep knowledge of the wine industry, an understanding of luxury hospitality, and the ability to achieve ambitious sales targets. This is a unique opportunity with hybrid responsibilities across the DTC and wholesale sales channels.

Key Responsibilities | Sommelier

• Manage wine service on dedicated days in the tasting room
• Engage guests during regular hours and special events and provide elevated wine service
• Enhance our personalized approach by increasing the use of customer information
• Motivate the tasting room team to achieve goals for member sign-ups and retention
• Educate our staff, with frequent trainings on wine knowledge and service standards
• Develop, refine, and execute new and existing wine-focused experiences and events
• Curate our diverse wine list, including our library wines and unique selections from other producers
• Manage all DTC wine inventory, across multiple locations and request transfers as needed
• Lead the team to achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual wine and membership sales targets
• Work with Director of Marketing and hospitality departments to ensure alignment with company goals

Key Responsibilities | Brand Ambassador

• Make sales calls at existing and potential accounts, working both independently and with distributor sales reps
• Develop and maintain a list of target accounts for all regions
• Conduct staff trainings, consumer tastings, and wine dinners at key accounts on a regular basis
• Host trade guests for tastings and meetings at the winery
• Maintain communication with accounts between visits and provide necessary support
• Monitor all orders and depletions, including the analysis of depletion allowances and net sales
• Achieve quarterly and annual targets for wholesale sales and points of distribution
• Represent the winery at various trade and consumer events
• Collaborate with Director of Marketing on the development and distribution of trade collateral
• Serve as primary point of contact for distributors and trade accounts
• Other duties as assigned in the context of evolving business needs

Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of experience in wine sales
• Experience in luxury hospitality preferred
• Advanced education in wine, including relevant certifications
• Existing relationships with restaurants and wine shops in our sales regions
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent attention to detail
• Proficiency with MS Office, email, and other software programs
• Ability to work well with others, as well as independently with limited supervision
• Highly organized with ability to prioritize and multi-task while managing time effectively
• Passion for fine wine, positive attitude, sense of humor, and strong work ethic

Other Requirements:

• Ability to work Thursday through Monday, including some evenings, with flexibility to work different days as needed
• Willingness to travel frequently for wholesale sales, as well as consumer and trade events
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for long periods of time
• Bachelor’s degree
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory completion of company background check

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Generous benefits package, including 401k with matching, health insurance, life insurance and paid time off

To apply:

Please submit resume and cover letter.

Create a Job Alert

Receive an email alert when similar new jobs are posted. It's free, fast and easy.

Create Alert