Tasting Room Sales Associate (Full-Time/Part-Time)

Ponzi Vineyards has been acquired by legendary French family wine group S.J. Bollinger (Champagne Bollinger, Champagne Ayala, Burgundy wine Chanson, Loire Valley wine Langlois Chateau, and Cognac Delamain), with the ambition to make it the top-of-mind brand for Oregon fine wine. We are a premium Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer that is located just 22 miles from Downtown Portland in the Chehalem Mountains/Laurelwood District AVAs. We are seeking an energetic, fun, and ambitious individual to join our team as a Tasting Room Sales Associate.

The Tasting Room Sales Associate is a key position in our Hospitality Team. Encompassing both hospitality and wine sales, this position cultivates long-term customer relationships that generate repeat business, club acquisition and brand loyalty. The ideal candidate will be polished and professional, with finely tuned hospitality instincts and a talent for sales. A strong work ethic and an understanding of wine and winemaking are key attributes. Reporting directly to the Hospitality Director, this individual will provide an elevated brand experience to our guests through knowledge of the Ponzi Vineyards story and wine portfolio, world-class hospitality, and excellent customer service.

Essential Job Functions:

• Effectively represent the Ponzi brand through personal appearance and demeanor.
• Demonstrate ability to use soft-sell tactics to increase wine sales, spend per guest, and club acquisition levels.
• Greet all visitors warmly, engaging them in the story of the Ponzi brand and guiding them through their tasting in a way that furthers their appreciation of our wines.
• Ensure that every guest has a memorable tasting experience and leaves with a very high impression of our wines and our brand.
• Demonstrate outstanding customer service skills, especially when dealing with difficult situations.
• Demonstrate proficiency in all systems used in day to day Tasting Room operations.
• Demonstrate ability to follow policies and procedures, as well as written and verbal instruction.
• Opening and closing procedures, which includes but is not limited to: setup and breakdown of tables and chairs, ensuring quality of wines poured, and all items related to Tasting Room operations.
• Restocking of wine and merchandise from the stock room into the Tasting Room.
• Maintaining the aesthetics of the winery with an impeccable eye for detail.
• Demonstrate a drive for continuous improvement. Take the lead in deepening your knowledge of our wines, our brand, high-touch hospitality, and effective sales strategies.
• Occasional VIP off-site private tastings.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills with a warm/positive team-oriented attitude.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Understands and values external and internal customers.
• Maintains an optimistic approach with a can-do, results oriented mindset.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high level of detail and customer service.
• Instill trust and confidence that tasks will be done according to the plan and on time.
• Demonstrates integrity, is forthright, accepts responsibility, is personally accountable, straightforward, truthful, and of good character.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Customer satisfaction at the highest level.
• Hospitality Team engagement and satisfaction
• Sales performance based on days & hours worked.
• Membership Sign Ups (Conversion Rate & Acquisitions).
• Dollars per visitor, wine sales, conversion rate, food revenues.
• Leadership engagement and satisfaction.

Requirements and Experience:

• 1 year experience is a plus.
• Must have Food Handler’s Certificate and OLCC Server Permit.
• Keen understanding of TOCK, WineDirect, and MS Office Suite are a plus.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• WSET level 2 or higher is a plus but not required.
• 21 years of age of older.
• Able to stand for up to 8 hours
• Able to repeatedly lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Able to work weekdays/weekends 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, with flexibility to work occasional holidays and evenings.

Compensation & Benefits:

Average high-season hourly rate of $40- $45/hr. that includes a base hourly rate of $16/hr. gratuities & club incentives.

Wine & retail merchandise at 50% off.

Earn accrued paid sick time.

More about Ponzi Vineyards: Founded by Dick and Nancy Ponzi in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon’s original wineries that has contributed to fostering the success and growth of the region’s Pinot Noir over the last 50 years. In April 2021, the Bollinger Family united with the Ponzi Family in its first official acquisition outside of France with Luisa Ponzi remaining as the Director of Winemaking and Viticulture.

More about The Bollinger Family: In addition to the iconic Champagne Bollinger, the Bollinger family owns the following leading historic French producers: Champagne Ayala, founded in 1860, and specialist in Chardonnay-dominant Champagnes; Domaine Chanson, founded in 1750, owner of 111 acres of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in the heart of Burgundy; Langlois-Chateau, founded in 1885, a leading historical producer of Cremant and now also with important Sancerre holdings, all together totaling 175 acres in the best parts of the Loire Valley; and Cognac Delamain, founded in 1824, renowned for focusing entirely on the production of highest quality, aged Cognacs, only XO and above. These domains are all linked to their terroir by owning and farming vineyards. S.J. Bollinger’s mission is to offer consumers around the world great experiences around premium wines from the best wine regions.