Tasting Room Associate

 

About Ridge Road Winery
Ridge Road Estate Winery is a small cottage winery that is situated on a 60 acre historical property that has been family owned since 1875. The winery is located on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, overlooking Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline. We are the most westerly winery in the Niagara Region and first on the wine route if you are coming from Toronto and Hamilton. We offer guests both indoor and outdoor seating on our busy wine patio and event barn.

 

The Opportunity

 As a Tasting Room Associate, you will create an experience our guests will remember. From the moment guests arrive, you will provide an exceptional tasting experience either inside our cozy tasting room or on our outdoor wine patio. You will welcome and engage guests in a friendly and enthusiastic way. Wine expertise is a must to answer questions and speak on our wines.

 

Job Responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Providing elevated customer experiences through education on wines and winery history as well as guided wine tastings
  • Conducting seated, structured tastings for those who come into the winery
  • Providing in depth information about the wines being tasted and the methods used to create them
  • Assisting guests to select the best wine for their personal tastes
  • Serving guests on the patio and in our tasting room with wine by the glass, as well as light patio fare
  • Creating lasting relationships with loyal guests of the winery through personalized and fun experiences.
  • Creating an overall welcoming and entertaining atmosphere for guests
  • Occasionally serving special events at the winery
  • Barkeeping duties: Pouring wine flights and wine by the glass during times of high volume
  • Accurate cash handling and operation of the POS system, including opening and closing the cash till
  • Handling opening and closing procedures – including maintaining stock levels, merchandising, picking, and packing online and curbside wine orders and maintaining a clean work environment
  • Assisting with the promotion, set-up and tear-down of onsite special events
  • Participating in and representing the winery at offsite farmers markets when required

 

Job Requirements

We are looking for team members who have/are:

  • A passion for people, wine, food and fun!
  • A courteous, friendly, positive attitude
  • Detail oriented, ability to multitask and strong work ethic required – individually and as part of a team
  • Knowledge of Niagara wines, winemaking processes, and viticulture is an asset
  • Able to work in a fast paced and physical environment (we often clock 20,000 steps on a busy wine patio day)
  • Comfortable speaking and engaging with guests one-on-one
  • Able to lift 30lb cases of wine on a regular basis, stand for long periods of time and navigate stairs
  • Must be available to work weekends including Friday and Saturday evenings (until 9:00pm)
  • Age 18 and above and Smart Serve Certified
  • Access to personal transportation (there is no public transit in the area)

 

Benefits:

  • Positive and fun work environment
  • Competitive hourly wage plus gratuities
  • Gain valuable experience in the wine industry
  • Opportunity to learn and grow within the winery


Job Type: Hourly

 

How to Apply

To apply, please email your resume to: jayne@ridgeroadwinery.ca or drop it off personally at the winery so you can see what we are about!

 

We are committed to establishing a qualified workforce that reflects the diverse population it serves, and we encourage applications from all qualified individuals.