Tasting Room Manager at a Winery
If you are a social butterfly and enjoy the company of others, working in the hospitality field will be right up your alley. In the wine industry, a tasting room manager will discuss the product with potential consumers. In order to succeed as a tasting room manager a person must have a likable personality as well as being a firm leader. This position can be very stressful, especially during the holiday season when the room gets busy.
Education Requirements
There are varying levels of education that a winery will require of their tasting room manager. Most wineries prefer that the person have a bachelor’s degree in business or another related field. Some wineries prefer a person have a number of years of experience in the industry and will overlook the education requirement if this is the case. A person who wishes to be a tasting room manager must above all else have wonderful customer service skills and an extensive knowledge of wine. Strong computer skills and leadership capabilities are also necessary for this position.
Job Description
A tasting room manager will be responsible for setting the goals of the tasting room. Hiring and training your staff are a large part of the position. Training becomes essential as these people will be carrying out the tasks that you hand out and you will expect them to do them well. Your staff is a reflection of you and it is important that they all know their jobs well. Dealing with the public is the key aspect of this job and customer service skills are necessary. A tasting room manager will also lead tours throughout the winery.
Job Salary
As a wine tasting manager, a person can expect a salary of around $50,000 per year. This amount will depend largely on the size and location of the tasting room that the person is in charge of. Managing a tasting room is not an entry-level position and most people start out working as a tasting room associate. The salary for a tasting room associate is around $24,000 to $30,000, but there usually are bonus structures that can greatly boost this wage.
One of the most rewarding jobs in the wine industry is being a tasting room manager. As a tasting room manager, a person will work directly with the public in order to boost the sales of the wine. The position will require a person to be extremely likable, yet also have strong leadership capabilities.
Categories: winery careers and schools
