Tasting Room Manager

Tasting Room Manager

Ponzi Vineyards has recently been acquired by famed French family wine group 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 experienced, dynamic, and driven professional to join our team as our Tasting Room director.

The ideal candidate will have multiple years hospitality management experience with a proven track record of creating and delivering exceptional tasting room and event experiences. Reporting directly to the CEO (or to the CMO when this position will be created), this individual will oversee the Tasting Room at Ponzi Vineyards.

Definition of success:
The position is about fully running the Tasting Room, which can host 35,000 visitors a year, and a key pilar of the winery's profitability, or more. In this capacity, we are looking for a true entrepreneur whose definition of success will be:

• Ability of flowless daily execution,
• Closely monitor daily KPIs (visitation, club conversion, average order value, client satisfaction, revenues, profits ...) and, very importantly:
• Take corrective measures should these KPIs not be achieved,
• Constantly strive for growth; Create program to animate the tasting room (ie weekly/monthly calendar to attract more visitor and give more visibility to the winery locally)
• Work closely with other operations (Events, Club, Finance),
• Own their budget. Help establish volume allocation. Contribute to create relevant tasting programs, and activities. Help create relevant training programs.

Essential Job Functions:

• Manage the daily activities of the tasting room to achieve revenue goals, club member growth, ensure the highest level of service and experience mix aligns with the brand.
• Responsible for staff hiring, orientation, continual training, development, supervision, and performance evaluation.
• Create and manage monthly staffing work calendar for the tasing room team.
• Foster a sales driven team culture to exceed annual revenue targets.
• Manage labor expenses while maintaining standards of excellence in hospitality.
• Oversee inventory and transferring of wine and supplies within the tasting room operations.
• Schedule and facilitate staff meetings to communicate company news, sales, club, and service goals.
• Consistent presence when possible as the on-floor manager.
• Collaborate with DTC Team to develop luxury wine experiences and enhance guest hospitality.
• Collaborate with design team to maintain and update all collateral related to the tasting room and events.
• Ensure all hospitality policies and procedures are being followed and the team maintains a clean, focused,

and orderly hospitality environment.

• Oversee team to perform monthly and daily inventory reconciliation of wine, food, and merchandise.
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop relationships that enhance our brand, promote brand loyalty, and provide an engaging consumer experience.
• Consistent networking within the industry including outreach to other wineries, lodging, private drivers/tour operators,

country clubs, and social clubs.

• Perform ongoing business and competitive analyses of consumer behavior and trends for tasting room and event departments.
• Prepare and present branded presentations to both internal and external audiences.
• Meet regularly with leadership to discuss progress and strategies of hospitality experiences, events, sales, and club goals.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills with a warm/positive team-oriented attitude.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills for effective decision-making & problem solving.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines to effectively manage and see projects through to full completion.
• Ability to develop an effective business plan with support from the CEO.
• Strong logistical planning and attention to detail.
• Understands and values external and internal customers.
• Maintains an optimistic approach with a can-do, results oriented mindset.
• Ability to work with and manage team dynamics 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 while maintaining positive team relations.
• Demonstrates integrity, is forthright, accepts responsibility, is personally accountable, straightforward, truthful, and of good character.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Customer satisfaction
• Hospitality Team engagement and satisfaction
• Overall department growth and profitability.
• Memberships (Conversion Rate & Acquisitions)
• Dollars per visitor, wine sales, conversion rate, food revenues, quality of staff training, and operations planning.
• Leadership engagement and satisfaction.

Requirements and Experience:

• 6+ years hospitality management experience.
• People management skills are a must.
• Proven track record in mentoring, supervising and developing staff.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, WineDirect, Triple Seat, and TOCK.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• WSET level 2 or higher is a plus.
• Must be 21 years of age of older.
• Must be able to stand for 8 hours as well as lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work weekdays/weekends 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, with flexibility to work occasional holidays and evenings.

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.

To apply for this role: Please respond with your resume, brief cover letter, and salary requirements