Wine Sales Associate

Lescombes Family Vineyards is the premier vineyard and winery in the state of New Mexico. Since 1981, we have been leading the industry with an array of wines to include traditional, hand-crafted releases and highly-acclaimed, award-winning favorites. Our current locations consist of our bistro locations: Albuquerque Cottonwood, Albuquerque Old Town, Alamogordo, and Las Cruces; Hervé Wine Bar in Santa Fe; and a tasting room adjacent to the winery in Deming. Our family-owned vineyard thrives just east of Lordsburg and consists of a 240-acre property. Our mission is to passionately craft quality wine and food to be enjoyed with friends and family. You can read more about the Lescombes family and their offerings at lescombeswinery.com.

About The Role

DH Lescombes Winery and Bistro is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Wine Steward to elevate our beverage program and enhance our guests' dining experiences. This role goes beyond traditional wine service, actively engaging with guests, educating our team, and driving wine sales, specifically focusing on our own New Mexico-made wines. The ideal candidate will be a proactive individual with a genuine enthusiasm for wine and a proven ability to connect with both guests and colleagues. This position requires a flexible schedule, including Wednesday through Sunday evenings, traveling weekly between regional locations.

This position will travel between our Southern New Mexico locations, which consist of Alamogordo, Las Cruces, and Deming, New Mexico.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $40,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year with the opportunity to earn monthly bonuses based on wine sales metrics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Wine Program Expertise: Maintain an indepth knowledge of our wine list, including vintages, bouquets, and tasting notes.
• Training & Education:
• Conduct regular wine training sessions for frontofhouse staff, focusing on product knowledge, service standards, and sales techniques.
• Keep the team updated on new arrivals, vintages, and changes to the wine program utilizing clear and concise tech sheets.
• Implement a "Wine Focus of the Week" to highlight specific selections and drive staff awareness.
• Conduct preshift pairing discussions to educate the team on optimal wine and food pairings.
• Implement and oversee regular wine quizzing on the floor to reinforce knowledge
  
  

and build confidence.

Guest Engagement & Sales:

• Actively engage with all guests ordering wine, inquiring about their selections and preferences.
• Offer thoughtful wine samples to introduce guests to new or alternative options.
• Drive retail wine sales by highlighting takehome options, sharing their unique stories
  
  

and qualities.

Performance & Development:

• Meet weekly with the lowestperforming employees to provide coaching, support,
  
  

and strategies for improving wine sales.

Operational Support:

• Assist with instore bar fusion prep line checks to ensure quality and consistency.
• Maintain the organization and presentation of retail wine areas.
• Assist Area Wine Manager and Executive Chef in choosing wines to pair with new
  
  

menu items.

Wine Steward Standards: Provide exemplary wine service, adhering to the highest industry standards.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Month over Month Sales Percentage: Have overall monthly wine sales percentages increased in each location.
• OnPremise Wine Glass and Bottle Sales: Have overall glass and bottle sales increased with guest interactions, month over month.
• Retail Wine Sales: Have overall retail wine sales increased with suggestive selling,
  
  

month over month.

Qualifications:

• Possession of a Level 1 Sommelier certification (e.g., Introductory Sommelier
• Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers or equivalent). The company will cover the cost if the individual does not already possess this.
• Proven experience in a similar role with a strong focus on wine sales and guest interaction.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and educate diverse audiences.
• Passion for wine and a desire to continuously expand knowledge.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexibility to work Wednesday through Sunday evenings and rotate between regional
  
  

locations. Reliable transportation and the ability to travel are requirements for this position.

Important Considerations:

• This role is dedicated to enhancing the wine program and guest experience within
  
  

the restaurant; it is not a position to assist daily operations of the bistro/wine bar/tasting room.

• A key focus of this role is to shift any potential perception among employees that
  
  

pushing wine sales is not a priority. The Wine Steward will play a crucial role in demonstrating the value and importance of wine sales to the overall success of the

restaurant.