Buttonwood Farm & Vineyards

Buttonwood is one of the original 20 wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, and the incredible warmth of our staff perfectly matches the charm and beauty of our land.  We are a small gem set amidst the splendor of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Our 42-acre vineyard stretches across a sun-drenched mesa on the eastern portion of our 106-acre property, and our tasting room is surrounded by other bounty from the farm, including olives, pomegranates, peonies, and our famous peaches! 

At Buttonwood, we are as passionate about being good stewards of the land as we are about sharing this incredible Farm & Vineyard with our friends. We are searching for a couple of people who know a thing or two about wine, are naturally curious, and share our interests in farm-to-table, experimental gardening, continuing wine education, hosting fun events, and making friends through providing exceptional experiences to those who come through our doors. 

Job description

Our Tasting Room Associates are more like Wine Experience Hosts. They are multi-dynamic, savvy professionals who are constantly growing their wine knowledge. We make it easy for them as the Nappa Valley Wine Academy has made Buttonwood home to their satellite educational center. Our teams use their creativity and desire to serve to curate fun events throughout the year for our community. 

This position is part-time and requires weekends and holidays to support the volume of business.

Is this job right for you?

If you are just looking for a "job" where you clock in, do the same things everyday, then clock out, this job may not be a good fit for you.

Joining the Buttonwood team will introduce you to dynamic, multi-faceted hospitality opportunities across our portfolio of brands. Our company is growing and we always look to promote talent from within the company. If you're motivated and have a passion for hospitality, this is the place to stretch your wings!

We promote, support and expect our team's personal and professional growth by providing opportunities to deepen their knowledge of wine and winemaking, and by fostering a culture of sharing knowledge around leadership and running a business. Personal accountability is something we value and promote.

To be successful in this role, candidates must have basic wine knowledge, an open mind, the ability to learn, and a willingness to cross-train in varies areas of the farm & vineyard. Our team is kind, gracious, curious, hard-working, reliable, and creative. 

Working at Buttonwood isn't just about having a job. It's about building community, being creative, being stewards of the land, making the best wines and introducing them to our guests in a way that makes them feel like they were part of the whole process.

If this sounds like the kind of opportunity you’ve been looking for, we want to meet you!  

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Greet all visitors with enthusiasm
• Lead guests through wine-tasting experiences – educating them about the winery story, wines, growing regions, and brand. Ensure a fun, memorable, and educational customer experience.
• Work towards developing relationships with guests to convert into Wine Club members.
• Build long-lasting relationships with Buttonwood customers and wine club members.
• Effectively suggest and sell wine
• Execute direct sales to customers via phone as needed.
• Support the team to meet and exceed sales goals
• Opening and closing, stocking wine and retail products, and assisting with the proper display and pricing of retail items
• Responsibly pour selected wines for visitors according to tasting room guidelines and procedures and in accordance with laws and regulations
• Develop basic knowledge of the wines and winemaking practices to continually promote and educate guests on the winery and its offerings
• Handle POS transactions on an integrated cash register and database system
• Provide all guests with excellent customer service
• Assist customers to their vehicles with large purchases (Must be able to lift 40 lbs)
• Available to work special winery events on weekends and evenings
• Ensure the cleanliness of all service areas, including tasting room, gardens, and bathroom facilities, wash and polish glassware used in the tasting room
• Assists Manager in ensuring all wine shipments are properly packaged and sent in accordance with wine shipping laws and winery's permits, and all shipping procedures for tracking sales are properly monitored.
• Quickly recognize the signs that a guest should not be served alcohol and take appropriate action to address the situation professionally.
• Always maintain a professional appearance.
• Assist in other areas of the Facility as needed. 

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Must be 21+ years of age with extensive wine knowledge.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Strong salesmanship skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Cash handling and basic math skills
• Flexibility and ability to manage constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Excellent communication and sales skills are essential
• 1-2 years of employment in a similar environment
• Basic wine knowledge is required

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift at least 40 lbs

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid sick time
• Paid training
• Referral program

We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that diversity in our workforce is the cornerstone of our success.