Wine & Beverage Ambassadors for an exciting project on Church Street

The Wine & Beverage Ambassador is the ultimate hospitality hybrid and brand storyteller for our wine bar. Operating seamlessly across both the floor and the service counter, this dual-focus role requires an agile professional who can transition from crafting premium, artisanal espresso beverages to conducting structured wine tastings and managing a high-volume floor section. Whether acting as the operational anchor behind the bar or guiding guests through a curated wine flight at a table, this individual blends deep wine knowledge, technical barista proficiency, and unpretentious hospitality to deliver an elevated guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Upmarket Lounge Service & Wine Tableside Hospitality (40%)

• Section & Guest Ownership: Manage a designated floor section and/or the bar counter section during peak times, maintaining a polished, proactive presence.
• Consultative Guidance: Guide guests through a dynamic by-the-glass (BTG) list and bottle selections based on personal taste preferences, flavour profiles, and winemaking practices.
• Elevated Food Service: Confidently articulate and suggest items from the charcuterie, artisanal cheese, and menu.
• Table Maintenance: Execute high-end FOH standards including seamless water service, proactive plate-clearing, tableside bottle service, and prompt, accurate bill processing.

2. Curated Wine Tastings, Education & Sales Activation (35%)

• Conduct Focused Flights: Present set wine tasting menus (e.g., regional flights, varietal comparisons) to tables or small counter groups in an engaging, approachable manner.
• Adaptive Storytelling: Tailor wine narratives seamlessly—offering high-level regional, vintage, and technical data for connoisseurs, while keeping it engaging and jargon-free for novice enthusiasts.
• Sales & Sign-ups: Drive off-premise sales by actively converting in-house tasting experiences into retail bottle sales and wine club/subscription sign-ups.

3. Counter Operations, Dispensing & Barista Service (15%)

• Beverage Execution: Efficiently dispense all beverage orders, supporting floor orders with minimal wait times.
• Artisanal Coffee Crafting: Dial in, extract, and serve exceptional espresso-based drinks, specialty coffees, and loose-leaf teas using high-end commercial espresso machines and grinders.
• Presentation Standards: Execute consistently clean milk-texturing matching an upmarket aesthetic.
• Bean & Blend Education: Confidently articulate origin profiles, roast notes, and flavour characteristics of the specialty coffee rotation to morning or post-dinner guests.

4. Stock, Maintenance & Quality Assurance (10%)

• Glassware & Hygiene Maintenance: Take pride in operating the high-temperature glass dishwasher and manually hand-polishing delicate, varietal-specific crystal stemware and premium coffee cups. Maintain a spotless, hygienic workstation behind the counter.
• Wine & Product Integrity: Monitor beverage temperatures, inspect wine freshness, prevent faulty pours, and flawlessly operate premium preservation equipment (e.g., Coravin, vacuum sealers).
• Inventory Control: Monitor bar stock levels, restock wine fridges, prep garnishes, and report low inventory to management before service begins.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum of 2–3 years of professional experience in a premium wine bar, boutique hotel lounge, upscale wine estate tasting room, or specialty coffee shop, successfully working across both bar/barista and floor hospitality roles.
• Education/Certification: Formal wine certification is highly preferred but not strictly mandatory (e.g., WSET Level 2 or 3, South African Wine Academy equivalent, or similar). Continuous internal training will be provided.
• Technical Skills: Confident understanding of espresso extraction parameters (weight, time, yield) and milk texturing. Strong speed and accuracy in high-volume pouring and POS usage.
• Wine & Brand Knowledge: Deep understanding of wine varietals, styles, and pouring etiquette.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, navigate a busy lounge, lift up to 10 kg (e.g., wine cases) and comfortably carry service trays.
• Scheduling: Fully flexible availability to work dynamic shifts, which may range from early morning opening shifts (coffee focus) to late-night closing shifts (wine focus), including weekends and holidays.
• Logistics: Reliable transportation to and from Stellenbosch Central.

Core Competencies for Success

• Focus Agility: Can switch focus instantly—comfortably moving from texturing foam for a flat white to discussing soil composition or pouring a premium vintage Pinotage without losing poise.
• The "Unpretentious Expert": Possesses a deep reservoir of wine and beverage knowledge but leads with warmth and hospitality rather than elitism.
• Meticulous Precision & Detail: Pays absolute attention to cleanliness, ensuring no coffee grinds find their way into the wine service area, while simultaneously noticing when a guest needs a water refill or a plate cleared.
• Calm Under Pressure: Thrives when the floor is packed and the service bar printer is buzzing, maintaining an organised workflow and a welcoming demeanour.
• Must maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the Spier farm, its wines, products, and services, acting confidently as a Spier brand ambassador.

Competitive hourly base + pooled tips