Waterford Estate, a prestigious wine estate in Stellenbosch, is seeking a dynamic and highly experienced Wine Tasting Room & Restaurant Manager to lead our combined hospitality offering. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially driven professional with a passion for wine, exceptional guest experience, and a proven ability to drive sales and profitability.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the daily operations of the Waterford Estate tasting room & restaurant, ensuring seamless and world-class service delivery
- Drive revenue growth through proactive sales strategies, upselling, and guest engagement
- Lead, train, and motivate the Waterford Estate hospitality team to consistently exceed guest expectations
- Manage reservations, events, and group bookings to maximise occupancy and revenue
- Monitor and control costs, stock, and inventory to ensure profitability targets are achieved
- Build and maintain strong relationships with guests, suppliers, and industry partners
- Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and licensing regulations
Sales & Commercial Focus
- Develop and implement strategies to increase wine sales, average spend, and repeat visitation at Waterford Estate
- Actively promote tastings, pairings, and curated experiences unique to Waterford Estate
- Analyse sales performance and implement improvements to consistently exceed targets
- Identify and grow new revenue streams, including private events, corporate functions, and exclusive experiences
Requirements
- Minimum 5+ years’ experience in a senior management role within hospitality, preferably within a wine estate or premium restaurant environment
- Proven track record in driving sales growth and achieving revenue targets
- Strong knowledge of wines and the wine industry (formal wine qualification advantageous)
- Excellent leadership and team development skills
- Exceptional communication and customer service abilities
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, KPIs, and reporting
- Hands-on, energetic, and results-oriented mindset
Working Hours
- This role operates on a rotating roster schedule, shared with other management staff
- Working days are Monday to Sunday, with shifts typically scheduled between 08:00 and 19:00
- Flexibility is required to accommodate operational demands, including weekends and public holidays
Additional Information
- This is a fast-paced, hands-on role requiring flexibility and initiative. Responsibilities may evolve in line with business needs, and performance will be assessed during a probation period and ongoing employment
What Waterford Estate Offers
- Competitive salary with performance-based incentives
- Opportunity to work at one of Stellenbosch’s leading wine estates
- A professional and passionate team environment
Please send your applications for either position to werner@waterfordestate.co.za.
Application closing date – 26 April 2026
If you do not receive a response within two weeks after the closing date of 26 April 2026, please consider your application unsuccessful.