Lead Server chez Careers at Pali Wine Co.

Description

We are seeking a warm, confident, and detail-oriented server to join our team at Pali Wine Co. This position is central to delivering a curated guest experience, guiding tastings, educating guests about our organically farmed estate vineyard and winemaking approach, and helping build lasting relationships through wine club engagement.

Servers are expected to embody Pali’s brand values: vineyard-driven, intentional, welcoming. Never snobby or scripted. Our goal is not just to serve wine, but to share our story and connect guests to our land, our craft, and our community.

As a Lead Server, you will play a key role in supporting team performance, guiding staff and ensuring smooth daily operations. 

Key Responsibilities 

Duties include but are not limited to: 

 Guest Experience & Sales

• Deliver outstanding hospitality rooted in knowledge, care, and precision.
• Confidently guide guests through tastings and flights, adapting the experience to each table.
• Accurately share the stories behind our wines, vineyards, and winemaking practices.
• Ask every guest about wine club membership, apply benefits consistently, and introduce the club warmly to all guests.
• Consistently lead the team in wine sales and wine club signups, setting the standard for guest engagement and conversion.
• Support and model team sales goals, ensuring all staff understand expectations and are encouraged to achieve them.
• Handle POS transactions with accuracy and efficiency.

Operations & Events

• Assist with setup, execution, and breakdown of events (public and wine club).
• Maintain service areas with professionalism; ensure cleanliness and readiness at all times, including the restroom as needed.
• Take initiative to keep operations flowing smoothly during service.
• Follow all procedures and policies consistently, modeling standards for other team members.

Leadership & Team Support

• Act as shift lead, ensuring smooth service flow, team coordination, and high guest satisfaction.
• Serve as the first point of accountability during service, observing team performance and escalating issues as needed.
• Mentor and support team members in wine knowledge, service standards, and sales technique.
• Provide real-time coaching during shifts to raise performance, especially in guest engagement and club conversations.
• Ensure opening and closing procedures are completed thoroughly and consistently.
• Track and communicate shift performance (sales, wine club conversions, guest feedback) to management.
• Handle guest escalations with professionalism and care, resolving issues or escalating when appropriate.

Requirements

Requirements:

•  Must be at least 21 years old.
• Impeccable attendance and reliability. Always shows up on time, prepared, and ready to lead.
• Positive, professional, and team-oriented attitude. Leads by example, builds others up, and embodies Pali’s hospitality culture.
• Considerable wine knowledge required. Strong familiarity with grape varieties, tasting techniques, regional distinctions, and the ability to confidently educate guests.
• Demonstrated sales ability, with a track record of driving guest engagement and conversions.
• Passion for storytelling, farming, and authentic guest connection.
• Prior hospitality experience required; wine-focused or sales-driven settings strongly preferred.
• Availability on weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs (a case of wine).
• Comfortable standing and walking for extended periods.
• Full-time employment
• $23/hour starting wage, with eligibility for a $2/hour raise after 3 months based on performance.

About Pali Wine Company:

Pali Wine Co. brings the winery experience to your neighborhood. Through our three Outposts in Southern California, we create a connection between our customers, our Santa Barbara County-based winery and the vineyards that we source our grapes from. Pali’s wines are highly regarded by critics, and we have a reputation for producing wines with a strong sense of place and identity. Even still, Pali’s wines are approachable to new wine-drinkers and our staff embraces every opportunity to educate our customers.

We produce a variety of wines by employing a spectrum of winemaking techniques, old and new. We obsess over our customers’ experiences, and we welcome new members to the Pali team who share our obsession and want to add to our customer’s experience. We are performance driven, which makes Pali Wine Co. an inspiring place to grow personally and professionally.