Tour & Tasting Guide
- Company: Rathfinny Wine Estate
- Closing Date: 29-07-2026
- Location: Alfriston, East Sussex
- Salary: £13.50 + service charge
- Hours: Permanent
- Contact Title: Cellar Door Manager
- Contact Name: Corinne Whitehouse
- Contact Email: corinnew@rathfinnyestate.com
- Contact Telephone: 01323 870022/ option 2
- How to Apply: Please send your CV and covering letter to corinnew@rathfinnyestate.com
Description
We have an exciting position available for a Tour & Tasting Guide in our Cellar Door wine shop. Tour & Tasting Guides are responsible for delivering our popular vineyard & winery tours, as well as drop-in tastings at the Cellar Door. Tour & Tasting Guides are also responsible for wine & retail sales through the Cellar Door and fulfilling online e-commerce orders. Where necessary, you will be required to assist with bookings of our wine tourism & dining offers across the estate.
This role requires excellent time management, and the ability to develop strong relationships with both the wider team and customers.
We are looking for a proactive individual with a good work ethic, high standards and, importantly, a strong attention to detail.
CORE DUTIES:
Typical duties of the role include:
• To deliver engaging and educational vineyard tours & tastings (and drop-in tastings), whilst maintaining a high level of professionalism.
• To educate all visitors about Rathfinny and the wider English wine industry.
• To sell our Sussex wines through the Cellar Door shop.
• To process and fulfil e-commerce orders.
• To ensure the Cellar Door is kept fully stocked of retail products at all times, and monitor stock levels accordingly.
• To answer departmental emails and phone calls.
• To keep a clean and tidy work area, including washing and polishing glassware for tastings.
• To the best of your ability, ensure all health and safety, security and emergency policies are adhered to.
• To help create a professional environment for staff to work in and customers to enjoy.
• To ensure hygiene standards and health and safety regulations are strictly observed.
• At Rathfinny we work very much as a team. As an employee of Rathfinny you must be prepared to support other work colleagues, and may be required to take on extra or different tasks to help support others.
SKILLS:
• Time management - being punctual and prepared to start your shift on time is essential.
• Creativity and progressiveness.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Attention to detail is essential.
• Excellent communication skills and being at ease with the public.
• A willingness to learn about viticulture and winemaking.
• Basic computer skills.
• An ability to work closely, supportively and flexibly with other staff members.
• An excellent understanding of the operations around the production of our wines.
• Experience in a customer service/retail/hospitality role.
• WSET Level 2 or above desirable. A passion for wine a must!
• A willingness and ability to drive (expenses covered) to undertake occasional chores is an advantage.
• This is a part-time position, with a focus upon weekend working. Bank Holiday, school holiday and occasional evening work is also a requirement of the role.
• At times it may be necessary for you to work additional hours, sometimes at short notice, to cover a colleague’s sickness, holidays or training; flexibility in this area is essential. (Additional work hours will be paid at your normal hourly rate.)
