Tasting Coordinator (Part-Time)

About the Company

Wine Enthusiast Companies is the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork+Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine.

About the Role

Wine Enthusiast is seeking an organized, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic Tasting Coordinator to support our regional reviewer (covering the Languedoc-Roussillon portfolio) in Santa Barbara, California. In this part-time non-exempt role (15–20 hours per week spread over 2–3 days), you will manage the end-to-end blind wine tasting process.

Responsibilities

• Safely retrieve, transport, and catalog incoming wine samples from storage facilities, maintaining a neat and organized inventory.
• Prepare, pour, arrange, and clear blind tasting flights in strict accordance with Wine Enthusiast tasting protocols.
• Cross-reference and verify all pertinent wine submission details within the Wine Enthusiast database to ensure total accuracy prior to evaluation.
• Serve as a professional liaison on behalf of the Reviewer, communicating directly with wineries, importers, and PR representatives to confirm product submissions and address inquiries.

Requirements

• Must be 21 years or older.
• Must have a valid California driver’s license.
• Must be commutable to the city of Santa Barbara.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Basic computer literacy.
• Knowledge of or passion for the wine industry is a plus.

Core Values

• Joy: We recognize that our business is not just about numbers, but also about people. As a family business, we honor the importance of our employees’ home lives. We encourage fun, discovery, adventure, and health for our teams.
• Empathy: We support our employees with patience and understanding, recognizing that work hours represent a substantial percentage of one’s time. We encourage a diverse mindset that helps us better reflect the evolving wine culture.
• Transparency: Communication and integrity are the cornerstones of our relationships with each other and our customers. We speak openly about our achievements and challenges, with the goal of helping each other grow.
• Passion: We’re not just a company; we’re a community. Our job is to enhance the lives of others, making the wine industry and all its offerings accessible and enjoyable. Delighting and educating our consumers is at the core of everything we do.
• Innovation: We value those who think outside the box to elevate the company. We celebrate change, appreciating that a nimble culture attracts talent and motivates team members to push the envelope and build our business for the future.
• Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging our collective talents to achieve our goals. We mentor those we lead and surround ourselves with people who drive us to do more than our personal best.

Inclusion & Equity

At Wine Enthusiast, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. As part of our commitment to fair hiring practices, we have adopted "ban the box" policies to provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at employment. We consider all applicants on their merits and qualifications, considering their ability to perform the job.

Pay

$16.90 USD per hour.

Schedule

Part-time, 15–20 hours per week spread over 2–3 days.