Wine Manager Resume examples & templates
Copyable Wine Manager Resume examples
By 2030, the role of Wine Managers will extend beyond traditional cellars and restaurants into emerging spaces like virtual tasting rooms and direct-to-consumer subscription experiences. The wine industry is evolving at breakneck speed, with Wine Managers at the forefront of this transformation. They're no longer just curators of bottles and vintages—they're becoming data interpreters, sustainability champions, and experience designers in an increasingly competitive market. According to recent industry analysis, premium wine sales have increased 17.3% since 2020, creating new opportunities for specialized Wine Managers who can navigate both the art and business of wine.
Today's Wine Managers balance deep product knowledge with customer psychology, inventory management, and emerging technologies (those digital inventory systems aren't going to manage themselves!). As climate change reshapes growing regions and consumer preferences shift toward sustainable and organic options, tomorrow's successful Wine Managers will need to stay nimble—adapting their expertise to a wine landscape that looks dramatically different than it did just a decade ago.
Junior Wine Manager Resume Example
OLIVIA MARTINEZ
Tampa, FL 33603 • (813) 555-4219 • olivia.martinez@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliviamartinez • Wine Instagram: @olivias_wine_journey
Recent Hospitality Management graduate with foundational wine knowledge and 18 months of progressive experience in beverage service and inventory management. WSET Level 2 certified with particular knowledge of Spanish and South American varietals. Skilled at curating accessible wine lists that drive both customer satisfaction and profitability. Looking to grow into a full Wine Manager role where I can apply my passion for wine education and sales growth.
EXPERIENCE
Assistant Wine Manager – Vineyard Bistro & Wine Bar, Tampa, FL
March 2023 – Present
- Collaborate with Head Sommelier to manage inventory of 175+ wines, reducing overstocking by 14% while maintaining 99.2% availability of menu offerings
- Train service staff on wine basics, food pairings, and upselling techniques during pre-shift meetings
- Coordinate with vendors to source 12-15 new wines quarterly, focusing on small-production vineyards
- Assist with wine tastings and pairing events for groups of 20-45 guests, generating $3,750 in additional monthly revenue
- Create engaging tasting notes for wine menu and helped increase wine-by-the-glass sales by 22%
Bar Associate – The Cork & Barrel Wine Shop, Tampa, FL
September 2021 – February 2023
- Managed POS system and processed 40+ daily transactions while maintaining high customer satisfaction
- Organized and maintained inventory of 300+ wines, ensuring proper storage conditions
- Assisted customers with wine selections based on preferences, occasion, and budget
- Helped coordinate weekly tasting events featuring regional wine flights
Server/Bartender – Coastal Kitchen & Bar, St. Petersburg, FL
May 2021 – August 2021 (Seasonal)
- Provided attentive service in fast-paced restaurant averaging 200+ covers nightly
- Recommended wine pairings with menu items, increasing average check by $9.75
- Maintained knowledge of 30+ wines by the glass and 85+ bottle selections
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Science, Hospitality Management
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL – December 2021
Minor: Business Administration • GPA: 3.7
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Certification – October 2022
Certified Beer Server, Cicerone Certification Program – March 2022
ServSafe Alcohol Certification – May 2021
SKILLS
- Wine Inventory Management
- Staff Training & Development
- Customer Education
- POS Systems (Toast, Square)
- Food & Wine Pairing
- Vendor Relations
- Event Planning
- Basic French & Spanish
- Wine Club Management
- Social Media Marketing
ADDITIONAL
Currently developing a series of intro wine classes for restaurant staff training
Volunteer coordinator for Tampa Bay Wine Festival 2023
Traveled to Mendoza wine region in Argentina (2022) to expand knowledge of South American wines
Mid-level Wine Manager Resume Example
Sophia Martinez
Oakland, CA 94611 • (510) 555-7823 • sophia.martinez@email.com • linkedin.com/in/sophiamartinez
Passionate wine professional with 5+ years managing premium wine programs across retail and hospitality settings. Skilled in inventory management, staff training, and developing creative marketing initiatives that drove a 31% increase in wine sales. Recognized for building strong supplier relationships and curating distinctive collections that appeal to both novice consumers and experienced oenophiles.
EXPERIENCE
Wine Program Manager | Hillcrest Wine Merchants | Oakland, CA | January 2021 – Present
- Oversee a 750+ bottle inventory across multiple price points, maintaining 97% accuracy through quarterly audits
- Launched a redesigned wine club program that boosted membership by 43% in 9 months
- Train staff of 8 on wine knowledge, tasting techniques, and sales approaches, resulting in 26% increase in average transaction value
- Collaborate with 30+ distributors and winemakers to source unique offerings and secure favorable pricing
- Plan and host 4-6 monthly tasting events featuring regional themes and winemaker visits (our Willamette Valley showcase attracted 87 attendees!)
Assistant Wine Director | Vine & Table Restaurant Group | San Francisco, CA | March 2019 – December 2020
- Managed wine programs for 3 upscale restaurants with combined annual wine sales of $1.2M
- Created rotating by-the-glass selections that increased wine sales by 19% while reducing inventory costs
- Developed and implemented a staff training curriculum covering wine regions, production methods, and food pairings
- Introduced a digital inventory system that cut monthly stock-taking time from 3 days to 8 hours
Wine Sales Specialist | Bay Area Wine Collective | Berkeley, CA | June 2017 – February 2019
- Consistently ranked in top 3 sales associates, exceeding monthly targets by an average of 22%
- Built loyal customer base through personalized recommendations and follow-up communications
- Assisted with coordination of weekly tasting events and wine education classes
- Maintained detailed product knowledge of 400+ wines from major global regions
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Level 3 Award in Wines | Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) | 2020
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) | Society of Wine Educators | 2019
Bachelor of Science, Hospitality Management | San Francisco State University | 2017 California Responsible Beverage Service Certification | Current
SKILLS
- Inventory Management (BinWise, VinConnect)
- Wine Regions & Varietals Expertise
- Staff Training & Development
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Wine Club Administration
- Food & Wine Pairing
- Event Planning & Execution
- POS Systems (Aloha, Toast)
- Social Media Marketing
- Basic French & Spanish Language
Senior / Experienced Wine Manager Resume Example
MARIA FONTANA
Boston, MA • (617) 555-2149 • m.fontana.wine@gmail.com • linkedin.com/in/mariafontana
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Passionate Wine Manager with 10+ years guiding wine programs at upscale restaurants and retailers. Built the 250+ selection wine list that earned Cabernet Bistro a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2019. Proven track record increasing wine sales by up to 32% while training staff on effective wine service and pairing recommendations. Known for developing strong distributor relationships and identifying emerging wine trends before they reach mainstream popularity.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
WINE DIRECTOR | Mercantile Wine & Provisions, Boston, MA | June 2019 – Present
- Oversee 600+ bottle inventory ($425K value) across 3 retail locations, maintaining 92% inventory accuracy
- Redesigned wine department layout resulting in 28% sales increase for bottles priced $50-100
- Negotiate directly with 23 distributors and 8 small importers to secure exclusive allocations and optimal pricing
- Launched virtual tasting series during 2020 that retained 78% of our highest-spending clients
- Created staff education program that reduced turnover by 15% and increased average transaction value by $37
- Host quarterly wine dinners featuring winemakers that consistently sell out within 48 hours
BEVERAGE MANAGER | Cabernet Bistro, Cambridge, MA | March 2016 – May 2019
- Developed and maintained wine program that earned Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2019
- Increased wine sales by 32% while maintaining costs at 27% of revenue (3% below target)
- Created rotating wine flight program that boosted Tuesday-Thursday sales by 22%
- Trained staff of 14 on wine knowledge, proper service techniques, and effective pairing suggestions
- Implemented inventory management system that reduced dead stock by 63%
SOMMELIER | The Vineyard Room, Providence, RI | August 2014 – February 2016
- Provided tableside wine service and recommendations in 86-seat fine dining establishment
- Managed 320+ bottle wine list with emphasis on Italian and French selections
- Conducted weekly staff trainings on wine regions, varietals, and food pairings
- Increased wine-by-the-glass sales by 18% through strategic list development
WINE SPECIALIST | Vintage Cellars, Providence, RI | May 2012 – July 2014
- Advised customers on selections from inventory of 400+ wines
- Organized twice-monthly tasting events that increased Saturday foot traffic by 35%
- Assisted with inventory management and special orders
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Court of Master Sommeliers – Advanced Sommelier Certification (2018)
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) – Level 3 Award in Wines (2015)
Johnson & Wales University – B.S. in Hospitality Management (2012)
SKILLS
- Wine List Development & Curation
- Staff Training & Development
- Inventory Management (BinWise, Vintail)
- Wine Tasting Event Planning
- Distributor Negotiations
- Food & Wine Pairing
- POS Systems (Toast, Aloha)
- Cost Control & Pricing Strategy
- Cellar Management
- French (Conversational)
- Italian (Basic)
How to Write a Wine Manager Resume
Introduction
A great Wine Manager resume isn't just a list of past jobs—it's your chance to showcase your expertise in wine selection, staff training, inventory management, and customer education. I've reviewed hundreds of Wine Manager applications over the years, and the ones that stand out combine technical wine knowledge with clear business acumen. Your resume needs to speak the language of both wine enthusiasts and business professionals to truly capture attention in this competitive field.
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your Wine Manager resume clean and sophisticated—much like a well-designed wine list. Aim for 1-2 pages depending on your experience level, with the sweet spot being a single page for those with under 7 years of experience.
- Choose a simple, elegant font (Garamond, Calibri, or Times New Roman work well)
- Include clear section headings with plenty of white space
- Use bullet points rather than dense paragraphs
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting (unless specifically asked for a .doc)
- Name your file professionally: "FirstName_LastName_WineManager.pdf"
Profile/Summary Section
Your summary should be a crisp, full-bodied introduction with notes of your expertise and a finish that hints at your career achievements. Keep it under 4 lines.
Craft your summary last! After writing your entire resume, you'll have a better sense of the key highlights worth featuring in this prime real estate at the top of your document.
Example: "Wine Manager with 6+ years overseeing beverage programs at high-volume restaurants. Certified Sommelier who increased wine sales by 31% through staff education and curated wine pairings. Experience managing $475K annual wine budget while maintaining industry-leading 27% pour cost."
Professional Experience
This is where you'll uncork your achievements. For each role, include:
- Position title, company name, location, dates (month/year)
- 4-6 bullet points highlighting accomplishments, not just duties
- Specific metrics: sales increases, inventory value managed, staff trained
- Wine program development initiatives and results
Strong bullet example: "Revamped by-the-glass program featuring 22 rotating selections, resulting in 18% increase in wine sales and average check growth of $13.75 per guest."
Weak bullet example: "Responsible for wine list and staff training."
Education and Certifications
Wine credentials matter in this field! List formal education first, followed by wine certifications with dates received.
- Court of Master Sommeliers levels (Intro, Certified, Advanced, Master)
- WSET certifications (specify levels 1-4)
- Wine Scholar Guild programs (French Wine Scholar, etc.)
- SommFoundation or similar continuing education
- Any relevant business/hospitality degrees
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many wine jobs, particularly at larger hospitality groups or retailers, use Applicant Tracking Systems. Include these terms naturally throughout your resume:
- Inventory management
- P&L responsibility
- Staff training and development
- Vendor relationships
- Pour cost optimization
- Wine list curation
- Customer education
- POS systems (mention specific ones you've used)
Industry-specific Terms
Show your expertise by naturally incorporating wine industry terminology. Don't go overboard—just enough to demonstrate you speak the language:
- Vertical/horizontal tastings
- Wine regions you specialize in
- Bin management systems
- Cellar organization methods
- Depletion rates
- Coravin program management
- Wine dinner coordination
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I've seen these errors tank otherwise solid Wine Manager resumes:
- Using overly flowery wine descriptions that sound like tasting notes
- Failing to quantify business results (sales, costs, profits)
- Listing every wine you've ever tasted
- Omitting relevant software experience (inventory systems, POS)
- Forgetting to highlight team management experience
Before/After Example
Before: "Managed wine program at Italian restaurant. Created wine list. Trained staff on wine service."
After: "Developed and managed 137-bottle Italian-focused wine program generating $625K in annual sales. Created educational materials covering 14 Italian wine regions, leading to 22% increase in premium bottle sales. Trained staff of 12 in regional wine characteristics, proper service techniques, and food pairing suggestions."
Remember that your resume should reflect both your passion for wine and your business sense. Employers want someone who can talk terroir while keeping an eye on the bottom line!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Wine Manager resume
- Sensory intelligence – ability to translate complex tasting notes into accessible language for both staff and customers
- Cross-functional team coordination between cellar operations, tasting room staff, and distribution partners
- Conflict resolution during high-volume periods (especially crucial during harvest season)
- Storytelling that connects customers to vineyard history and winemaking process
- Adaptability to shifting market trends and consumer preferences (remember the Merlot crash of 2005?)
- Multi-tasking during simultaneous events – juggling VIP tastings while managing inventory counts
Hard skills for your Wine Manager resume
- WSET Level 3 Certification (Wine & Spirit Education Trust)
- Inventory management using BinWise and VinConnect software
- Wine list curation and seasonal rotation planning
- Profit margin analysis and pricing strategy development
- Temperature-controlled storage system maintenance
- Point of Sale (POS) system management – focus on Toast and Aloha
- Staff training program development using 5-point tasting methodology
- Cellar organization using bin location tracking systems
- Wine auction valuation and acquisition analysis