Wine Program Curator & Tasting Host (Part-Time/Seasonal) (Wine Jobs: Wine Retail & Sommelier)

  Norwood Vineyard & Gardens

  Jonesboro, Georgia

About Norwood Vineyard
Norwood Vineyard is a family-owned working muscadine vineyard and event venue in Jonesboro, Georgia, just 25 minutes south of Atlanta. While we are primarily a wedding and private event venue, we are now building out our own public wine experiences - inviting guests to come to the vineyard not just for weddings, but to slow down, discover new wines, and connect with the land and the makers behind it.

We grow muscadine grapes on our property, and while we do not produce our own wine, we are passionate about celebrating Southern winemakers - showcasing their craft, building genuine relationships with them, and bringing their stories to our guests. We believe wine is about warmth, discovery, and community - not intimidation. That belief shapes everything about how we build our tasting program.

The Role
We are building something new at Norwood Vineyard - a wine tasting program that feels as intimate, original, rooted and welcoming as the vineyard itself. This role is for the person who will help us build it.

As our Wine Program Curator & Tasting Host, you will wear two hats. Behind the scenes, you are the creative and logistical force working with the owners to shape our wine experiences - selecting wines, designing tasting formats, sourcing from Southern producers, and building the winemaker relationships for our local community that make our programming special and authentic. On tasting event days and evenings, you are the warm, knowledgeable presence guiding our guests through each pour, serving guests alongside our staff and making wine feel approachable and exciting for everyone in the room.

This is not a corporate or formal sommelier role. We are not looking for someone who makes guests feel like they do not know enough. We are looking for someone who loves wine, loves introducing people to new and upcoming winemakers, loves people and has the skill and warmth to make both come alive together.

Our programming currently includes a monthly Friday Night Legacy Wine Tasting - a guided experience for up to 75 guests - as well as seasonal Saturday tastings and open flights. As we grow, this role will expand to include weekly (weekday) open wine tasting hours during the summer and fall season. This is a ground-floor opportunity to build something meaningful with a family-owned venue.

What You'll Do
WINE PROGRAM DESIGN & CURATION

• Help design and evolve our wine tasting program - including guided tastings, open flight experiences, themed events, and seasonal programming
• Select wines for each tasting experience with an emphasis on Southern winemakers, black winemakers, muscadine varietals, and producers that align with our story and values
• Build and maintain relationships with local and regional winemakers - coordinating with them for featured tastings, guest appearances at tastings, and ongoing sourcing
• Develop tasting notes, pairing suggestions, and guest-facing materials that are approachable and engaging - never intimidating
• Research and recommend food pairings that complement each tasting experience
• Place wine orders and manage inventory for tasting events - coordinating logistics with owners
• Collaborate with the owners on programming calendar, pricing, and guest experience design
• Bring creative ideas for new tasting formats, seasonal experiences, and ways to deepen our connection with the Southern wine community

TASTING EVENTS & GUEST HOSTING

• Be the on-site host and lead pourer for all vineyard wine tasting events - including the monthly Friday Night Legacy Wine Tasting (up to 75 guests), seasonal Saturday open tastings and future week-day tastings.
• Guide guests through each tasting with warmth, knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm - making every guest feel welcome regardless of their wine experience
• Pour and serve guests throughout the event, maintaining a clean, well-stocked, and beautifully presented tasting station
• Answer questions about wines, winemakers, and pairings - offering thoughtful recommendations tailored to each guest's taste
• Manage the flow and pacing of guided tasting experiences to ensure guests feel unhurried and engaged
• Occasionally support wine service/private wine tasting experiences during private events and weddings at the vineyard
• Uphold responsible alcohol service standards throughout all events

What We're Looking For

• A natural with people — warm, confident, and genuinely hospitality-minded
• Genuine passion for wine - especially Southern wines, muscadine varietals, and small-producer stories
• Bartending or wine service experience - you are comfortable behind a bar, pouring for a crowd, and managing a service flow
• Warm, approachable personality - you make wine feel fun and accessible, not pretentious, exclusive or intimidating
• Knowledge of local wine regions, varietals, tasting techniques, and food pairing - enough to guide and educate guests confidently
• Comfortable working outdoors at an open-air vineyard venue in varying weather conditions
• Organized and self-directed - able to manage ordering, planning, and logistics independently
• Relationship-builder - genuinely interested in sourcing, discovering, and connecting with winemakers and producers, not just selecting off a list
• Available Thursdays or Fridays and occasional weekends - this is non-negotiable for event coverage
• Comfortable working in a small, family-operated environment where flexibility and genuine care matter
• TIPS, ServSafe Alcohol, or equivalent responsible service certification is preferred but not required
• Experience building or managing a tasting program, wine list, or bar program is a strong plus
• Experience in events, hospitality, catering, customer service, or a client-facing role
• Calm under pressure with strong communication skills
• A team player who can also work independently when needed
• Reliable, punctual, and professional in appearance

What Makes this Role Different

• You are not filling a shift - you are building a program. Your taste, your relationships, and your creativity will directly shape what the Norwoods wine experience becomes
• We celebrate Southern wine and muscadine culture - not the mainstream wine industry. If you love discovering underdog producers and regional stories, you will love this
• You will work directly with the owners - no layers of management, no corporate approvals. Just a family that trusts the people they bring on
• This role grows with us. As our tasting programming expands - including weekly summer events - so do your hours, influence, and potential title
• Our venue is genuinely beautiful. You will be pouring wine on a working vineyard in the Georgia countryside. There are worse offices.

A Note From Us
We are a family-owned, seasonal venue and we genuinely love seeing our crew come back year after year. If you are someone who takes pride in physical work, loves being outside, and wants to be part of something that matters to the people it serves — we'd love to meet you.

Norwood Vineyard is located in Jonesboro, Georgia. Applicants should be local to the Clayton County / South Metro Atlanta area. This is an in-person, on-site position.

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Ability to Commute:

• Jonesboro, GA 30236 (Required)

Work Location: In person

How To Apply

Please send your application with your resume.

Additionally, please visit https://www.norwoodvineyard.com/careers to complete your application.

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