Job Search Status
Open to workDesired start date: 2 weeks notice
Open To Work
Wendy Burton
Spring,TX
Work Preference
Summary
Experienced Wine Sales Specialist with expert wine knowledge and strong background in wine education, customer engagement, and sales strategies. Proven track record of increasing sales through engaging tastings and personalized product recommendations.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Wine Sales Associate/Server
Texas Wine and Gifts Mercantile
05.2025 - Current
- Assist customers in selecting the perfect wine based on their personal taste, budget, occasion, and accompanying menu.
- Educate patrons on wine regions, varietals, and tasting notes.
- Process sales transactions accurately using point-of-sale systems.
- Conduct wine tastings to promote products, engage customers, increase sales, and build loyalty.
Wine Specialist/Educator
Total Wine & More
03.2018 - 11.2024
- Provided personalized wine recommendations to customers based on taste preferences, budgetary requirements, and intended food pairings.
- Developed product knowledge through in-house training sessions and tastings.
- Maintained organized inventory, ensuring accurate stock levels of various wine labels.
- Using my exceptional communication skills to resolve issues and address particularized inquiries, I forged and maintained a strong rapport with with corporate leadership, store patrons, and vendors.
- Collaborated with team members to create engaging wine displays for promotions.
- Represented the company professionally with guests and earned consistent repeat and referral business.
- Conducted wedding and large event consultations on a regular basis resulting in numerous successful high volume sales.
- Stayed current on industry trends, attending trade shows and tasting events network with fellow professionals while continually expanding my own product knowledge and expertise.
- As Wine Supervisor, trained service staff on wine knowledge, sales techniques, and customer service best practices to ensure consistent performance standards across the team.
- Developed a loyal customer base through exceptional service, fostering repeat business and numerous outstanding referrals.
- Organized special events such as winemaker dinners or thematic tastings that attracted new clientele while delighting existing customers.
- Used knowledge gained from extensive travels to Europe's finest vineyards to drive sales of high-end, Old World wines.
- Instructed all of the store's private and public wine classes to audiences of 12-40 attendees on specialized topics such as wine varietals, appellations, classifications, vintage comparisons, and various production techniques.
- I was the only store staff member during my tenure to attain the company's three highest certifications - in wine, spirits, and beer.
Human Resources Manager
United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons
02.1991 - 12.2016
- Managed the full range of departmental human resource subspecialties, to include recruitment, staffing and scheduling, performance and award systems, career development, benefits administration, staff discipline, labor relations, and employee pay and position management. Conducted annual audits of all of these functions.
- Supervised a departmental staff of 10 at three different duty stations.
- While serving at Agency headquarters, I played a focal role in the development and implementation of several nationwide HR policies which are still in effect today.
- Wrote and personally delivered introductory speeches for visiting dignitaries.
Education
Master of Arts - European History, Journalism
Kent State University
Kent, OHSkills
- Customer service
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Wine education
- Brand promotion
- Product knowledge
- Wine pairing proficiency
- Wine tasting organization
Certification
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
Timeline
Wine Sales Associate/Server
Texas Wine and Gifts Mercantile
05.2025 - Current
Wine Specialist/Educator
Total Wine & More
03.2018 - 11.2024
Human Resources Manager
United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons
02.1991 - 12.2016
Master of Arts - European History, Journalism
Kent State University
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