Job Description
Caveau Selections is a well-established, highly selective wine importer specializing in grower Champagne and domaine Burgundy. Over two decades, Caveau has built a loyal clientele of collectors and wine enthusiasts and approximately $1.5 million in annual revenue.
We are embarking on an ambitious next chapter: growing Caveau toward $5 million in annual revenue over approximately six years while maintaining strong margins, exceptional client relationships and the highly personal character of the business.
We are looking for someone to help us achieve that goal.
The Director of Sales & Client Experience has two closely connected objectives: grow the business and deepen our relationships with clients.
This is a hands-on, entrepreneurial position—not the management of an established sales department. The successful candidate will personally sell wine, develop clients, create new business, strengthen our wine clubs and help create experiences that make Caveau distinctive.
Drive Revenue Growth
The Director will develop and execute the strategy for growing Caveau, with responsibilities including:
Grow DTC sales through private clients, wine clubs, allocations, e-commerce and direct outreach.
Personally develop and manage relationships with important clients.
Acquire new high-value customers and re-engage valuable inactive clients.
Increase retention, purchase frequency, average order value and lifetime value.
Grow wine clubs and recurring revenue.
Develop release, allocation, pre-arrival and library-wine strategies.
Create referral and customer-acquisition programs.
Use customer and sales data to identify opportunities and measure results.
Work with ownership on annual, quarterly and monthly sales objectives.
Protect Caveau's premium positioning and margins while pursuing growth.
Selective Wholesale
Caveau will remain primarily DTC, but selective wholesale can introduce our producers to important audiences and provide profitable incremental growth.
The Director will develop appropriate relationships with fine-dining restaurants and sommeliers, independent fine-wine retailers, luxury hotels, private clubs and other strategically valuable accounts.
The objective is selective, profitable wholesale—not volume for volume's sake.
Client Experience
We believe a client's relationship with Caveau can extend well beyond an individual bottle of wine.
The Director will develop tastings, dinners, producer visits, vineyard experiences, travel and other events that strengthen relationships and build community.
A Caveau Champagne buyer might visit Royer Vineyard. A Royer customer might attend a Burgundy dinner. A wine-club member might join a tea tasting with a visiting tea master. A client may eventually travel with us through Burgundy or Champagne.
The goal is to turn these individual touchpoints into a thoughtful client-engagement strategy that feels personal rather than promotional.
Portfolio & Wine Knowledge
Our producers and wines are the heart of Caveau. The Director must become deeply knowledgeable about the portfolio and communicate authentically with collectors, sommeliers and wine enthusiasts.
Strong knowledge of Burgundy and Champagne is highly desirable. The Director will work closely with ownership on producer stories, allocations, releases, portfolio positioning and sales strategy. Occasional travel to France will be required.
Royer Vineyard & Caveau Fine Tea
The position will also work with two complementary businesses that expand the Caveau client experience.
Royer Vineyard is our small estate winery in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills, producing approximately 300–500 cases annually. The Director will help grow its DTC business through customer acquisition, mailing-list development, e-commerce, vineyard visits, tastings, dinners and events.
Caveau Fine Tea is an emerging DTC business focused on exceptional teas and experiences including guided tastings, visiting tea masters, educational events, food and tea, yoga, sound baths and other intimate hospitality experiences.
These businesses are secondary to Caveau's wine business but provide distinctive opportunities to deepen client relationships through wine, hospitality, travel, food, tea and experiences.
Who We're Looking For
The ideal candidate is a combination of salesperson, relationship builder and entrepreneur.
Required:
5+ years of progressive wine-industry experience.
Demonstrated success selling premium or fine wine.
Experience with DTC, private clients, wine clubs, e-commerce or relationship-based selling.
Demonstrated ability to develop customers and grow revenue.
Strong organization and follow-through.
Ability to work independently, take ownership and remain highly hands-on.
Highly Desirable:
Strong Burgundy and Champagne knowledge.
Relationships with serious wine collectors.
Wine-club and allocation-based sales experience.
Event and client-experience development.
Relationships with sommeliers, restaurants and fine-wine retailers.
Wine CRM/e-commerce experience.
Wine importing or distribution experience.
WSET, CMS or other wine education.
What Success Looks Like
Over approximately six years:
Caveau has grown substantially toward its $5 million revenue objective.
Active and high-value clients have increased significantly.
Wine-club membership and recurring revenue have grown.
Existing clients purchase more frequently and remain engaged longer.
Caveau has developed an appropriate selective wholesale presence.
Royer Vineyard has strengthened its DTC business and visitor community.
Events and experiences contribute meaningfully to acquisition and retention.
Caveau's reputation for personal service and exceptional hospitality has strengthened as the company has grown.
Compensation & Long-Term Opportunity
Caveau offers an entrepreneurial compensation structure combining base salary, uncapped sales commissions and the opportunity to earn equity participation.
Job category: Sales and Marketing
Job Tags