As a California Manager for Merryvale Family of Wines (MFW), this role is responsible for building and sustaining business relationships with key accounts and influence sales in the designated territory for all brands in the MFW’s portfolio. The position interfaces with Albert Bichot USA (AB) for domestic sales. The California Manager contributes to increasing positive brand awareness and sales through promotional strategies and is meant to embody the family identity in appearance, demeanor, values and ethics. Duties and Responsibilities break out into the following categories:

Reporting to:
•  Ownership

Territory:
•  California

Sales & Marketing:
•  The position will be based in the Northern California.
•  Traveling three weeks per month. Coordinating Market visits and sales blitzes with AB and/or distributor personnel domestically and with European importers
•  Calling on Top/Key Accounts in territory with heavy focus on Merryvale Vineyards and Profile Collection wines
•  Wine Dinners, VIP tastings and other selling events; plan and execute in Key Accounts
•  Encourage PC and Merryvale member sign-ups at consumer events, i.e winemaker dinners, etc.
•  Influence brand development, go-to-market strategy and messaging
•  Influence key selling points and focus items
•  Establish Sales Program Calendar (in conjunction with Marketing Dept)
•  Survey competitive activity and seek opportunity to be current and relevant in the market
•  Holding brand integrity and standards by monitoring pricing throughout the region to deliver desired wine list, BTG and retail price point targets as well as channel mix and profitability
•  Monitor & communicate lack of inventory to AB and/or distributors and importers
•  Monitor brand movement, pricing and distribution penetration and build plans of action to facilitate growth or correct negative movement
•  Ensure that brand advertising and promo materials are being utilized strategically
•  Winemaker Travel; coordinate with AB, distributors and importers and manage execution

AB and distributor/importer interaction:
AB Management/Interaction:
•  Phone calls to each of the respective AB Regional Managers at close of month to discuss the following:
•  GSM’s with Wholesaler (brand education, re-launches, kick-offs)
•  Promo Events/Wine dinners/Buyer luncheons, etc.
•  Depletions YTD vs LYTD by SKU: targeting problem areas to bring focus and plan corrective action
•  Monitor distributor inventory par level to make sure no out of stock or below par situations exist
•  Monthly phone conference meetings with AB & MFW team to review sales, depletions & market successes

Direct to Account:
•  Call directly on Top/Key Accounts across territory: On & Off Premise independents and Regional and National Accounts (On & Off Premise)

Distributor Interaction:
•  Working directly with distributor and importer sales force on Key Account calls
•  GSM’s and educational seminars at distributor and importer level

Admin Responsibilities:
•  Facilitate Trade & Hospitality Requests
•  Event requests, itinerary planning
•  Weekly Reports to the ownership documenting accounts visited and sales made

*All distributor management will be handled by AB and any distributor meetings need to include AB representatives. Programming and pricing initiatives need to be discussed with ownership and AB RM and set up by AB but approved by MFW.

Qualifications and Requirements
•  Experience representing a high-end domestic wine brand in the market for at least 7 years
•  Established relationships with California
•  WSET or additional wine education highly desirable
•  Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and related productivity packages