A Workin’ Woman

Back in October, I told you all about a cool job opportunity I had coming up, and I’m happy to report back that I did in fact get the position at… wait for it… Twenty One Barrels!

Me, smiling at the camera, wearing a Twenty One Barrels dark grey t-shirt and matching baseball cap style hat.

If you missed it, Twenty One Barrels is the winery/cidery across the street from me that I recently did a Small Business Saturday over. When I went over there to do the interview with one of the owners, I saw they had a help wanted sign, and I asked her about it. She encouraged me to apply, and then we set up the job shadow to see if it was something I wanted to do. After the job shadow went well, we dotted some i’s and crossed some t’s, and now I’m officially a Tasting Room Attendant!

Thank you so much to everyone that wished me good luck and all that nice stuff. So far I’ve enjoyed it! You can still expect to see me posting on the blog, though, as the winery is only open on the weekends, and I’m not scheduled for every weekend, anyway.

I’m happy to have this opportunity, as I’ve always been interested in being a bartender, but sports bars aren’t really my vibe, and I never wanted to do it at a club because I want to preserve my hearing, so this seems like something much more suited for me.

So, if you’re in the area and decide to come check out the winery, I just might be the one pouring your glass!

-AMS

50 Comments on “A Workin’ Woman”

  1. What a cool job! Congrats and way to go on jumping on a neat opportunity. Here’s hoping it treats you well!

  2. Oh, HUGE congratulations, Athena!!! I am absolutely thrilled for you!

    I am so glad you landed a job where you already have connections and a pretty good sense for what the people and the vibes are like – that makes it SO much easier to do the all-essential assessment of the fit and culture at the job. I wish you a happy and very successful career at Twenty-One Barrels, and I hope it leads you to all manner of other opportunities in the future!

  3. My sister (a retired school teacher) has been working weekends at a local winery, and she really enjoys it.

    I hope you do too!

  4. Oh how cool!
    I love doing tours of distilleries, wineries, and breweries. If we are ever in OH, we’ll definitely swing through for a tour and a taste.

  5. Congratulations, Athena! We have a lot of wineries around us (Oregon), and the tasting room folks always seem to be happy. Hope you are, too

  6. Congratulation Athena
    I hope you continue to enjoy your job and learn a lot of interesting things about Wines

  7. That is so perfect! I had a hunch that would be the place, and with luck, you’ll grow in responsibility as their business grows.
    And you are rocking those braids!

  8. Congratulations on the new job. I love the walking commute!!! Also being weekends that is a nice step into that world, but also leaves you time to think and keep up with your writing. Sounds good for this phase of your life. You’re nailing it! Keep it up.

  9. Congratulations! So happy for you! It sounds like a great company, with genuinely good people to work for. Enjoy!

  10. This is a great job.

    In the 80’s I waited tables at a country club to put myself through school.

    Some old old suggestions.

    Always upsell, to get a bigger bill and bigger tip. Make physical contact with a customer, consult the boss but the shoulder works well.

    I could not balance my tray while a person took drinks off of it. I handed them to people. Wear very comfortable shoes as you will walk many miles.

    Take glass from the table and pour over the floor. A spill is much easier to clean up, using this method.

    Do not drink! Many bartenders are addicts. Temptation is always there.

  11. Much congrats! It’s always nice to earn your own money. And that sounds like a cool job.

    Of course, the big question on my mind is: Do they have creme brule?

  12. good news: short commute

    bad news: zero excuses available to you due to road conditions

    worst news: if nobody else can make in due to snow conditions you’ll be expected to do so to feed the dragon (or wolves or snakes) guarding the booze

  13. Wow! You live in a rural area and found a job where you can walk to work. I vist breweries, wineries and cideries as often as I can when I travel, and assuming it is not excessively crowded, really enjoy talking about the product with the server.

  14. Good for you! A brewery near where I am at does a thing called “Books on Tap” where an author appears to promote a work and draw a crowd. Having the ability to open the Tap Room 2-4 extra times a year with a book reading or a Scalzi dance party could make you some extra money. I am sure “The Old Church” will need a liquor distributor for some of its events and you should put yourself in the middle of that relationship as well. Good luck!

  15. You have something I’ve always wanted: a job within walking distance of my house!

    Congratulations!!

  16. Well done you!

    I’ll second or whatever the advice on wearing comfortable, adjustable* shoes, you’ll likely still be a little sore at the end of the day at first but you will get used to it. Plus it will help with your fitness :-)

    you may find your feet swell a little over the day, being able to loosen the fastenings will feel sooooo good later on in your shift.

  17. So you need to start a neighborhood pub. Perhaps in an old, disused church building or some such thing.

  18. Congratulations Athena! I’ve been in the wine & spirits biz for, (counts on fingers, carries the 1) 22 years. If you find your calling, you have a lifetime of fun, learning, and fun ahead of you. Congrats again, and welcome to the biz.

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