Estate Chef & Culinary Program Manager

Job Description:

Luxury Hospitality & Winery Experiences - Napa Valley

An established, ultra-premium Napa Valley winery is seeking an Estate Chef & Culinary Program Manager to lead and elevate its culinary hospitality program.

This highly regarded estate produces limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley's most iconic vineyard sites with 100-point critical acclaim.

Part of an internationally recognized luxury wine portfolio, the estate is known for highly personalized hospitality, collector-driven clientele, destination culinary experiences, and uncompromising standards across wine, service, and guest engagement.

Position Summary

This is a unique opportunity for a hospitality-minded culinary professional to develop, manage, and execute an elevated culinary program that enhances every aspect of the guest experience.

The Estate Chef & Culinary Program Manager will oversee culinary programming across private tastings, multi-course wine pairing experiences, member events, harvest activities, vineyard lunches, and luxury hospitality activations. This role combines culinary creativity with operational excellence, requiring equal parts chef, host, manager, and collaborator.

The successful candidate will serve as a key leader within the hospitality team, working closely with executive leadership, hospitality, events, sales, and vineyard teams to create experiences that distinguish the estate among Napa Valley's premier luxury destinations.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Program Leadership

• Develop and execute a world-class winery culinary program that enhances guest engagement and supports sales growth

• Create thoughtful food and wine pairings that complement the estate's wines and storytelling

• Lead menu development, food costing, procurement, inventory management, and vendor relationships

• Develop and maintain SOPs to ensure consistency, efficiency, and successful execution

• Manage all culinary operations, preparation spaces, storage systems, sanitation practices, and kitchen organization

• Continuously refine culinary offerings to elevate the estate's hospitality positioning

• Collaborate across departments to ensure seamless execution and communication

• Maintain profitability while delivering exceptional guest experiences

Hospitality Experiences

• Lead culinary development and execution for private tasting experiences and luxury wine hospitality programs

• Develop and execute multi-course chef tasting menus and elevated wine pairing experiences

• Create composed bites, seasonal offerings, and culinary integrations that enhance wine education and guest engagement

• Refine and manage cheese, charcuterie, and larder-style programs

• Assist hospitality teams with storytelling, presentation, and execution of culinary experiences

• Participate in hosting and guest interaction as appropriate

Private Events & Winery Activations

• Collaborate with hospitality and events teams to develop menus for winery events and private functions

• Lead menu planning, sourcing, budgeting, preparation, and execution for all culinary activations

• Support member events, winemaker dinners, harvest celebrations, VIP experiences, and estate gatherings

• Provide cost analysis and budget oversight for culinary programming

• Assist with off-site events and brand activations as needed

Harvest & Estate Operations

• Lead harvest meal planning and execution for winery and vineyard teams

• Support culinary needs during harvest and other critical operational periods

• Collaborate with vineyard and farming teams to incorporate estate-grown ingredients whenever possible

• Assist with the development and management of the estate's culinary garden program

Guest Experience & Collaboration

• Work closely with hospitality teams to create personalized experiences for members and guests

• Support concierge-level hospitality and customized guest experiences

• Assist in developing unique experiences that strengthen emotional connection to the estate and wines

• Contribute ideas that drive visitation, loyalty, and revenue growth

Leadership & Culture

• Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, accountability, and hospitality

• Lead by example through organization, communication, preparation, and execution

• Build positive working relationships across hospitality, events, vineyard, winery, and administrative teams

• Support training and development of team members involved in culinary execution

Qualifications

• 5+ years of culinary leadership experience in fine dining, luxury hospitality, winery hospitality, private clubs, boutique hotels, or related environments

• Strong culinary skills with a passion for seasonal, ingredient-driven cuisine

• Proven experience with menu development, food costing, inventory management, and procurement

• Exceptional organizational and time-management abilities

• Strong communication and collaboration skills

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, detail-oriented, high-expectation environment

• Wine knowledge and food pairing experience strongly preferred

• Ability to work weekends, evenings, winery events, and harvest periods

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are:

• A hospitality-driven culinary professional who loves creating memorable guest experiences

• A highly organized and accountable leader who takes ownership of your program

• A collaborative team member who enjoys working across departments

• Passionate about wine, farming, storytelling, and hospitality

• Energized by building and continually improving a world-class culinary program

• Equally comfortable cooking, planning, hosting, and leading

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