Sales Ambassador (France)

We are proud to be the UK’s largest family-owned and family-run wine importer. Since 1964, Berkmann Wine Cellars has championed premium, independent wineries from around the world, building an award-winning portfolio that graces the country’s top restaurants and retailers.

We are seeking an exceptional Sales Ambassador to champion a portfolio of premium and prestige French rosé and Champagne brands in the UK market. Working within the Marketing team, this role exists to build brand advocacy and reputation within the UK trade, win incremental distribution, and activate initiatives that increase rate of sale across both on and off trade. This is a highly visible, customer-facing role combining ambassadorial presence with commercial rigour. You will be the recognised face of our rosé and Champagne portfolio in the UK trade, translating brand vision into compelling, commercially sound solutions that ultimately close the deal.

The Role

• Act as custodian of our premium and prestige French rosé and Champagne portfolio within UK trade, fully embracing and delivering the vision, values and ethos of each winery.
• Secure new listings in high-visibility, brand-appropriate accounts that align with premium and prestige positioning.
• Open new accounts, in collaboration with the sales team, where the brands must be present to deliver on their long-term vision.
• Develop and implement promotional and activation activity that delivers the brand ambition while remaining realistic and executable at account level.
• Spend significant time in trade-facing activity to understand market dynamics, brand life cycles and customer needs across on-trade and independent off-trade.
• Become the go-to expert for your category, with in-depth knowledge of rosé and Champagne styles, production, provenance and the competitive landscape.
• Work in close partnership with Brand Managers, Trade Marketing, Sales and Purchasing, using diplomacy, influence and credibility to win over existing and prospective customers.
• Create and manage a master annual activity calendar, detailing prospecting campaigns by brand and sales channel, clearly communicated across Marketing and Sales.
• Deliver distinctive tastings, brand dinners, events, incentives and trips that elevate rosé and Champagne and stand out from conventional wine trade activity.
• Provide monthly reporting, including written summaries of brand achievements, volume performance versus budget, and recommendations for corrective action where required.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Strong experience and appreciation of French culture (essential); fluency in French is desirable but not mandatory.
• A genuine passion for and strong knowledge of rosé wine and Champagne.
• Proven sales experience, ideally within FMCG, luxury goods or premium drinks.
• Working knowledge of the UK drinks market, across both on- and off-trade.
• A strong understanding of the UK wine and Champagne landscape, competitor sets and consumer behaviour.
• Demonstrable success working across a portfolio of premium or prestige brands.
• Experience identifying and leveraging consumer insights to inform brand strategy and trade activation.
• WSET Level 3 or above (or equivalent).
• Outgoing, confident and engaging, with the presence to host dinners and command a room.
• Highly persuasive, with the ability to recognise buying signals and close profitable, sustainable deals.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present, influence and inspire stakeholders at all levels, including sales teams.
• A natural storyteller, able to blend the emotional appeal of rosé and Champagne with commercial pragmatism.
• Creative, resilient and solutions-focused, with the confidence to overcome objections from discerning restaurateurs and sommeliers.
• Highly computer literate, including Navision, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• A sense of fun and warmth – we are in the conviviality business.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a prestige French rosé and Champagne portfolio. You will have autonomy, visibility and the chance to build lasting influence within the UK wine and hospitality scene. If you are commercially sharp, culturally attuned, and passionate about representing exceptional French rosé and Champagne in the UK market, we would love to hear from you.

Working Pattern

This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm. However, given the nature of our clients in the hospitality sector, flexibility is essential — evening and occasional weekend work will be required to support customer needs, events, and tastings. Some activities may also involve international travel, so a valid passport is necessary.

Work Location

This is a hybrid role where you will be required to work in head office at least 3 days a week.

How to Apply

This is a key role within our business, therefore if you are interested in applying for the vacancy please click the link. Please note that should any suitable CVs be received whilst the advert is live then individuals will be invited to interview.

Offer

• Salary of up to £45,000 per annum, dependent on experience, plus bonus based on the achievement of KPIs.
• 25 days annual leave rising to 26 days after 5 years’ service and 27 days after 10 years’ service, plus bank holidays.
• Company pension.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay.
• Contribution to Dental Costs.
• Generous staff discount on our wine.
• A bottle of wine on your birthday and Berkmann anniversary.

We cannot consider your application if you do not have the legal right to work in the UK. You must also satisfy the required knowledge and experience criteria detailed above. Equal consideration will be given to all candidates, irrespective of their gender, race, disability, marital status, religion, age or sexuality. No agencies please - We thank you for your interest in working with Berkmann Wine Cellars, however, we have our own internal HR and Recruitment team who support our recruiting needs.