Restaurant Host

At Gibbston Valley, we’re more than just a winery, we are a place where guests come to unwind, reconnect, and experience the very best of the region. Surrounded by vines, our Cellar Door, Wine Cave, Restaurant, Spa, and Lodge offer visitors a unique taste of genuine kiwi hospitality.

We live by our values: Care Always | Grow Together | Craft with Purpose | Honour the Land

About the role:

• Seasonal full-time – Minimum of 30 hours a week (including weekends and public holidays as rostered)
• Location: Gibbston Valley Wines – Otago, Gibbston
• $25.00 to $27.00 depending on the experience

We are looking for a vibrant and welcoming Restaurant Host to be the heartbeat of our dining room! In this role, you will be the first point of contact and interaction our guests will have. You will play a key role in delivering exceptional guest service from arrival through to departure. This dynamic position combines warm guest welcoming and table seating management with hands-on floor support including initial water service and running food dishes directly from the pass.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Greeting all arriving and departing guests promptly and with high energy.
• Escorting guests to their tables and delivering personalised service to regulars and special-occasion diners.  
• Coordinating table availability, walk-ins and reservations efficiently.
• Managing floor rotation and station balance to support smooth service flow. 
• Communicating guest preferences, dietary requirements and special requests directly to the floor and kitchen teams.
• Managing incoming telephone calls and reservation inquiries professionally.  
• Maintaining host stand, entrance and surrounding areas to impeccable standards of cleanliness and organisation.

About you:

• Naturally cheerful, approachable, and confident with strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong willingness to support across seating, food running, and general dining room support.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to stay synchronized with floor servers and kitchen personnel.
• High standard of personal grooming aligned with premium hospitality expectations.
• Previous customer service or hospitality experience is preferred.
• Strong communication skills, excellent multitasking ability, and a passion for our food and wine experiences.
• Eligibility of work in New Zealand without any restrictions.
• A reliable method transport since we’re located about 25 mins from Queenstown CBD

If you love working in a stunning natural environment this could be your next move.

Why you will love working for us:

• Work in a luxury, award-winning environment in a breathtaking vineyard setting alongside one of Central Otago’s most iconic brands
• Generous Staff Discounts on our luxury Lodge stays, NZ’s #1 Resort Spa treatments, Restaurant dining, Cellar Door, and retail wines.
• A supportive, tight-knit team grounded in values that matter
• Opportunities to learn, develop and take on additional responsibilities
• Relax and connect with your team over a complimentary glass of wine after your shift.
• Structured Staff Appreciation Program celebrating your hard work and achievements.
• Free on-site parking and uniforms provided
• Staff meals while on duty

If you possess strong communication skills, a high level of personal presentation, and a genuine passion for hospitality, we would love to welcome you to our team. Apply now with your CV and a brief cover letter and bring your passion for wine to Gibbston Valley.

*We’re grateful for the interest in joining the Gibbston Valley Wines team. As we receive a high number of applications, we’ll be in touch only with shortlisted candidates.

*To be eligible for consideration, you must be based in New Zealand, and legally able to work here. We are not able to sponsor for this role.