Atlanta Wine School is thrilled to announce the launch of our formal Volunteer Assistant Program effective July 1, 2015. Each year we host hundreds of classes and private events, from wine appreciation and wine certification programs to international food and wine pairing classes and hands-on cooking classes. Throughout the years, many of our loyal customers have inquired about the opportunity to assist our classes as a volunteer. This small group of loyal volunteers supporting our VV staff has helped us tremendously in keeping things running efficiently and smoothly.

As we look forward to the bustling fall months, our goal is to grow our class offerings, not only with the re-vamping of menus in our top-selling classes, but also, with the addition of exciting new cooking and wine classes. The success of the new volunteer assistant program will be vital to the growth of our program, so that we can continue to provide our customers with the level of variety and excellence that they’ve come to expect from AWS.

Volunteer Program Benefits

As a volunteer assistant, you’ll be working with, and learning from, talented and passionate wine educators and chefs in our impressive open demonstration kitchen, not to mention, enjoying some pretty amazing food and wine! You’ll also take home new recipes and wine knowledge to share with your friends. It’s a fun way to both learn about wine and cooking and save on future classes or in-store food and wine purchases. For instance, after assisting eight wine classes or events (cooking classes count double!), you will earn a $50 gift card to use at VV/AWS as you wish. How’s that for fringe benefits? In addition to these perks, you might just discover your own path in the wine industry or culinary field!

Best of all, you can volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows. We do encourage our assistants to stay active with the program but ultimately, volunteers choose which classes they would like to assist. We have events during the day and classes at night and on Saturdays, so there is something for everyone.

Volunteer Program Guidelines

Although it’s helpful to have a basic knowledge of food preparation, wine and service, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to be a volunteer assistant extraordinaire! All volunteer assistants are required to take the Slice and Dice knife skills class in order to become familiar with basic cuts and culinary terms, as well as, learn how to safely handle a knife. Assistants will also attend an orientation class and shadow an experienced assistant during a live class before signing up to assist.

Volunteer class assistants help instructors and facilitators with classroom set-up, food and wine preparation, cooking activities and clean up. Typically, assistants arrive an hour and a half before the start of class to help the instructor set-up, complete any necessary food preparation and assist with the set-up of the classroom. It is a great opportunity to not only meet the chef or wine instructor, but to gain practical experience and get helpful tips from some of the finest wine and culinary instructors in Atlanta. As a team, the assistants continue to help throughout the class and take care of clean-up at the end.

Volunteer Program Duties Include:

• Assist with setting up the event room.
• Assist instructor/chef with recipe preparation prior to class as needed.
• Greet and check-in guests.
• Serve as liaison between the instructor/chef and guests during class instruction, ensuring an optimum, but fun, learning experience.
• Closely observe class instruction, assisting the chef/instructor with food preparation and wine service when required.
• Assist in plating food.
• Assist in serving tastings.
• Assist in clean-up after each class.

You must be 21 years or older to become an assistant. For your safety, assistants are asked to wear flat, closed-toe shoes.

Sign up Now!

If you are interested in signing up for our new program, please contact our Director of Education by completing the form below.