4 Out of 5 Servers Agree… (or the Second Installment of Our “Meet Your Servers” Series)

When I first joined the 4.0 team 4 years and 10 months ago, we were a pretty small group. Since then, we’ve added many new team members and have said goodbye to a few others. Recently, I gave my teammates a survey to find out a little more about them, and as of survey time, we range in length of time at 4.0 from 2 months to 5 years and 7 months. Given the rate at which folks in the service industry tend to move around, it’s pretty astonishing how long many of us have been here. And the results of my informal survey clarify the primary reason that so many of are still around (and will likely be around for much longer): It’s the people.

Now, I’m not going to lie. We don't agree on everything. Some of us think Wine Club Sundays are our best events, while others prefer our annual Casino Night or our Wine and Dine event each October. And there are certainly stressful moments that we all handle in different ways. Dealing with large groups of bridesmaids is quite fun for some of us and quite a headache for others.

We all have different “most memorable” moments from our time at 4.0. One server recalls the time that he learned to never ever ask a customer if he’s ever had Three White Chicks. The customer’s jaw-dropping response? “Not at the same time!” One server fondly recalls the time another server doused himself and several others when opening a bottle of Frizzante. Still another server remembers when a guy brought his guitar into the tasting room and proceeded to serenade (oh so awkwardly!) one of her coworkers. And one server remembers when a colleague accidentally ate the fortune in her fortune cookie and then wondered where it went. 

We also disagree on which of our wines we like best. Among the reds, we tend to prefer Brennan’s Winemaker’s Choice, Lost Oak’s Cabernet Franc, and McPherson’s Windblown EVS. But Lost Oak’s merlot blends are popular, and Brennan’s Tempranillo and McPherson’s Windblown Rose get several nods. Among the whites, we tend to like viogniers and white blends by any of our winemakers.

But while our differences make for good banter and some funny moments, it’s our common appreciation for one another and our customers that make us a real team. Here’s just a sampling of the responses I got to “What do you like most about working at 4.0?”

• The people.
• The people I work with. All are very friendly and willing to step up and help wherever and whenever needed.
• The people I meet and the people with whom I work.
• Fun, friendly atmosphere. Great people to work with. Love our customers!
• The personal and professional development I have received from my team and managers.
• Love the people.
• The staff.
• The astonishingly good humor and congeniality of everyone.

Spot a trend? And this is just some of these types of responses that I received. So yes, when it comes down to it, working at 4.0 is all about people…and wine, of course. Kudos should definitely go out to our managers for putting together a team that differs widely in age, experiences, and preferences but has a shared appreciation for wine, service, education, and just plain fun.

So, if you haven’t joined in the “4.0 fun” lately, come on in, and let us share our wines, good humor, and congeniality with you!