Assistant Winemaker

ESSENTIAL PURPOSE: Under supervision (both direct and indirect) of the Winemaker, this position supports all activities of the winemaking process.

Key Responsibilities:

Cellar operations including but not limited to:

Harvest:

• Oversee staff for harvest and general winery functions
• Oversee crush pad operations
• Oversee all additions as dictated by winemaker
• Assist in scheduling of winery staff
• Ensure that quality standards and practices are upheld
• Assigning of tasks to cellar staff
• Writing work orders
• BBL and lot tracking
• Assist with sampling vineyards to determine ripeness
• Assist with sampling of grape and wine lots for chemical analysis
• With direction of winemaker, assign tasks for Enologist (i.e. TA/pH etc.)

Bottling:

• Working in conjunction with WM to schedule dates with bottling company
• Working in conjunction with WM to prepare final blends for bottling
• Working in conjunction with WM to develop and implement a filtering plan
• Working in conjunction with WM, order and maintain inventory of winemaking supplies
• Working in conjunction with WM to schedule trucking for case goods to storage
• Schedule and oversee bottling crew
• Manage hand labeling crew and process

Winery maintenance:

• Work with Cellar Master to schedule maintenance of equipment and facilities. Inform winemaker when replacements or repairs are needed
• Take a sense of ownership and insure that winery is clean at all times
• Work with Cellar Master on tracking of chemicals
• Double check repair & maintenance plan from Cellar Master for annual budget before presenting to WM

Blend & Comp tastings:

• Work with WM in identifying quality in lots
• Assist in pulling lots or gathering wines for tastings
• Be a vocal part of the blend and comparative tastings

Clerical/Office:

• Work order entries into AMS
• Monthly inventories
• Keep file of empty barrels
• With aid of Enologist, track all chemical analysis
• Track experiments
• Track hours worked of employees and timecards
  

Travel/Marketing/Sales

• Attend industry functions as needed
• Be present at all winery functions; assist with set up for events & tastings
• Assist with touring groups through the winery
• Support sales staff with travel to specific markets as needed
  

Other Responsibilities

• Follow out instructions from WM
• Ability to assist WM and step in with any additional needs
• Assist WM in all winery related operations including but not limited to harvest, blending, bottling, tastings, AMS, lot tracking, BBL tracking, staff scheduling, events, etc.
• Complete the jobs requested by WM in a timely, safe and professional manner
• Work with Cellar Master/Enologist to maintain a sanitary and safe workplace
• Take sense of ownership with the winery, ensuring that it’s presentable, clean and safe
• Inventory tracking and AMS entry with the help of WM

Interaction w/others

• Must maintain a positive and optimistic attitude in the workplace
• Treats others with respect
• Listens to direction and orders well from any manager
• Able to give direction and orders professionally
• Able to provide leadership/mentorship role for cellar team
• Provides guidance without micromanaging. Thus allowing for the efficiency of winery operations and the growth of employees

Supervisory Responsibility

• With the help of the WM, oversee and supervise the entire team of personnel
• Work with cellar team on various tasks ensuring the jobs are completed in a safe, timely and professional manner.
• Gives guidance and leadership to entire cellar team
• Over sees operations of cellar team
• Direct contact for cellar team
• Listens to concerns or suggestions from subordinates

Skills/Qualities

• Must be able to lift 50lbs
• Must be able to stand/walk for long hours in a work day
• Team player + independently capable
• Great attitude
• Excellent understanding of winery and vineyard knowledge and operations
• Excellent understanding of chemistry and its relation to wine
• Excellent understanding of fine wine
• Have a complete understanding of the white papers and vision created by the Winemaker
• Vision for improvements regarding winery operations and wine quality that align with the stylistic goals
• Leadership and mentorship qualities
• Patience with subordinates
• Fast learner

Experience

• B.S. in Enology required
• 5+ years of full time cellar experience, with at least two years as Cellar Master and/or Enologist