Job Status: Filled

Vineyard Manager (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

Full Time

  The Moorbridge Estate Vineyard

  Berkshire, England

The Moorbridge Estate Vineyard in Berkshire (England) will produce only premium-quality English wine from 17.5 hectares (ha) of vines, predominantly for sparkling wine production. The vineyard will be established in spring 2018 on a southerly-facing site with an excellent soil profile over chalk. The vineyard will be complemented by a state-of-the-art winery in 2020.

This is a privileged position reporting directly to the business owner. The successful candidate will have full responsibility for the 17.5 ha vineyard as well as oversight of the biodiversity areas, a kitchen garden, and environmental protection. This hands-on role requires a high degree of self-motivation and dedication to generating continuous improvements and the best possible quality crop.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate candidate to manage this high-class vineyard. The candidate will demonstrate experience in all aspects of vineyard operations as well as strong viticulture science, planning, communication and interpersonal skills. They will be a strong team player, as part of an exciting and dynamic enterprise, who will bring innovation into the vineyard with good observational, diagnostic and problem-solving skills.

Principal responsibilities

  • Overseeing vineyard planting in spring 2018
  • Managing 17.5 ha of grape vines (varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir Précoce, Pinot Blanc, and Ortega), and the vineyard infrastructure
  • Overseeing 4 ha of biodiversity areas, a kitchen garden, and environmental protection
  • Producing grapes of a ripeness level to be agreed with the Winemaker
  • Producing grape yields of between 5t–10t/ha on average, across six grape varieties

Technical aspects

Implement programmes for the following tasks:

  • Maintaining vineyard infrastructure and machinery
  • Bud-rubbing, winter pruning, and grapevine canopy management
  • Soil and weed management, including under-vine soil tillage
  • Vine nutrition
  • Crop and frost protection

Practical / Management aspects

  • Create and manage the annual vineyard budget
  • Create and manage a work plan for labour/seasonal staff
  • Monitoring ripeness and quality of the crop, and feeding results back to the Winemaker
  • Direction of the grape harvest, in conjunction with the Winemaker
  • Establish and manage standard operating and Health And Safety procedures
  • Establish and manage environmental and waste management plans
  • Keeping records of all inputs and activities in the vineyard

In addition, as and when reasonably requested, the post holder will be required to provide:

  • Public relations support and representation of the Moorbridge Estate Vineyard
  • Flexibility and ability to work overtime up to 7-days per week as needed, during harvest and at other key times of the year
  • Any other reasonable and relevant duties from time-to-time

Experience and training

Essential 

  • Five years professional management of medium scale (>15 ha) vineyards growing high quality grapes
  • Cool-climate viticulture experience
  • Experience in managing contractors and staff
  • Relevant operational licences (driving, spraying etc.)
  • Good IT skills
  • Strong communication skills

Desirable

  • Tertiary or higher qualification in viticulture or relevant field.

Accommodation and location

There will be 2-bedroom accommodation provided near or on-site as part of the employment package. The vineyard estate is in a beautiful location in rural Berkshire with amenities and primary and secondary schools nearby.

Application process

Recruitment is being managed by Climate Wine Consulting Ltd.

Applications close: 6th December 2017.

1st round interviews are expected to take place the 18th – 19th December 2017. Final interviews will take place in early January 2018.

The successful candidate must be able to commence work in mid-April 2018, and have the right and ability to take up employment in the UK.


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