Winery & Vineyard Assistant
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
Hampshire, Nr Stockbridge,
England
About Us
The Black Chalk estate is set in the stunning Test Valley, incorporating a state-of-the-art winery and 30 acres of vines across 3 different sites. Across these vineyards we grow 34 different clone and rootstock combinations of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Précoce and Pinot Gris. These combinations provide an array of quality and wine profiles and we treat as many as we can separately. From the resulting base wines we create a number of small batch Sparkling and still wines. The vineyard and winery teams are constantly striving for a better understanding about how to grow better fruit and make wines with more precision, this commitment ensures quality is always the focus and priority. At its very heart the project has always been winemaker led and driven by our small team.
This role will involve supporting the whole winemaking process, from grape to bottle. Splitting your time between both the winery and the vineyard, you will help to grow the highest quality grapes and assist in crafting our range of premium wines. Working with, and directly reporting to our Winemakers & Vineyard Manager, we are offering the right candidate an opportunity to work with and develop within this exciting young company. The role would suit a recent wine production graduate or somebody looking to develop their skills further with a small premium producer.
Key responsibilities
- Assist the Winemakers in the production of both own label and contract client wines
- Assist with all cellar operations including fruit receival/processing, ferments, lab analysis, barrel work, blending, stabilisation and filtration
- Assist with post-production operations including riddling, disgorging, bottling, labelling and packaging
- Assist the Vineyard manager with all vineyard tasks including pruning, canopy management, tying down, shoot positioning, mowing, data collection and record keeping
- Maintaining high levels of cleanliness and sanitation as well as health and safety standards at all times
- Assist with record keeping, data management and cellar inventories
- Take part in and represent the winery at public and trade tours, tastings and events as required
- Additional hours to be worked during peak times of harvest and bottling
About You
- Legal right to work in the UK
- 1 year+ winery experience and/or wine production qualification
- Excellent attention to detail and strong communication skills
- Team player who is equally self-motivated when working alone
- Forklift license/experience desirable
- Tractor experience a bonus but full training would be given
- Ability to lift up to 25kg
- Capability to perform strenuous manual labour and work on your feet for extended periods of time
Salary: 20K-23K depending on experience.