Vineyard Manager

Role purpose

Lead the year-round management of the vineyard to produce healthy, high-quality grapes that meet the estate’s premium wine style, yield and commercial objectives. The estate’s principal objective for the vineyard is to produce the highest quality wine, always working to improve quality in everything we do. The Vineyard Manager combines hands-on viticulture with forward planning, team leadership, machinery management, accurate record keeping and regulatory compliance, working closely with the winemaking and estate teams.

Key responsibilities

·         Plan and lead all seasonal activities, including pruning, tying down, canopy management, crop thinning and harvesting.

·         Arrange and supervise seasonal labour as is required through the year, ensuring a timely and high standard of work.

·         Monitor vine health, phenology, nutrition, soil condition, crop load, pests and disease; implement timely crop-protection and nutrition programmes.

·         Operate, inspect and coordinate the maintenance of tractors, sprayers, mowers, trimmers, cultivation equipment and other vineyard machinery.

·         Maintain and operate Vineyard frost protection systems coordinating with external specialists to ensure optimum efficacy.

·         Plan and manage harvest logistics in close liaison with the winemaker, including labour, machinery, picking dates and fruit-quality decisions.

·         Manage vineyard budgets, purchasing, stock, contractors and resources to achieve efficient and cost-effective operations.

·         Maintain compliance with UK pesticide, environmental and health and safety requirements, undertaking risk assessments and promoting a safety-first culture.

·         Support soil health, biodiversity and long-term vineyard resilience.

·         Contribute practically across the wider estate or winery during busy periods. This may include help at bottling, disgorging and other winery activities.

Experience and Qualifications

·         A minimum of 5 years vineyard management experience

·         Tertiary qualification in viticulture

·         Experience tractor operator

·         Experience with frost protection systems

·         Clean Uk driving license

Desirable

·         Forklift/telehandler experience

·         RTV operation

·         PA qualifications (PA1/PA3A)