Assistant Winemaker (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

  Highweald Wine Estate (http://www.highwealdwine.com)

  Ansty, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England

Assistant Winemaker Highweald Wine – Ansty, West Sussex

(Full Time)

Job Description

An exciting opportunity to join our team with exposure to the entire winemaking process for still and sparkling wines. The successful candidate will be given full training across all equipment and processes. The position requires a mixture of hands-on and managerial/supervisory skills, laboratory skills, attention to detail, cleanliness, and is a physically active role. They will be a key member of the team responsible for the upkeeping the quality, organisation, and execution of winemaking activities for our 250 tonne winery in West Sussex.

Duties include:

- Performing accurate laboratory analysis of must/wine throughout each winemaking process. The ability to perform preparations of standardised chemical solutions used within the laboratory along with maintaining and calibrating the analytical instruments.

- Perform all day to day cellar operations, including harvest, fermentation additions and monitoring, barrel work, bottling preparation, sanitation, and cellar organisation and cleanliness. 

- Participate in wine tasting at all stages throughout the winemaking process and be responsible for conducting evaluation and recommendation of treatments.

- Participate in writing and completing work orders for all production related tasks from harvest to bottling.

- Responsible for supervising, training, and mentoring all cellar employees during harvest, providing ongoing instruction and support as assigned.

- Work as a team with the Winemakers on all blends to insure wine profiles are being adequately filled and bottling requirements are met on time.

- Conduct any tastings and tours of the facility, when needed.

- Contribute to the continuous improvement of the winemaking process and procedures.

- Prepare work-orders, assist in data management, as well as conduct bulk and bottled wine inventories..

- Responsibility for the quality and execution of work performed, review and implementation of standards of care, safety, and operating procedures.

- Safety training and management of compliance issues in the laboratory and cellar environment to provide a safe work place.

- Maintain wine and job quality goals while managing for good productivity and cost effectiveness.

 

Desired Skills & Experience Requirements include:

- Degree in Viticulture & Oenology

- Experience with both the practical and technical aspects of the winemaking process and understand winemaking regulatory requirements. Includes all aspects of harvest, fermentation, cellar work, and winemaking analysis is preferred.

- Must have excellent written, oral communication and presentation skills, fluent in English, both verbal and written.

- Experience in a premium winemaking environment, and a commitment to growing quality.

- Strong organisational, teambuilding and problem solving skills.  Attention to detail, with ability to prioritise multiple tasks.

- Lift and carry up to 25kg and able to work on and around ladders

- Available to work a varied schedule during harvest season as needed.

- Excellent math skills and accuracy with numbers and strong recordkeeping skills along with a working knowledge of data collection and data analysis.

- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as the ability to learn other related computer programs & databases.

 

 

 

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