Vineyard Manager (Wine Jobs: Vineyards & Cellars )

  Biddenden Vineyards Ltd

  Ashford, England

‘A unique opportunity to work with some of England’s oldest vines’

Biddenden vineyards is a family-run business since 1969, built on passion, hard work, and as you may also be aware home of Biddenden cider and juices. We are looking for an enthusiastic vineyard manager for the long term to mesh with the family and our ethos making wine in the vineyard. We work hard and play hard so if that isn’t you then no need to keep reading, if it is and the next page excites you, we look forward to hearing from you!

The business is growing every day, and with new products and exciting developments we are now in our 2026 season following on from the amazing vintage of 2025

The successful candidate will combine viticultural and technical skills linked to the winery plans, vine health, soil management and sustainable practises. Alongside operational leadership, timings of seasonal operations, spray programmes, harvest management and equipment maintenance.

Right now, we are recruiting for a responsible and self-motivated individual to come and become part of the framework at Biddenden. As a prospective applicant, you will be able to work to deadlines, under pressure. You will be reliable, responsible, honest and trustworthy above all else be a team player be able to manage a team reporting back to the general manager. You will have strong experience in both forward planning and practical problem-solving.

The objective of the role:

Ideal candidates will be able to demonstrate the following experience history:

• Previous Vineyard Management/assistant vineyard management.
• General agricultural and horticultural experience both manual and mechanical.

Education / Qualification skill requirements:

• Tractor Driver and full UK Driving Licence
• Spraying Certification PA1/PA2/PA3 – training can be provided
• Strong record keeping of spraying operations
• A strong forklift truck operator

Ideal but non-essential skills and qualifications:

• Trailer licence
• Chainsaw ticket
• Spraying certification PA6

Why join Biddenden? - We offer you the opportunity to develop and grow with the business alongside the family who would work hand in hand to support you along the way. There is plenty of room to grow and develop your career.

Biddenden Vineyards is the Heart of the garden of England, just outside the rural village of Biddenden in Kent.

Due to its rural nature, you will require your own transport.

Salary: Dependant on skill set and experience.

Duties including:

• Overall responsibility for vineyards, maintenance, vineyard staff, pests, disease control, nutrients + spray programme, liaison with viticulture consultants and complying with reports, maximising yield for cost input, maintaining spray records and logbooks.
• Pruning, tying down, trellising and wire work, seasonal tasks.
• Responsible for all management of the vines and training of the team, working to budget, and planning daily staff and jobs.
• Delegation and strong communication with other team members.
• Ensuring staff are trained to procedure in the use of equipment and supervise to ensure safe and competent before tasks are undertaken.
• Maintain vineyards and grounds for tidiness, making sure they are clear and safe from a health and safety perspective for our tourism side of the business. Presentable to visitors and approachable by customers, acting as the liaison for the department.
• Property upkeep, landscape maintenance including all external areas, gates fences tools and aids.
• Responsible for some pressing bottling packaging during our busy harvest period.
• Unloading and loading of apples and other fruits.
• Ensure that all checklists and relevant paperwork are filled in accurately and presented on time.
• All tasks and site activities to be completed to an acceptable audit standard and within agreed time frames.
• Flexible and able to assist with any other duties as required to ensure best business practise.

The position is full-time with the flexibility to be available at all times, mainly focused at spraying and harvest times. Some weekend and early morning/evening work will be necessary to meet deadlines, we are not in control of the weather, and the nature of the role means you will need to be flexible around the weather to make the best of the opportunities given to benefit the crop. Without grapes we would have no wine! This is a role that requires someone meticulous and thrives off a challenge.

How To Apply

Please apply with a covering letter and current CV.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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