Vineyard & Garden Assistant
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
Chilworth, Surrey – 11,000 established vines / 3500 additional vines planted 2023,
England
About us
Chilworth Manor is an historic estate in the Surrey Hills. Its spectacular gardens are opened for the National Garden Scheme and charity events during May and June. The vineyard, on a gentle, sheltered south-facing slope was planted in 2014 and comprises Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes – the classic combination for a sparkling white wine and from which we also produce sparkling pink and still rose wines.
Job description:
Assist the Estate/vineyard manager in day to day operations of both vineyard and garden, Candidate is required to take responsibility for operations when the manager is away and for liaising with the owners.
Vineyard:
- Annual pruning
- Frost protection measures
- Management of the water storage tanks for the frost protection and fertigation systems
- Tractor driving including mowing, undervine cultivation with mechanical hoe, vine trimming and spraying.
- Managing the vine canopy during the growing season including bud rubbing and shoot thinning, tucking-in, leaf removal, green harvest as necessary, disease monitoring and collecting samples for analysis
- Helping with data collection
- Operating the dripline fertigation system
- Helping to supervise volunteer and contract labour teams at harvest and during the growing season
- Management and maintenance of the irrigation system for the planting around the Tasting Barn
- Repairs to trellis
- Operate within all health and safety guidelines
Garden:
- Maintaining beds of mixed planting, shrubs, box and yew topiary
- Lawn care - mowing, scarifying, aerating, moss, weed control and feeding
- maintenance of garden irrigation system
- fruit trees pruning
- Spraying herbicides, fungicides and foliar feeds
- Strimming and hedge cutting
- Care for small alpaca herd
Experience: The candidate should have a minimum two years’ experience of cool climate viticulture with a good understanding of seasonal canopy management. They will have experience working with tractors and vineyard machinery and, ideally, PA1, PA6 and PA3 spray certification.
General horticultural knowledge is a definite asset as is experience with a range of garden machinery. The extensive gardens are maintained to a very high standard, so a professional approach with an eye for detail are essential.
Viticultural or horticultural qualifications are not a prerequisite – what is preferable is an applicant with solid experience who is keen to learn and extend their experience, have a strong work ethic, is adaptable, proactive and organised. They will be confident and motivated, able to work within a small team and willing to take on responsibilities.
£30-35K pa dependent on experience
How To Apply
TO APPLY, PLEASE EMAIL A CV AND COVERING LETTER TO JOHN MACRAE-BROWN
