Cellarmaster
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
Hampshire,
England
Hattingley Valley Wines Limited - Job Specification
Position: Cellarmaster
Reports to: Winemakers
This is a key winery role, working in support of the winemaking team, with responsibility to ensure cellar standards, cellar maintenance, and key operations in Hattingley Valley’s winery cellar are completed. We are looking for a candidate with demonstrable winery cellar experience, preferably gained through several overseas harvests, a technical background including equipment maintenance, and a background in working with quality assurance accreditations.
In this role, cellar experience, organisation, pragmatism, motivation, and efficiency count for more than qualifications – therefore, this position may suit candidates who want to make the next step into being a member of a small winemaking team at a high-quality winery, but who have never completed an Oenological qualification.This role requires the candidate to be a true cellar master, with a daily commitment to continuous improvement.
Candidates need to be highly motivated and capable, and will be asked to demonstrate their skills, if selected, at trial workdays (therefore, only existing UK residents can currently apply).
Major Responsibilities:
• Ensuring winery operations are completed to specification.
• Assuming responsibility as one of the senior members of winery staff to take the cleanliness, organisation and maintenance of the winery to the next level, comparable to any leading small winery in the world.
• At harvest, helping to organise, guide, and train temporary harvest staff in support of the winemaking team.
• Some assistance during marketing events and promotional activities may be required.
• Long hours are a pre-requisite at harvest (October) and at bottling.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
• Must have a real love for the minutiae of wine production, and a commitment to help improve existing quality standards.
• Extensive winery cellar experience and completion of several wine harvests essential, preferably overseas.
• Mechanical ability and equipment background a distinct advantage and is considered ahead of wine qualifications.
• A practical aptitude for problem solving and demonstrable attention to detail is essential.
• Numerate and literate – confidence in their ability to understand a complex production picture and to record key data during the winemaking process is an essential requirement.
• Ability to work under pressure is essential.
• Ability to work within a team is essential – emphasis is placed on a candidate’s aptitude to interact with a small, busy winery and production team.
• A flexible approach to both working hours and duties during critical times such as harvest and bottling is essential.
• Background or qualifications in Viticulture & Oenology is an advantage, but more emphasis is placed on practical winery cellar experience, or transferable skills from other food and beverage industries (or similar).
• Forklift qualification is essential and must be verified at interview stage; scissor lift qualification an advantage.
• Full Clean UK Driving Licence essential.
• First Aid certification an advantage.
• Ability to lift 25kgs, climb ladders and stand for long periods essential.
• Preparedness to interact with consumers and trade visitors at tours and events on occasion.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Training: Whilst this role requires previous winery experience, training may be offered where necessary to do some parts of the job. Eligible additional professional development may be offered after one year of service is completed satisfactorily.
Hours: 37.5 hours Monday to Friday 8.30 to 4.30 (30 minutes for lunch) – with additional hours as required at harvest and bottling.
Benefits: Company pension scheme, 25 days paid holiday plus all Public Holidays, staff wine allowance and discounts, opportunities to taste a variety of wines both English and from elsewhere.
Salary will depend on experience and skills. This is a full-time permanent role based in Hampshire.