Vineyard Assistant - Apprenticeship
(Wine Jobs:
Vineyards & Cellars )
Full Time
Saffron Walden, Essex,
England
Saffron Grange Vineyard is seeking a full-time viticulture apprentice to join the small team and help grow the business at this exciting time in the development of the company.
Saffron Grange Vineyard planted it's first commercial sparkling varietal vines in 2009 on surface rich chalk deposits in the North Essex/Cambridgeshire border region outside Saffron Walden. Total planting is 6ha and will increase to 10ha in the near future. Saffron Grange Vineyard launched English Sparkling Wines in 2019, erected a winery centre shell in 2020, and attracted wine award medals across its range.
The ideal candidate will have a genuine interest in hands-on vineyard activities and be keen to learn through the Plumpton College Advanced Level Apprentice - L3 Crop Technician (Viticulture) scheme - which lasts around 2 years. (https://www.plumpton.ac.uk/courses/crop-technician-viticulture-apprenticeship-level-3-445/).
The successful candidate will embark on hands-on vineyard work and theoretical and practical studies on-line and in-person atttendance at Plumpton College, East Sussex.
The vineyard assistant will be expected to work in the vineyard to support the seasonal demands of the vines. These include:
Trellis maintenance.
Winter pruning and tying down.
Bud and water shoot removal.
Canopy management – shoot positioning, lateral removal, tipping, leaf pulling, green harvesting.
Crop estimation.
Sampling and berry maturity analysis.
Harvesting – picking, collection, weighing, cleaning equipment and general preparation activity.
Nutrition management - monitoring vines and application of nutrients and fertilizers.
Disease management – monitoring vines, pesticide application.
Hedgerow management and biodiversity encouragement activities.
Vineyard floor management – soil management, alley way and under vine maintenance – sward upkeep, weeding.
Vineyard and winery tools and equipment upkeep and maintenance.
Contribute to and record vineyard and winery sustainability activities.
Assist with stock control movements, packing orders, preparing for events, assisting with tours, and tasting activities, and off-site market sales (depending on age of apprentice).
The role will suit an enthusiastic self-motivated individual, able to work for long periods outside in all weathers.
English and Maths - Level 2
Full Driving Licence
Right to work in UK
38 hours per week - Monday-Friday (some weekends/longer hours required for tours and during harvest)
20% (average) paid hours is used for Plumpton Apprenticeship studying
Salary £13,000 - £17,745 per year
Other benefits available